'Sweating to reduce bleeding' of Nghe soldiers in Truong Sa

Art in the sun and wind of Truong Sa

In the middle of February, thousands of officers and soldiers in Truong Sa Lon are urgently and enthusiastically practicing their formation, aiming at targets, painting barracks, and cleaning the environment for the new training season. The "gathering" season is in the midst of the turbulent waves of Truong Sa, the sun is scorching the skin and the nostalgia for the mainland is always in the hearts of the young soldiers. That is the difference from the mainland.

Aim at landing targets from the sea.Photo: Trong Thiet

Under the golden sunlight pouring like honey, the 12.7mm gun crew is "straining their eyes" with the exercise of shooting at landing ships from far away at sea. On the ice rink, the officers and soldiers of squad 1 are drenched in sweat in the parade formation. At the Truong Sa big wharf, a group of young soldiers take advantage of their break time to shoot at infantry targets. Dispelling the fatigue and sweat of the young soldiers in the hot sun of the training ground is the melodious voices of Truong Sa students under the roofs that still smell of new tiles.

Another training season in the "stormy archipelago", the young soldier with dark skin from Dong Van hamlet, Nghi Van commune, Nghi Loc - Nghe An, Thai Viet Nhi in Nam Yet Island always believes that the mission of a Truong Sa soldier is to train for combat readiness and win the battle. To have the ability to maneuver, high level of combat skills and qualifications, one must sweat on the hot training ground: "The sun in Truong Sa burns the skin and flesh, but it is no match for the hardships in my hometown. Doing duty in Truong Sa is already an honor, so no matter how difficult or hard it is, I always try my best. I am from Nghe An, born into a family with a revolutionary tradition, so the hot and windy training ground, hardships and difficulties are normal" - Nhi shared.

Professional Lieutenant Thai Viet Nhi was born in 1980. At the age of 19, he joined the army and became a navy soldier. He trained, studied and worked on many islands: Sinh Ton Dong, Song Tu Tay, Sinh Ton, Son Ca and Nam Yet. On every island, he completed the assigned tasks, his teammates trusted him, and his superiors trusted him with tasks.

When asked about his family and hometown, Nhi said that his hometown still has old and weak parents and economic difficulties. His wife is a teacher and his children are still young: "Sometimes I have to put aside my personal family matters to complete my mission. As a soldier of Truong Sa, the most important thing is to contribute and silently sacrifice for the Fatherland." Listening to Nhi, we were moved and admired the Nghe An soldier on this "steel island" in the middle of the ocean.

Officers and soldiers of Truong Sa Lon "speed up" training for the military assembly day. Photo: Mai Thang

The first time he carried a gun and took the first steps to receive orders in the sun and wind of Truong Sa, the young soldier from Do Luong Nghe An - Private Tran Duc Kien was always proud to contribute his youth to Truong Sa. Kien said: "As a son of Nghe An, I want to go to Truong Sa to satisfy my needs. Not only me but also other comrades from Nghe An always strive to complete the assigned tasks well. The tradition of my hometown and the training have helped me grow up".

Located in the "front line" of guarding the sea and the sky, officers and soldiers in addition to 15 "steel fortresses" are also "speeding up" for the new spring training season with specialized "training subjects" for soldiers "head in the sky, feet on the waves".

From the DK1/7 platform, Nguyen Hung Cuong - a young Lieutenant from Nghe An province confided: "After the Lunar New Year of Canh Ty, the platform quickly organized training on protection plans, shooting at targets in the air and at sea, training for health, promoting vegetable growing and fishing to serve the inspection team before the "gathering of troops" day. We consider this an important content in the key political task of 2020. The current weather at the DK1 platform is as hot as fire from morning to evening. However, with the spirit of "enjoying the new spring without forgetting the task", "spring accelerates", we are determined to excellently complete the assigned tasks".

With the spirit of "enjoying the new spring without forgetting the mission", "spring accelerates", Truong Sa soldiers are determined to excellently complete the assigned tasks. Photo courtesy of Quang Dung

Another spring of "guarding the sea" at the "steel fortress", the young soldier wearing the rank of professional Lieutenant from Nghia Thuan commune, Thai Hoa town, Nghe An, Thai Van Hau always believes that, to firmly protect the sea and islands of the Fatherland in peacetime, we must increase training and practical experience; through training to hone the fighting spirit and agile and mobile style of the troops.

“I majored in gunnery with the mission of protecting the sky of the DK1 sea area. As a young soldier, I think there is nothing more beautiful than dedicating my strength to the Fatherland. For me, being on duty at the DK1 platform is an honor. Everyone says that DK1 is difficult and arduous, but without the DK soldiers, who will protect the platform, who will keep the sea peaceful? As a soldier, silently dedicating, even sacrificing, is normal” - Thai Van Hau shared in an emotional state.

Spring Gathering

On March 1, Truong Sa archipelago and 15 DK1 platforms will start training. To make the training launch day truly a "gathering day" for marine soldiers, from now on, 21 islands, island points/33 military bases and 15 DK1 platforms are "speeding up".

"As a soldier, silently contributing and even sacrificing is normal" - Lieutenant Thai Van Hau (Nghe An). Photo courtesy of Quang Dung

The political commissar of Truong Sa Lon island, Lieutenant Colonel Dinh Van Cuong, shared that after the Lunar New Year of Canh Ty, the spirit of officers and soldiers was very excited. On one hand, the echoes of spring still lingered in the hearts of young soldiers, on the other hand, the spring gifts from their families to the soldiers were still "full" in their backpacks.

“The officers and soldiers of Truong Sa are very excited and ready to enter the new spring training season. In order for the officers and soldiers to have a strong political stance and experience the storms, ideological and political training is carried out regularly. For the young soldiers celebrating Tet on the island for the first time and training in the sun and wind of Truong Sa for the first time, in addition to material and spiritual care, we always focus on resolving good relationships, brothers and sisters in harmony consider each other as members of a family” - Lieutenant Colonel Cuong said.

Like Truong Sa Lon, the floating island of Truong Sa Dong is busy practicing for the "military assembly" day these days. In addition to team training and unarmed martial arts exercises, officers and soldiers also practice weightlifting, chin-ups, and "specialized military" shooting exercises such as aiming at marine infantry and air targets. Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Van Phuoc, commander of Truong Sa Dong island, said: "If we want soldiers to be proficient in basic combat movements, we must train them solidly. If we want soldiers to have the courage to fight bravely, steadfastly, courageously, endure hardships, and overcome challenges, we must train them. The more difficult and arduous the place, the more important training is"...

Resolutely hold on and maintain the sovereignty of the Fatherland's seas and islands. Photo courtesy of Quang Dung

Training to protect the sea and islands is a special specialized training program. To firmly protect the sovereignty of the sea, islands, and sacred continental shelf of the Fatherland in all situations, each officer and soldier of the Truong Sa Navy, DK1 must constantly cultivate a strong and steadfast political will. Strengthen training to improve combat ability and level, ready to sacrifice oneself. To do so, it is necessary to train "basically, practically, synchronously, in depth", taking the training ground as the battlefield, taking the firm protection of the sovereignty of the sea, islands, and continental shelf of the Fatherland as the training target.