We arrived at the 968th Division just as the entire unit was enthusiastically participating in emulation campaigns to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Division's founding (June 28, 1968 / June 28, 2023). Alongside the emulation activities and achievements to celebrate the founding anniversary, the agencies and units intensified traditional education for the soldiers.

During this trip, we had the opportunity to participate in a traditional education session for the soldiers of Battalion 6, Regiment 19. In the Division's Traditional Room – which displays many documents about the history of the formation and development of the Communist Party of Vietnam , the Army, and the Division – the soldiers listened to a presentation about the unit's traditions. From a photograph of People's Armed Forces Hero Cu Chinh Lan, a soldier of Regiment 9 (later part of Division 968) during the resistance war against French colonialism, to the Division's achievements throughout its journey of building, fighting, and maturing.

Young officers from the 968th Division visit the Division's Traditional House.

The 968th Division organized a visit and traditional education program for its soldiers at the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel historical site.

According to Colonel Pham Van Sam, Deputy Political Commissar of the 968th Division, to make political and traditional education lessons more lively and engaging, in addition to the general curriculum, the Division requires political officers to thoroughly research history, consult documents provided by witnesses and veterans, supplement their lectures, and encourage the use of projectors with practical examples to make the lessons easy for soldiers to understand and apply. The unit also organizes visits to the traditional house, historical sites, and the Ho Chi Minh Room for soldiers to increase visual engagement and avoid one-way transmission of knowledge.

With the motto that traditional education must be lively and engaging, the political department advised the Party Committee and the command of Division 968 to direct and guide the officers to actively explore, create, and innovate teaching methods to make lectures more persuasive and attractive. As a result, many officers have come up with new ideas and approaches, thereby helping soldiers to easily absorb the information and improve the effectiveness of ideological training.

Through activities that integrate traditional education for soldiers.

Soldiers of the 968th Division maintain the National Martyrs' Cemetery on Highway 9.

In Battalion 5, the political officers actively researched the circumstances surrounding the creation and significance of historical figures and events to compile a set of answers and create the game "Testing the Soldier's Skills." This game not only serves to relax and entertain soldiers during breaks, days off, and respite periods on the training ground, but also, through historical figures and revolutionary songs, helps soldiers gain a deeper understanding of the traditions of their homeland, country, and unit. This is also a gentle yet highly effective way of educating them about traditions.

Private Le Quang Huy, a soldier in Company 2, Battalion 4, shared: "With lively, visual, and unconstrained teaching methods through games, poems, rhymes, and revolutionary songs, we understand more about history and traditions, fostering patriotism and national pride; from there, each soldier clearly recognizes their honor and responsibility, determined to fulfill their duties and responsibilities well, contributing to building a strong and comprehensive unit."

Text and photos: NGOC THANG