On the long journey of work, being able to meet, talk and fly with the soldiers with "iron bodies and skin", high martial arts skills, "walking without traces, cooking without smoke, speaking without sound" helps us feel more clearly about the love for the Fatherland and the hardships and silent sacrifices that they go through every day...

At 3 a.m. on a day in early July, at Chu Lai Airport ( Da Nang City), officers and soldiers of special forces and reconnaissance forces were busy moving specialized parachutes from trucks and arranging them in neat rows next to the runway. According to the assigned tasks, the team of officers and trainers of the 372nd Air Division (Air Defense - Air Force) carefully checked each main and auxiliary parachute, ensuring the safety of the troops during the training and practice of airborne landing. After checking their physical strength, heart rate, and blood pressure, the soldiers began to warm up, then quickly put on their weapons and equipment, ready to wait for orders. Although we did not participate in the parachute jump, we reporters were also examined and checked very carefully by the military medical department.

Special Forces practice fighting plans after being released from an airplane.

At exactly 5:30, when the sun had just risen, two Mi-17 helicopters officially took off, bringing the team of fighters and scouts into the air. Shaking hands with Lieutenant Bhnướch Noi, Platoon Leader of Platoon 1 (Company 1); Lieutenant Le Xuan Thanh, Platoon Leader of Platoon 8 (Company 3) and the young officers and cadres participating in parachute and airborne landing for the first time of the unit, Major Le Vu Thang, Deputy Battalion Commander of the 409 Special Forces Battalion encouraged the soldiers: "I wish you all to be calm, confident, and hit the bull's eye." Having said that, Thang walked to the door of the helicopter, bravely jumping into the air. The commander's actions were like a wordless command urging the entire unit to move forward, determined to complete the mission excellently. In the clear sky, the white parachutes opened one by one and slowly lowered their altitude.

Talking to us after landing safely, Captain Ha Quang Vinh, Deputy Battalion Commander of the 32nd Reconnaissance Battalion, said: “Landing by parachute is one of the important and specific specialized training contents of special forces and reconnaissance troops. During the landing practice, in addition to the main parachute and auxiliary parachute, the soldiers must also carry full weapons and equipment to be ready to fight and fight the enemy when a situation arises. In complex terrain and weather conditions, with frequent strong winds that change direction continuously like at Chu Lai airport, to pilot the parachute to land on the bull's eye requires soldiers to have courage, health, and know how to flexibly, creatively, and effectively apply the knowledge, skills, and experience they have been trained and equipped with. In the unit, there are many comrades who have parachuted and landed by air nearly 40 times, but there are also comrades who are performing this task for the first time, so feelings of nervousness and anxiety are inevitable. Understanding that, the Party Committee, The unit commander always cares, encourages, and helps before, during, and after parachuting and air landing, so that soldiers can complete their missions well."

One flight after another, the military transport planes continuously took off and landed. In the sky of the Fatherland, the parachutes silently swayed, carrying the desire for freedom and the pride of the young soldiers. Having completed the mission of parachuting and air landing, without any time to rest and regain strength, the soldiers continued to practice rope sliding and hanging from the plane. Coordinating and achieving collective achievements, upon landing, the reconnaissance teams and special forces quickly took advantage of the terrain, terrain, and secret maneuvers, approached the target, suddenly opened fire, threw grenades, stabbed bayonets, and butted to completely destroy the terrorists, extremists, and hostage takers. Their faces were dark from the sun, their uniforms were soaked with salty sweat, but smiles always appeared on the lips of the brave soldiers.

According to Lieutenant Nguyen Trong Tu, Reconnaissance Officer of Company 1 (Reconnaissance Battalion 32), although they have been trained, practiced and inspected for safety very carefully, during the implementation of the mission, especially when the weather is complicated, the risk of the parachute getting stuck in the landing gear, the parachute not opening, the parachute being twisted, the parachute losing control and drifting out to sea, landing on high-voltage power lines, trees, roads... is always latent. Therefore, in addition to qualifications, skills and experience, soldiers are required to constantly train to improve their bravery, qualifications, and be ready to face difficulties, challenges, and dangers. Determining that the training ground sweats, the battlefield bleeds less, soldiers always uphold the spirit of overcoming the sun and rain, practicing enthusiastically, gradually improving their qualifications, coordination and cooperation, and being ready to fight.

Although carrying out difficult and dangerous tasks, with a burning love for the profession, we, the reporters and journalists in military uniforms, always stand shoulder to shoulder with the soldiers on their journey to conquer the sky, to feel, to talk, to write about those brave, courageous, and elite soldiers.  

Article and photos: VIET HUNG

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/xay-dung-quan-doi/khang-dinh-ban-linh-trinh-do-cua-bo-doi-dac-cong-trinh-sat-837452