"Unit level 1!", the commander's command and the alarm bell rang throughout the battlefield. Officers and soldiers of the 37mm Anti-Aircraft Artillery Platoon (Bach Long Vi Island Defense Battalion, under the Hai Phong City Military Command) quickly maneuvered into combat positions. When a flying target appeared, the command telescope continuously captured and followed the target, the data was continuously marked on the map board, reported to the unit commander and transmitted to the battery teams. On the artillery platform, the gunners coordinated smoothly, ready to fire when the target came into range. This was the air defense plan practice session of the 37mm Anti-Aircraft Artillery Platoon during the Lunar New Year of Giap Thin in 2024. Although the weather was cold with drizzle, the bustling atmosphere of the new spring seemed to add strength to the young officers and soldiers of the unit to strive to fulfill their mission of firmly protecting the sky of the Fatherland.

Celebrating Tet in the army for the first time and performing combat readiness duty, Private First Class To Van Chien, a soldier of the 37mm Anti-Aircraft Artillery Platoon, confided: “I have mixed emotions, both homesick and very excited about the spring activities at the unit and somewhat worried about completing the combat duty which is very serious and demanding. However, thanks to the attention and encouragement from commanders at all levels and my own self-awareness, I always determine to uphold my responsibility in performing my duties. Starting from actively practicing, completing well the assigned duties and tasks, closely coordinating with other soldiers in the battery, ready to destroy targets according to the commander's orders”.

The work of coordinating to grasp the situation, ensure political security, order and social safety in Bach Long Vi island district is always focused on. At 5:00 a.m., when the sun had not yet risen, comrade Le Van Chuyen, Platoon Leader of the Mobile Militia Platoon of Bach Long Vi island district and his teammates were present at the port to join border guards and soldiers in patrolling the waters around the island. Mr. Chuyen's family currently has a boat providing services for transporting people and goods around the island and a grocery store. Mr. Chuyen, as well as many officers and soldiers in the Mobile Militia Platoon, always arrange their time to participate in maintaining political security, order and social safety in the area. “Each of our patrols usually lasts three to five hours, depending on weather and hydrological conditions. This is a regular coordination activity between the district militia and the border guards to propagate and mobilize people to comply with the law and promptly detect and handle situations of insecurity and disorder at sea. Along with the border guards, the mobile militia on the island also actively coordinates with the coast guard to carry out their duties. In cases where vehicles are needed, I am ready to use my family's vehicles to carry out the district's common tasks,” said comrade Le Van Chuyen.

Also according to the sharing of the Platoon Leader of the Mobile Militia Platoon of Bach Long Vi Island District, in addition to patrolling the water area, officers and soldiers of the unit patrol the mainland area around the island and protect important targets under the direction of superiors. Despite having to patrol on foot for a distance of more than 10 km, through many areas of steep and slippery terrain, the officers and soldiers of the militia of Bach Long Vi Island overcame difficulties, always accepting and completing the assigned duties and tasks.

Bach Long Vi Island has a particularly important strategic position in the Gulf of Tonkin, therefore, together with the forces stationed in the area, officers and soldiers of units under the Hai Phong City Military Command are always united, upholding the sense of responsibility, thoroughly grasping and strictly implementing the directive of Military Region 3 on combat readiness; reviewing and adjusting plans, practicing combat readiness plans, especially combat plans to protect the sea and islands; doing a good job of coordination to grasp the situation, not being passive or surprised.

In order for the troops to successfully complete the task of protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands, Colonel Bui Xuan Thang, Commander of the Hai Phong City Military Command, said: “Carrying out tasks on offshore islands requires officers and soldiers of the units to be highly focused and make great efforts. The City Military Command requires leaders and commanders of units stationed on the islands to do a good job of political and ideological education, encouragement, and sharing difficulties with the troops; ensuring full standards and regimes, paying attention to spiritual life, and organizing joyful and healthy spring activities so that officers and soldiers can work with peace of mind. The City Military Command strengthens regular and surprise inspections of the implementation of on-duty order and regime, preventing subjectivity and loss of vigilance ■