There is just over a month left until the 50th anniversary of national reunification. These days, at the National Military Training Center 4 (Hanoi), slogans of determination and heroic revolutionary melodies resound, adding to the spirit of thousands of officers and soldiers practicing for the parade. Everything is ready for the great holiday.

The parade blocks, marching, horizontal and vertical lines are straight like lines. The feet are raised high and stomped on the runway, creating a strong sound, the military appearance of the officers and soldiers is bright and cheerful, facing the podium.

Taking advantage of the break, Pham Thi Thao (27 years old), a member of the female Information officer group, looked at the armored soldiers, looking for a familiar face among the hundreds of soldiers moving.

Running from afar, his face covered in sweat, Pham Minh Quan (20 years old) shook hands and congratulated his sister. Female soldier Pham Thi Thao and soldier Pham Minh Quan are biological sisters, from Yen Mo, Ninh Binh.

Together write a volunteer application to join the army

After finishing high school, Pham Minh Quan had the ability to go to university, but he always dreamed of joining the army and serving the Fatherland. Being of military service age, Quan believed that the military environment would train and develop him into a stronger adult. Being able to join the army is also a noble and sacred responsibility, so Quan decided to volunteer.

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Pham Thi Thao and Pham Minh Quan before leaving for military service. Photo: NM

Confiding in her privately, Quan expressed his determination to join the army and surprisingly, Thao seemed to have found someone with the same aspirations. Although she had a stable job, Thao wanted to test herself in a disciplined military environment and train herself.

So, following her younger brother, Thao also volunteered to join the army. In 2024, she was the only young woman in Yen Mo district to be recruited for military service.

"Discipline in the army is very high and there are many new things, so I wrote a volunteer application. At first, my parents did not agree. A girl like me, born in 1998, should stay home and get married. But I was still determined to convince my parents," Thao confided.

On the day they sent their children off, Thao and Quan's parents encouraged them to try their best if they were determined because the duty of protecting the Fatherland was sacred. Their parents also hoped that joining the army would be a way for both sisters to train themselves, become more mature and grown up.

The encouragement of her parents was a great source of motivation that helped the two sisters confidently enter the military environment. After 3 months of training, Thao got used to the disciplined lifestyle and training intensity. Despite her young age, she and her teammates participated in shooting competitions and achieved results.

Strong on the field

After passing health, height, appearance and ethics examinations, both Thao and Quan met the selection criteria for the parade to celebrate the 50th anniversary of national reunification.

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Female information soldier Pham Thi Thao and her teammates participate in joint training
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The blocks were selected and started training from the beginning of December 2024. After a period of training at the unit, the soldiers were sent to the Mieu Mon National Military Training Center to complete the final techniques, before going to Ho Chi Minh City to train with blocks from all three regions.

Starting from basic practice for each person, each group, each row, as a basis for practicing coordinated movements in 1/3 of the block, 1/2 of the block, then the whole block, ensuring that the requirements of correctness, uniformity, beauty, and solemnity are met. Soldiers must be able to perform fluently and consistently the movement of raising the flag and marching in unison, turning it into a saluting and ending the salute across the stage.

"Beauties" like Pham Thi Thao always impress not only with their beautiful appearance but also with their quick, strong, and decisive command movements, demonstrating the heroic strength of the formation.

"I feel honored, proud and also very nervous because this is the first important national event I have participated in," Thao shared.

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Soldier Pham Minh Quan and his teammates in the Armored Division

Four months of experiencing all kinds of weather conditions from cold rain to hot sun made the training process more difficult and strenuous. Each training session usually started from 7-11 am and 2-5 pm. Because women have less health and endurance than men, Thao and her teammates often practice additional exercises to improve their physical strength.

"The most difficult movement is the leg-crossing movement with one supporting leg and the other leg raised to the correct height. In addition, we have to pay attention to distributing the force when swinging our arms. To keep our backs straight, we have to use a cross brace to brace our backs. At first, we were not used to it, so our backs hurt a lot," Thao said about the training process.

As for Pham Minh Quan, a young tank soldier, despite the sun and wind, he and his teammates enthusiastically practiced to master the command movements, demonstrating the strength and spirit of a soldier.

The soldiers all kept in mind that all were for the common mission, wholeheartedly contributing their small efforts to the success of the ceremony.

Thao and Quan took advantage of every break to meet each other, ask about each other's health, and instruct each other on movements. Their image on the training ground made their teammates more emotional about family and comradely love.

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Sisters Thao and Quan took advantage of their time off to visit and take care of each other.

Wiping away the sweat rolling down their faces, female soldier Pham Thi Thao and soldier Pham Minh Quan returned to their ranks to continue training.

Carefully selected from units, after more than 4 months of intensive training, the soldiers have now mastered their movements and perfected their formation.

To have those steps in unison, it is a journey of hard work with will and pride when representing the forces participating in the important event of the country.

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