Our 18th birthday

When I made the decision to apply to the Political Officer Training School, my parents couldn't hide their surprise. In their minds, a civilian environment would probably be less harsh for their son. But after that initial shock came their absolute respect for my choice. That respect wasn't just support; it unintentionally became an "unspoken command," urging me to live more responsibly on the path I had chosen.

My 18th year began with a Party membership card tucked into my breast pocket and nights of sweaty marches on the training ground. Many people ask me if I regret immersing myself in formal discipline so early? The answer lies in the maturity I found at Battalion 1, Political Officer Training School.

At Platoon 9, we lived and studied in a collective where the trainees who had joined the Party always played a core role, spreading the pioneering spirit throughout the unit. The presence and tireless efforts of our outstanding comrades created an atmosphere of proud but also intense competition. Surrounded by role models with ideals and aspirations, exemplary conduct was no longer a dry slogan on paper, but a genuine competition in every action.

I understand that in an environment where everyone strives every day, merely achieving just enough is a step backward. Therefore, each of us must create pressure for ourselves, determined to eliminate the mentality of "mediocrity" in order to cultivate the character of a future political officer.

The military environment molded my 18-year-old self, shedding my unrealistic dreams and instead instilling in me a maturity that prioritized the "we" over the "I." The military taught not only how to wield a weapon but also how to face hardship with steely resolve. This maturity is evident in every small action, from neatly folding my blanket each morning to persistently staying on the training ground under the scorching sun and sincerely sharing a hand with a comrade during times of fatigue. We learned to confront difficulties with the courage of a Party member and soldier: We didn't shy away, we weren't afraid of hardship, and we were always at the forefront of the unit's most arduous tasks.

Writing these days, as the whole country looks forward to the 96th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3, 1930 - February 3, 2026), I feel even more troubled. Sitting in the lecture hall of the Political Officer Training School, flipping through the pages of the Party's history, I don't see them as just dry numbers. I see blood and flowers in them, I see the youth of previous generations who dedicated themselves to national independence.

For first-year students like me, commemorating the founding of the Party is not about flowery congratulations. It's an opportunity for us to "self-reflect and self-correct." The Party doesn't need us to just memorize theory; it needs us to transform theory into practical strength to protect the Party's ideological foundation from the moment we are in school. Absolute loyalty to the Party at this time means meticulous attention to detail in every specialized class, exemplary conduct in daily life, and unwavering political resolve in the face of all life's challenges.

"Our 18th year" at Company 3, Battalion 1 may have lacked city dates, but it was filled with camaraderie and a desire to serve. I am proud to have chosen to join the Party at the age of 18, and even more proud to have been trained at the Political Officer Training School.

My choice back then was the right one. And today, under the banner of victory, I promise to continue walking with the feet of a soldier, thinking with the mind of a communist, and acting with the heart of a young party member, so that the respect my parents once showed will become a lasting source of pride in the future.

Nguyen Huu Hoang Minh