First week in military life

ĐBP - Entering military life brings a mix of disorientation and homesickness for new recruits. Yet, after nearly a week of training, these newly enlisted soldiers are beginning to adjust to new environment, strengthening their resolve, and preparing to fulfill their duties.

Currently, 300 new recruits stationed at Infantry Battalion 1, Regiment 741 under the Điện Biên Provincial Military Command are experiencing their first week of military life before officially beginning their full training.

Though mentally prepared, recruit Nguyễn Anh Cương could not help but feel overwhelmed as his daily routines were replaced by the disciplined schedules and strict structure of life at Infantry Battalion 1.

An officer from Infantry Battalion 1, Regiment 741 under the Điện Biên Provincial Military Command guides new recruits how do morning exercises.

At the sound of the morning bugle, the barracks spring to life. Cương and his fellow recruits quickly assemble for morning exercises - their first lesson in discipline and unity.

Gone are the days of sleeping in. Each day begins promptly at 5:30am, following a tightly structured schedule: physical training, military drill training, mastering the art of folding blankets into perfect squares, adapting to the military’s behavior standards and collective living.

Making beds to perfection is among the first lessons for new recruits.

For the recruits, changing old habits is not easy. Their movements remain awkward, and their blanket folds imperfect. However, with dedicated guidance from commanding officers and mentorship from experienced soldiers, Cương and his fellow recruits patiently adjust every detail, persevering until each task becomes second nature.

At Regiment 82, Division 355 under Military Region 2, after receiving 850 recruits from Điện Biên, Lai Châu, and Sơn La Provinces, additional training sessions - such as maintaining barracks hygiene and practicing unarmed line-up regulations - are systematically introduced to help new soldiers build confidence and resilience from their first day.

An officer from Battalion 1, Regiment 82 instructs a new recruit on proper blanket-folding techniques.

Apart from discipline and daily routines, new recruits begin their journey with foundational lessons in military life. Rather than immediately focusing on weapons training or long marches, early lessons include understanding the unit’s traditions and engaging in self-sufficiency activities.

At Battalion 1, Regiment 82, which recently welcomed 425 new recruits, a banner reads: “The unit is your home, and your comrades are your brothers.” According to Lieutenant Cứ Hồng Sơn, Commander of Platoon 4, Company 1, the officers, while maintaining strict discipline, also act as mentors and friends, helping new recruits overcome feelings of hesitation and unfamiliarity.

New recruits engage in production promotion.

Initial feelings of hesitation quickly fade thanks to the dedication and care of the training staff. Open conversations and genuine interest allow officers to understand new recruits’ thoughts and aspirations, fostering trust and enabling new recruits to fully focus on their training. In this environment, strangers quickly form bonds through shared goals and experiences.

Recruit Quàng Văn Định from Battalion 1, Regiment 82 shared: “Before arriving at the unit, I was nervous and unsure. But with the support and guidance from the officers - like elder brothers in a family - I have gained more confidence. I have learned not just military discipline but also how to organize everything neatly and logically, something I rarely paid attention to at home”.

An officers from Battalion 1, Regiment 82 join talks to better understand thoughts and concerns of new recruits.

Within just a few days, these young men begin to embody the spirit of soldiers - marked by sun-kissed skin, well-fitted uniforms, and eyes filled with determination and pride. After just a week, they appear stronger, more disciplined, and more confident with neatly cropped hair, sharp uniforms. They share a common determination: To train hard, fulfill their duties, and complete every mission assigned.

Following this introductory period, official military training for new recruits will begin on March 1. Over the next two years, these young soldiers will cultivate discipline, responsibility, and personal growth. With determination and youthful vigor, they will gradually adapt to military life, stay committed to their training, and successfully complete every task assigned to them.

Thu Hằng
Comment

You have 500/500 characters left

Please enter 5 or more characters!!!

Recent news

  • 'Promoting effective command work, completing military and dfense tasks

    Promoting effective command work, completing military and dfense tasks

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - As a mountainous border province with a strategically vital position in national defense and security, Điện Biên has always been designated as a key area in building a strong defensive zone. In the context of implementing organizational streamlining policies for a more efficient and effective government apparatus, the restructuring of military agencies presents new requirements: maintaining and improving the quality of advisory work despite reduced personnel, broader management responsibilities, and increasingly complex coordination, while still ensuring the successful execution of local military and defense duties.
  • 'Điện Biên’s education sector sees positive signs in pedagogical field

    Điện Biên’s education sector sees positive signs in pedagogical field

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - In recent years, the education sector of Điện Biên province has witnessed encouraging trends in pedagogical enrollments, signaling a renewed interest in the educational profession. This shift reflects the effectiveness of state support and incentive policies, as well as the efforts of the sector and local training institutions in career guidance and outreach.
  • 'Ensuring essential goods supply during rainy season

    Ensuring essential goods supply during rainy season

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - With the goal of timely supply and preventing shortages of essential goods during the rainy and stormy season, the Điện Biên provincial Department of Industry and Trade has coordinated with localities and businesses to proactively prepare supply plans and stockpiles. As of now, essential goods have been fully stocked and are ready to be promptly delivered to residents, especially those in remote and mountainous areas, should natural disasters strike.
  • 'Điện Biên grasps the opportunity of “golden” demographic structure

    Điện Biên grasps the opportunity of “golden” demographic structure

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - The “golden population” period marks a unique demographic phase not only for the province but also for the entire country, when the working-age population makes up the largest proportion of the total population. If effectively harnessed, this window offers a powerful opportunity to drive sustainable development.
  • 'Motivation for disadvantaged children

    Motivation for disadvantaged children

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - The SOS Children’s Village Điện Biên Phủ in Điện Biên province has become a safe haven for hundreds of orphans and children from particularly difficult backgrounds in Vietnam’s remote northwest. Facing challenges in maintaining operational funding, Resolution No.10/2025/NQ-HDND (known as Resolution No.10) adopted by the provincial People’s Council represents a deeply humanitarian policy, providing strong momentum for the village to continue its mission of nurturing and shaping a brighter future for vulnerable children.
  • 'Huổi Trẳng project “racing against time”

    Huổi Trẳng project “racing against time”

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - Huổi Trẳng, a highland resettlement hamlet in Tủa Thàng commune, Điện Biên province, relies heavily on the Huổi Trẳng wharf as a vital transportation hub. While the construction of this wharf is of significant importance, the project has faced numerous challenges during implementation.
  • 'Điện Biên must uphold the “Điện Biên Phủ Spirit”

    Điện Biên must uphold the “Điện Biên Phủ Spirit”

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - On the afternoon of July 27, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Tô Lâm, along with a delegation of senior leaders from the Party, State, and Government, held a working session with key officials of Điện Biên province to discuss socio-economic development, national defense, security, and social welfare in the region.
  • 'Party General Secretary Tô Lâm offers incense to fallen heroes, visits veteran in Điện Biên

    Party General Secretary Tô Lâm offers incense to fallen heroes, visits veteran in Điện Biên

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - On July 27, marking the 78th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 1947 - 2025), Party General Secretary Tô Lâm, accompanied by a delegation of the Party and State officials, visited the Memorial Temple for Martyrs on the Điện Biên Phủ battlefield, paid tribute at the A1 Martyrs’ Cemetery, and visited the family of war veteran Phạm Văn Ngân in Điện Biên Phủ ward.
  • 'Wounded but not useless veterans

    Wounded but not useless veterans

    BUSINESS -
    ĐBP - Though the war has long passed, many wounded and sick veterans still carry the scars of bombs and bullets on their bodies. In this time of peace, these Uncle Hồ’s soldiers continue to rise above pain and disability, standing firm on a new front, working tirelessly to develop their livelihoods, build their families, and contribute to the progress of their homeland. They are the quiet yet resilient examples of President Hồ Chí Minh’s saying, “wounded but not useless,” living honorable lives in peacetime.
  • 'Gratitude given to national contributors

    Gratitude given to national contributors

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - “Gratitude for those who came before” is a deeply rooted tradition in Vietnamese culture. Upholding that spirit, the province of Điện Biên has, in recent years, remained steadfast in implementing policies to support war veterans and revolution contributors, organizing meaningful initiatives to improve their physical and emotional well-being.
  • 'An ever-flowing source of gratitude

    An ever-flowing source of gratitude

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - July arrives with solemn emotion in the hearts of millions of Vietnamese people. It is a month of remembrance and gratitude, a time of quiet reflection for the nation to honor the heroic individuals who bravely sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland. In Điện Biên province, once a fierce battlefield, every road, every martyr’s cemetery, and every engraved stone bears witness to a legacy of sacrifice, reminding us that gratitude must be preserved through heartfelt actions.
  • 'When local government becomes the starting point

    When local government becomes the starting point

    SOCIAL AFFAIRS -
    ĐBP - What was once considered a routine administrative formality, such as issuing marriage certificates or birth certificates, is now being transformed in many communes and wards in Điện Biên province into meaningful, respectful, and emotional ceremonies. By treating these legal documents with dignity, local authorities are marking a significant beginning for families and shifting public perception of government as one that is truly close to the people.
  • 'Mường Nhé Party Committee gears up for inaugural congress

    Mường Nhé Party Committee gears up for inaugural congress

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - The Party congresses for the 2025-2030 term mark a broad and significant political event across the entire Party, armed forces, and people. In that same spirit, immediately after its establishment and official operation, the Mường Nhé commune Party Committee quickly began preparations for its first congress.
  • 'Spreading the practice of studying and following Uncle Hồ’s example

    Spreading the practice of studying and following Uncle Hồ’s example

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - Over the past decade (2016-2025), implementing Directive No.05-CT/TW of the Politburo on promoting the study and following of Hồ Chí Minh’s ideology, morality, and lifestyle, Điện Biên province has developed many effective approaches, embedding the practice deeply into social life. A growing number of exemplary individuals have emerged across various fields, with their concrete actions spreading the spirit of Hồ Chí Minh’s legacy throughout communities and sectors.
  • 'Proactive and flexible public service for the people

    Proactive and flexible public service for the people

    NEWS - POLITICS -
    ĐBP - Mường Toong commune in Điện Biên province was established following the merger of the former Mường Toong and Huổi Lếch communes (formerly of Mường Nhé district). After nearly one month of operating under the new model, despite facing challenges such as limited infrastructure and a shortage of specialized personnel in certain sectors, the commune’s Party Committee and local authorities have taken a proactive and flexible approach in organizing and stabilizing the new administrative apparatus. The dedicated and responsible team of civil servants has created the most favorable conditions for residents during the transition period.