Silently, officers and soldiers of the Engineer Corps in mine clearance

In today’s peacetime, there are still silent wars within silence, dangers within dangers and hardships of the Engineer soldiers. That is the war in searching for bombs, mines, and explosives left over from the war . At the border of Ha Giang, the Engineer soldiers are determined to “clean and safe” the land contaminated by bombs, mines, and explosives left behind.

Engineer soldiers are often called "the ones who go first and come back later" because of their mission, dedication and silent sacrifice.

Ha Giang province has over 277 km of border adjacent to Yunnan and Guangxi provinces (China). The 1979 Northern Border War ended 46 years ago, but the war left behind very serious consequences, especially the remaining bombs, mines and explosives. The whole province has over 85,000 hectares of land contaminated by bombs, mines and explosives, mainly concentrated on the Vietnam - China border in 7 border districts: Vi Xuyen, Hoang Su Phi, Xin Man, Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van and Meo Vac.

The Command Board of the bomb and explosive clearance site of Brigade 543, Military Region 2 thoroughly instructed the Teams to ensure safety during the performance of their tasks.

In the last days of March, when the weather at the Ha Giang border is still extremely harsh with the rugged and thorny terrain. Visiting officers and soldiers of Brigade 543, Military Region 2 implementing Project Component No. 2 on clearing mines and explosives on the Vietnam - China border in Cao Ma Po commune, Quan Ba district. Early in the morning, the sky at the border is still thick with fog, the cold of March makes people "chill". Determined that when being reinforced to carry out the task here, an area with harsh climate, rugged terrain, and complicated situation of mines and explosives, 100% of the officers and soldiers of the Engineering Corps have a steadfast and steadfast stance and ideology and maximize their expertise and professionalism in their work.

Each officer and soldier performing bomb and explosive clearance operations needs to be highly focused on their work.

Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Van Hung, Deputy Commander of the mine and explosives clearance site of Brigade 543, Military Region 2, said: Regarding the task of mine and explosives clearance in Ha Giang province, the Party Committee and Command of Brigade 543, Military Region 2 always pay attention to, regularly encourage and create favorable conditions for each officer and soldier in performing the task. Before directly participating in the task in Cao Ma Po commune (Quan Ba), Brigade 543 organized for the entire mine and explosives clearance force this time to attend training at the Engineering Technical College on the task of mine and explosives clearance; during the training process, the officers and soldiers firmly grasped the procedures and order of the steps in clearance. The specific task of performing the task in a location with extremely complex and difficult terrain, the command force regularly monitored the actual situation, guided the officers and soldiers to perform the task to ensure efficiency and safety; Experienced officers will participate in difficult stages in complex terrain; from there, soldiers can learn and gain experience in performing their tasks better.

Officers and soldiers of Brigade 543, Military Region II participate in clearing mines and explosives in the border commune of Cao Ma Po (Quan Ba district, Ha Giang province).

Cao Ma Po Commune (Quan Ba) has over 28 km of border adjacent to Ma Ly Pho District, Yunnan Province, China . This is a border area directly affected in the war to protect the northern border of the Fatherland (1979 - 1991). Through a survey by the force, in the two border villages of Chin Chu Lin and Vang Cha Phin, Cao Ma Po Commune, there are currently about 210 bombs, mines, and explosives/ha . Carrying out the task of clearing bombs and mines here are 15 teams clearing obstacles of Brigade 543 and the Military Command of Ha Giang Province. Crossingsteep , slippery rockyslopes ,the work of clearing and clearing obstacles here isa challenging and dangerous task. However, for each Engineer soldier, no matter how difficult or arduous, theystill work diligently witha high sense of responsibility , for the safety of the people.

Sharing about the difficulties in carrying out the task of clearing mines and explosives in the border areas of Ha Giang province. Senior Lieutenant Cao Tran Tung, Head of the Mine Clearance Team of Brigade 543, Military Region 2 said: “The terrain of the border communes in Ha Giang province is extremely complex, with steep slopes, making it very difficult to move and maneuver to the task area. However, each officer and soldier of the unit's Engineering Corps always tries to overcome difficulties, strictly follow safety rules and the order of steps in clearing mines and explosives; officers with expertise and deep experience actively guide new officers and soldiers to ensure safety and complete the tasks well. The unit conducts the search, clearance, collection, classification and handling of mines and explosives in accordance with regulations and safety standards”.

The teams participating in the clearance of mines and explosives are fully equipped with protective equipment such as helmets and detectors. The process of carrying out the task is carried out by officers and soldiers carefully and with high concentration, the front group clears the way and the back group searches, creating a shield to protect the safety of the whole team. Because just a small mistake or a few seconds of lack of concentration, there may be no chance to learn from experience and will have to pay for it with losses and sacrifices in terms of personnel.

In addition to performing professional tasks, the units performing the bomb disposal task coordinate with the Ha Giang Border Guard force and local Party committees and authorities to carry out propaganda and mobilize people about the dangers caused by bombs, mines and explosives. At the same time, create favorable conditions for the bomb disposal force during the implementation of the task. Along with that, the units carry out well the on-site logistics work, reinforce the camps, increase short-term production to ensure fresh food sources and take care of the health of the soldiers.

For the Engineer soldiers in mine clearance, explosives, they alwayshope that the land where theypass through to do their dutywill no longer have the sound of bombs and bullets , sothat the people are trulysafe whendeveloping the economy here. Engineer soldiers are often called "the ones who go first, come back later" because of the important tasks assigned to them, their dedication and silent sacrifice .

In the period of 2020 - 2025, Ha Giang province has implemented the Project on clearance of bombs, mines and explosives , in which phase 1 mobilized 8 units, with thousands of officers and soldiers participating , completing clearance of bombs, mines and explosives with an area of over 1,700 hectares of land at high points in Thanh Duc, Thanh Thuy and Xin Chai communes of Vi Xuyen district. Phase 2 of the project has been and is being implemented , expected to clear bombs, mines and explosives with an area of over 1,500 hectares in Minh Tan commune (Vi Xuyen) and Cao Ma Po and Ta Van communes (Quan Ba district).