Steadfast steps of the soldier

Báo Thừa Thiên Huế•01/07/2023

At the Mobile Training Battalion, Provincial Border Guard Command, it was just past 7 a.m., but the sun was already shining on the training ground. At that time, 100 soldiers had been practicing infantry combat techniques for about half an hour. The soldiers lined up in straight rows and columns. Technical movements such as crawling low, crawling high, crouching, running crouching, carrying explosives, placing explosives, rolling with rifles, kneeling to shoot, standing to shoot… were repeated many times in perfect unison, following the commands.

The squad leaders and platoon leaders meticulously corrected the mistakes of each soldier. “Many of you are not performing the crouching and running movements correctly. When maneuvering, you shouldn’t walk straight, leaning your whole body forward, but rather push your shoulders forward, slightly tilting your body, narrowing the cross-section of your body; walk on the sides of your feet, avoiding making loud noises, to reduce the chance of being hit by enemy fire…” – attentively listening to the squad leader of Squad 1’s analysis, the soldiers practiced each movement again until they were precise.

The sun grew increasingly intense. Sweat poured down their faces and soaked their uniforms. After the call for a break, the new recruits rushed into the shade under the trees. There, they found a guitar, books, newspapers, and bags of ice-cold water. Present on the training ground were Major Le Anh Tuan, the Battalion Political Officer , and Lieutenant Trang Seo Anh, the Training Company Political Officer, who inquired about their health and offered words of encouragement. The recruits sat together, their laughter echoing with witty stories that marked each day of training, making all the hardships seem to vanish.

“Last night, our 6th squad was put on combat alert at 10 PM. We were fast asleep when we heard the alarm, and everyone in the squad jumped up and rushed out. The march involved rolling, crawling, and scrambling. The road was full of gravel, so my hands still have scratches…” – a new recruit rolled up his sleeve to show his comrade the “marks” of the marching alert, still fresh with sweat, yet still strong enough to “fight” on the training ground.

Sergeant Major Pham Van Thuan also contributed to his squad's achievements, excitedly recounting several marching drills. Each man carried a 30kg backpack of personal belongings, and the sergeants lined up, remained silent, and diligently followed orders, marching 5-6km at night, exhausting but joyful and proud of having successfully fulfilled their duty as soldiers. "Later, if we are assigned to border posts in the mountainous areas, we are confident in joining you in traversing forests and crossing streams to patrol the border and boundary markers," Thuan said with a smile.

Captain Nguyen Van Cuong, the commander of the training company, said that after a tiring day of training on the training ground, the soldiers participate in agricultural production, tending to the apricot blossom garden, collecting firewood in the forest, and constructing facilities within the unit. They also stand guard at night. To successfully accomplish all of this, the soldiers must maintain good physical fitness and unwavering determination.

“Besides the individual efforts of each cadet (through physical training exercises), the guidance, care, love, and encouragement from commanders at all levels, and especially the close bond, support, and mutual assistance among the cadets, have created strength, enabling them to overcome weaknesses, develop strengths, and perform well in training. A typical example is cadet Tran Le Minh Viet, whose physical condition was not as good as his comrades; when he first came to the training ground, he was unfamiliar with the basics, often making mistakes in aiming and holding the rifle incorrectly… But with meticulous guidance and his own great efforts, Viet achieved excellent results in the shooting competition at target number 4 (live ammunition). Many cadets have strived and achieved outstanding results; they have truly matured,” shared Major Nguyen Tuan Tai, Battalion Commander of the Mobile Training Battalion.

Standing firm on the path

Following the launch ceremony of the Summer Youth Volunteer Campaign organized by the Standing Committee of the Phu Loc District Youth Union in coordination with the Provincial Border Guard Youth Union and other units, under the scorching sun, the footsteps of the new recruits left their mark on the roads of Loc Binh commune. The recruits huddled together assembling lighting equipment; erected rows of electric poles to illuminate the "New Rural Area"; set up a road with national flags along the model road in Hoa An village; re-roofed and repainted houses for poor households; and repaired the Loc Binh Commune Cultural House. I "re-encountered" the sweat that had once soaked the training ground, now drenching their uniforms as the recruits stood on rooftops, passing roofing sheets and carrying the weight of electric poles on their shoulders. But their smiles remained radiant!

The smiles softened the harsh sunlight. Border Guard soldier Nguyen Van Tam emotionally recalled how last year's tornado ripped off the roofs of dozens of houses in Khanh My village, Vinh Xuan commune (Phu Vang district), his hometown. The Border Guard and other forces joined hands to help the people of Khanh My re-roof, repair houses, and overcome the consequences as quickly as possible, so that people could stabilize their lives (including Tam's family). Therefore, now, with the responsibility of a border guard soldier, Tam is dedicating all his heart and soul, along with his comrades, to contributing his youthful energy to help the people and the community.

After a day of hard work by 100 border guards and youth union members from various forces, Loc Binh's "face" is brighter and more beautiful thanks to clean roads and a newly renovated community cultural center. In particular, the national flag fluttering proudly along the roads is a sacred source of pride, a vow that the youth of Thua Thien Hue in general, and the youth of the provincial Border Guard in particular, will continue to make inroads into socio -economic development; building new rural areas and civilized urban areas; ensuring social welfare, national defense, and security, especially in difficult areas, remote regions, border areas, and islands.

The footsteps of the young Border Guard officers of the province, with the core force being the officers currently training at the Mobile Training Battalion, have left their mark on the land border and the sea area, in marches to A Lưới, participating in the "Youth Month - March Border Month" program, or going to Phú Vang to participate in planting protective forests on Vinh Thanh beach…

Throughout those marches, I deeply felt the solidarity and camaraderie of the soldiers. There was a soldier who was clumsy in front of a "tiny" poplar tree, and his comrades guided him on how to plant it correctly so that it could survive and grow. Soldier Pham Anh Kiet once expressed: "When I first entered military life, I even planted sweet potatoes upside down. My fellow farmers patiently and diligently taught me, so now I can skillfully plant and care for many kinds of vegetables and plants. Participating in planting the protective poplar forest is incredibly meaningful to us." That day, the wind was colder in the drizzling rain, but the backs of the Border Guard uniforms were still soaked with sweat, from the tireless efforts to ensure the successful planting of 10,000 poplar trees.

Colonel Dang Ngoc Hieu, Deputy Political Commissar of the Provincial Border Guard Command, expressed his pride in the contributions of the border guards. The protective mangrove forests will grow lush and green, becoming a vital "fortress" in the fight against erosion and landslides caused by natural disasters and storms. The "New Rural Light" roads will be multiplied. These border guard soldiers, through their training and development, will continue to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors, helping people in border areas prevent and mitigate natural disasters and develop the economy; remaining steadfast on their patrol routes, contributing to the firm protection of peace and security along the border and islands.

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