Bach Long Vi Island Defense Battalion: Steadfast in the middle of the ocean

In the midst of the storm, officers and soldiers of the Bach Long Vi Island Defense Battalion, under the Defense Command of Area 1 - Gia Vien (Hai Phong City Military Command) always strive day and night to overcome difficulties, persistently train, and be ready for combat. From the beginning of 2025 up to now, the unit has completed the entire training program, many targets have been met and exceeded, and at the same time made its mark at competitions and sports events with high achievements. Those achievements have become a strong source of motivation, adding confidence for the Battalion to firmly step on the journey to protect the sovereignty of the sacred sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Perseverance in overcoming difficulties, fostering the bravery of soldiers on remote islands

According to Lieutenant Colonel Pham Ngoc Huong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Battalion Commander of the Bach Long Vi Island Defense Battalion, in the context of the world and regional situation continuing to have complicated developments, the task of managing and protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands for the armed forces is increasingly heavy, with increasingly higher requirements. Standing on a remote island in the middle of the ocean, officers and soldiers of the Bach Long Vi Island Defense Battalion not only face harsh climate conditions and lack of facilities, but also regularly strain themselves in training, patrolling, and on duty, ensuring combat readiness in all situations. It is in these hardships that the spirit of solidarity, the will to overcome difficulties and the determination to rise up have been fostered, becoming a strong driving force for the unit to constantly improve the quality of training and successfully complete assigned tasks.

Right from the beginning of 2025, with the close leadership and direction of the Party Committee, the Defense Command of Area 1 - Gia Vien, the Party Committee - Command of the Bach Long Vi Island Defense Battalion have seriously disseminated training orders and instructions, built scientific plans, closely related to the characteristics of the tasks and the area, and at the same time implemented the motto "Basic, practical, solid". Thanks to that, the unit's training has achieved many outstanding results, 100% of cadres are trained according to the hierarchy, of which 85% are good, excellent, 40% are excellent; in the subjects, 100% of the content meets the requirements, over 83% are good, excellent. The training contents are carried out synchronously, focusing on training close to actual combat, associated with the specific conditions on the island, ensuring that soldiers have a firm grasp of techniques, are proficient in tactics, are proficient in handling situations, and have mastered weapons and equipment.

Along with regular training, the Battalion also actively participates in competitions and sports events organized by superiors and has achieved many proud achievements. Notably, at the 2025 Competition for Innovation in Teaching Aid Models organized by the Hai Phong City Military Command, the Battalion had 1 comrade win the C prize, 3 comrades were recognized for their initiatives at the Command level. At the 2025 Competition for Military Cadres at the Company and Battalion levels for Excellent Training at the Military Region level, the unit had 2 comrades recognized as Excellent Training Cadres at the Military Region level, of which 1 comrade was awarded a Certificate of Merit and won the Second Prize of the Competition. These achievements are both the concrete results of persistent efforts and proof of the maturity and steadfastness in all aspects of the Battalion's cadres and soldiers in training and combat readiness.

Captain Bui Van Hieu - Infantry Company Commander shared: "Training on a remote island has many difficulties, especially in terms of training grounds, training grounds and equipment, but thanks to the close direction of the Party Committee - Battalion Command and the high determination of officers and soldiers, we always promote the spirit of overcoming difficulties, being proactive and creative, maintaining a serious training routine, ensuring quality and practical effectiveness."

Synchronized training, linked to combat practice

Senior Lieutenant Bui Duy Dat - Platoon Leader of PK37 Platoon said: "The most important thing in combat readiness training is that soldiers are trained closely to actual combat, proficient in operations, and promptly handle situations. We always focus on combining technical training with tactics, training day and night, in complex weather conditions, so that soldiers are not surprised when situations arise."

Bach Long Vi Island Defense Battalion holds its guns firmly in the middle of the ocean, protecting every inch of the sacred sea. Photo: VNA

Practice at the unit shows that, along with the efforts of each officer and soldier, the leadership and direction of the Party Committee and commanders play a decisive role. Lieutenant Colonel Pham Ngoc Huong - Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Battalion Commander of the Bach Long Vi Island Defense Battalion affirmed: "We identify training as the central task, combat readiness as a regular task, building a strong and comprehensive unit is a consistent goal. The Party Committee - Battalion Commander will continue to promote achievements, overcome difficulties, innovate training content and forms, associated with building regularity, discipline training, enhancing overall strength, meeting the requirements of firmly protecting sea and island sovereignty in the new situation".

Based on the results achieved, in the coming time, the Bach Long Vi Island Defense Battalion will continue to focus on a number of key solutions, including synchronous, in-depth training, close to combat reality and the specific conditions of the island; promoting the movement of research, innovation, technical improvement, application in training, and combat readiness. The unit also pays special attention to improving the quality of cadre training according to decentralization; strengthening coordinated training of forces in island defense, linking training with live-fire exercises; at the same time, paying attention to building political mettle, determination, discipline, and order for soldiers.

With the spirit of "good training, high combat readiness", along with the determination and unity of all officers and soldiers, the Bach Long Vi Island Defense Battalion continues to promote tradition, overcome difficulties, excellently complete training missions, contributing to firmly protecting the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland in all situations, Lieutenant Colonel Pham Ngoc Huong said.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/xa-hoi/tieu-doan-phong-thu-dao-bach-long-vi-vung-tay-sung-giua-trung-khoi-20250918092007652.htm