The simulated scenario was: “The information duty officer receives a notification from superiors that a flying object is heading towards the center of Hanoi, passing through Noi Bai commune…”. Immediately, the militia soldier on duty sounded the alarm, and the unit deployed its combat formation. The rapid ringing of the gong urged the soldiers forward. Very quickly, the entire 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun crew was present at the position. Crew leader Nguyen Van Chung declared: “Roaming crew, deploy formation. Prepare to load the gun!” Immediately, the soldiers in the combat team each quickly carried out their tasks. Some checked the gun's movement, others loaded ammunition, and some adjusted the sights… The clicking of metal mingled with the shouted commands, making the training session lively and engaging. Having completed the preparations, Crew leader Chung gave the order: “Ready…! Fire…”. The first volley ended, but the target was not destroyed. With focused attention on their target, the soldiers continued to load new magazines, coordinating seamlessly to ensure uninterrupted firing. Each volley was observed, evaluated, and adjusted immediately.

The 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun crew in Noi Bai commune is enthusiastically practicing.

The squad leader gave the order again: "Move the target to the right! Fire!" The soldiers reacted quickly, changing their aiming angles, coordinating seamlessly, with the observer giving signals and the ammunition provider providing continuous support. Each action took only a few seconds but was repeated many times to train the reflexes, speed, accuracy, and coordination of the militia soldiers.

At the end of the training session, militia soldier Tran Van Hieu shared: “Initially, I found this training very difficult. Because the target moved quickly, the wind was strong, and we had to perform many complex techniques, sometimes the aiming was inaccurate or we lacked reaction time. Coordination with the other members of the gun crew was especially challenging. But after many training sessions, we became more proficient and achieved better results.”

Speaking with us, Comrade Luong Van Hieu, Commander of the Noi Bai Commune Military Command, shared: “Training with the 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun is one of the key tasks of the permanent militia force. Through training sessions, we not only hone our operational skills and shooting accuracy but also improve our teamwork and quick response to unexpected situations. In particular, Noi Bai commune has been identified by leaders and commanders at all levels as a key area for air defense. Therefore, we always require each soldier to uphold a high level of self-discipline, actively train, thoroughly understand safety procedures, master weapons and equipment, and be ready to fight in all situations.”

It is known that, despite being newly established under a two-tiered local government system, the development of the people's air defense force has always been a priority for leaders and commanders at all levels. Therefore, to improve the quality of 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun training, the commune's Military Command has implemented a comprehensive set of measures, encompassing technical aspects as well as organization and management. The unit has intensified theoretical training combined with practical exercises, helping militia soldiers thoroughly understand the structure, operating principles, and operating procedures, ensuring absolute safety. Practical exercises are designed to closely resemble actual combat situations, including firing at fixed and moving targets and handling simulated scenarios, thereby training soldiers to have quick and accurate reflexes and the ability to coordinate with their teammates. Simultaneously, emphasis is placed on group training, dividing into smaller groups for more frequent practice, rotating training sessions, correcting mistakes on the spot, and learning from experience after each session. This helps soldiers promptly identify weaknesses, refine their skills, and improve their proficiency, thereby becoming more confident and capable with each training session.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/xay-dung-quan-doi/vung-vang-qua-tung-buoi-tap-997360