Two female soldiers from Nghe An are proud of their A80 mission.

These days in Northern Vietnam, the weather is a mix of bright sunshine and sudden, torrential rain. At the training ground of the National Military Training Center 4 (Hanoi), thousands of officers and soldiers are enthusiastically practicing in preparation for the parade and march commemorating the national holiday - the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2nd.

The colorful uniforms of the marching contingents, along with the lively chatter and laughter, added vibrancy to the training ground. In that atmosphere, with their distinct Nghe An accents, we met Thuy Linh and Thanh Tam, soldiers from Workshop X265, Department of Military Equipment, General Department of Logistics and Technical Services.

At their unit, Thùy Linh is a Finance officer, while Thanh Tâm is a Medical officer. When informed by their unit about the selection of soldiers to participate in the A80 parade, both friends immediately signed up without hesitation.

Thùy Linh joined the female Signal Corps. Participating in a parade for the first time, she was initially unaccustomed to the intensity. Training under scorching hot weather, with temperatures on the training grounds reaching 39-40 degrees Celsius on some days, especially during peak hours, made her very tired. However, the young female soldier always clearly understood her mission, maintained her spirit, and strived every day, gradually adapting to the high intensity of training.

Thùy Linh emotionally shared: “The most difficult thing is missing and feeling sorry for the ‘retired group,’ my two children are still so young. I have one child almost 4 years old and another who is starting first grade this year. Right before I left, my husband and I asked the ‘retired group’ to help look after the children during the training. I received a special assignment, so the grandparents were very proud and encouraged me to focus on my duties, leaving the children to them. This is the first time they’ve been away from their mother for such a long time, but my children are very well-behaved and obedient to their grandparents.”

As for Thanh Tam, who served in the female military band unit and had previously participated in parades during the A50 mission, returning to the A80 mission was a completely different experience. “Compared to previous missions, this one had a larger number of soldiers, higher demands, and harsher weather conditions. During some rehearsals, many fainted from exhaustion. Even so, no one gave up; the entire unit maintained a high sense of responsibility and determination to successfully complete the mission,” Thanh Tam shared.

Every step is precise, every gaze is resolute on the training ground; amidst the scorching sun, overcoming injuries, and enduring salty sweat… this is proof of the steely spirit of the Ordnance Corps soldiers. Without flowery words or flashy cameras, they are fulfilling their sacred mission on this great national day with the steps of pride and the fervent patriotism of the sons and daughters of Nghe An province.