From schoolyards to training grounds

Early on the morning of December 19, in the chill of midwinter, the area outside the gate of Regiment 82, Division 355 was livelier than usual. Along the roads leading into the unit, groups of students of all ages, from kindergarten and primary school to lower secondary, filed toward the training ground. Dressed in military uniforms, their faces lit up with excitement for an unusual lesson.

Children held hands, carrying caps, scarves, and small flags. Parents and teachers reminded them to keep order while encouraging them to take part confidently. Inside the barracks, officers and soldiers were already in place, preparing to welcome and guide the visiting groups. The sound of children’s footsteps and cheerful chatter blended with drill commands on the field, creating a lively yet disciplined atmosphere, marking the start of a meaningful experiential day.

Immediately after the welcome ceremony, the children watched close-order drills, morning exercises, martial arts, combined combat routines, and basic physical training exercises. Seeing the disciplined, decisive movements on the training ground gave them a vivid, firsthand sense of military life, far more tangible than images conveyed through textbooks.

At Company 1, Battalion 1, a cultural exchange was held with students from Hoa Sen Kindergarten and Hoa Ban Kindergarten. Wearing soldiers’ uniforms, children sang and danced to songs about Uncle Hồ’s soldiers, their homeland, and the country. Their simple, heartfelt performances helped forge bonds between officers, soldiers, and the young visitors. It was a straightforward yet effective form of emotional education, nurturing early respect and affection for the armed forces.

First Lieutenant Vì Văn Nên, Deputy Secretary of the Youth Union of Regiment 82, said that alongside cultural activities, children toured living quarters, dining halls, production gardens, and training grounds. Soldiers introduced daily routines, weekly schedules, and basic discipline requirements. The students learned how to fold blankets to the “right angles, straight edges” standard, joined age-appropriate physical games, and explored suitable equipment.

“These simple activities help build discipline, self-care skills, and team spirit”, First Lieutenant Nên said. “Most children were eager to ask questions about soldiers’ work and lives. Some even said they hope to become soldiers in the future.”

According to Regiment 82, the unit has coordinated with 13 schools, enabling more than 2,000 students to visit and learn during December. Firsthand exposure has helped students better understand the hardships and sense of responsibility shouldered by officers and soldiers, reinforcing a clear awareness of the mission to build and defend the Fatherland in the new context.

As part of this series, the Youth Union of Nậm Nhừ Border Post partnered with Nậm Nhừ Kindergarten to organize the program “We are soldiers”. The initiative is particularly meaningful for students in border areas, where border guard forces are directly responsible for managing and protecting the territory.

During the program, officers and youth members led sessions on military history and revolutionary traditions, introduced daily activities, organized cultural exchanges, and facilitated group games. Children wore mock military uniforms, lined up, saluted according to regulations, and listened to stories about guarding the border and safeguarding peaceful lives for local communities.

Though concise and tailored to children’s psychology, the activities carried clear educational direction. The approachable, responsible image of border guard officers resonated with students and parents alike, strengthening civil - military ties and reinforcing the “people’s hearts and minds posture” in the area.

Educating revolutionary ideals

Beyond activities marking the Vietnam People’s Army’s traditional day (December 22), these programs have been sustained for years to implement the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1895/QD-TTg on the program “Strengthening education on revolutionary ideals, ethics, lifestyles, and inspiring aspirations to contribute among youth, adolescents, and children for the 2021-2030 period.”

After three years, the provincial Department of Education and Training has advised on issuing policies suited to local conditions. A key feature is close coordination between the education sector and agencies and mass organizations, especially the Youth Union, provincial police, provincial military command, and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Through diverse activities such as “a semester in the army”, “volunteer Saturdays”, “green Sundays”, summer volunteer campaigns, cultural and sports exchanges, and visits to historical sites and museums, young people are instilled with patriotism, national pride, and a sense of responsibility to their communities and society.

Efforts to renew content and methods of ideological and history education have been tailored to age groups. At kindergarten level, activities focus on shaping early personality traits; at general education level, moral, civic, and historical education is integrated into subjects and experiential learning; for college and university students, programs are linked to studying and following Hồ Chí Minh’s thought, ethics, and style, alongside emulation movements.

These activities, from schoolyards to training grounds, underscore the value of linking education with real-world practice. Students gain exposure to discipline and collective awareness, and a concrete understanding of national defense duties, fostering genuine trust and affection for the people’s armed forces.

According to Trần Đăng Ninh, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training, the sector will continue to expand content, strengthen inter-agency coordination, and promote the combined role of families, schools, and society, while building a healthy, humane educational environment aligned with reform goals. The results achieved provide a solid foundation for comprehensive education and for developing high quality human resources to support the province’s growth.

Students wearing military uniforms is more than a simulation; it is a fitting form of experiential education that helps young people better understand their responsibilities to their homeland and country. From early lessons in discipline and gratitude, these values will continue to take root, becoming motivation for Điện Biên’s youth to strive and contribute to the cause of national construction and defense in the new era.