The joy of volunteering to join the army of Catholic youth before departure

In 2023, Nghi Kieu commune (Nghi Loc) has 2 Catholic youths who voluntarily applied to join the army and were selected. They are Nguyen Van Binh and Phan Van Thi. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Based on citizen call criteriajoin the armyIn 2023, the Provincial Military Command directed the Military Commands of districts, cities and towns to issue a call-up order.join the army3,255 citizens, reaching 105% of the target, of which official: 3,100 citizens, reserve 155 citizens.

The quality of citizens joining the army in 2023 is high. Among the citizens joining the army, there are 527 citizens with health category 1, 1,950 citizens with health category 2; 677 citizens who volunteered to join the army; 169 citizens with university, college, and intermediate degrees; 06 citizens are party members, 3,249 citizens are union members, 1,315 citizens have attended training classes for Party members; 735 citizens are ethnic minorities; 187 citizens have religions.

Receiving military equipment before departure. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Notably, many citizens with religious beliefs who will join the army in 2023 are citizens who have previously applied for voluntary military service... This clearly shows the awareness and aspiration of Nghe An youth in contributing to building and protecting their homeland and country; the spirit of respecting God, loving the country, and living a good life and following the religion is demonstrated through concrete actions.

Nguyen Van Binh, born in 2003, is one of two Catholic youths in Nghi Kieu commune, Nghi Loc district who wrote an application to volunteer for military service and was accepted. Binh shared: “I am the youngest child in a family of 4 siblings. At the time I received the call for military service, I was working in construction with my father in the provinces. When I received the call for military service, I was very happy and immediately returned to my hometown to write an application to volunteer.”

Nguyen Van Binh shared: As a young man, I always aspire to contribute to and protect the Fatherland. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Nguyen Van Binh shared his joy before joining the army: “As a young man, I always aspire to contribute to and protect the Fatherland. I am very happy that my wish has been fulfilled. The army is a good environment to train myself to become mature, I will try to excellently complete all assigned tasks, worthy of the pride of a soldier in the Vietnam People's Army”.

Similarly, Phan Van Thi, born in 2003, in Hamlet 8, Nghi Kieu Commune, was also very happy to be able to put on his backpack and set off to fulfill his sacred duty to the Fatherland. At the time Thi received the call for military service examination, he was doing carpentry at home and waiting to be sent to Taiwan to work.

New recruit Phan Van Thi confided: I want to contribute a part of my efforts to the Fatherland... Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Phan Van Thi said: “I just think that joining the military is the responsibility and duty of a citizen; as a young person, the responsibility to protect the Fatherland and homeland must be placed first. I want to contribute a part of my efforts to the Fatherland. Therefore, I applied to volunteer for military service and was accepted. Knowing my wish, my parents were very happy and supportive.”

Phan Van Thi is the youngest son in a family of four children. His three older sisters are all married. Mr. Phan Van Hieu (53 years old) - Thi's father said: "When you leave, the family will be without a worker, the house will be more deserted. But the family is very supportive of your wishes. As a young man, you should go out and contribute to the Fatherland.

Mr. Phan Van Hieu - Thi's father advised his son to constantly strive to study and train in the military: Photo: Dinh Tuyen

The family clearly recognizes that the military environment is a good environment for their child to train and mature. The family encourages their child to continuously strive to study and train after joining the army. When discharged from the army, with the preferential policies of the State, the child will certainly have the opportunity to develop and have a solid foundation for the future, such as learning a new profession or working in foreign labor markets with better income levels.

According to Mr. Phan Van Hieu: In the parish, the priests and the church council are very supportive of the children joining the army and contributing to the country. The elders are also the ones who propagate so that everyone can better understand the Law on Military Service as well as the responsibilities of citizens.

Nghi Kieu Commune Party Committee and government met, encouraged, and presented gifts to young people joining the army in 2023. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

It is known that in recent years, Nghi Kieu commune has always been a locality that has done a good job in selecting and calling citizens to join the army. The locality has always ensured the target and the quality is increasingly high. In 2023, the commune has 11 citizens joining the army, of which 10 citizens participate in military service and 01 citizen participates in police service. Of these 11 people, 5 citizens are religious.

Mr. Tran Quoc Viet - Commander of Nghi Kieu Commune Military Command said: "In the locality, when implementing policies in general and the work of selecting and calling citizens to join the army in particular, the commune has done a good job of propaganda and mobilization to the hamlets, religious dignitaries, and religious organizations. Therefore, religious dignitaries and officials are very supportive and actively encourage and motivate young people from religious areas to go on duty.

In addition to directly mobilizing young people to participate in military service at church ceremonies, dignitaries and officials also proactively discuss with parents to let their children go for medical examinations and register for military service to fulfill their duty of dedicating their youth to the country.