"Beauties" overcome the sun and rain...

 “Overcoming the sun, overcoming the rain”, despite the hot and humid weather in recent days, 128 girls from the Binh Duong Province Women's Militia and Self-Defense Force eagerly practiced perfecting their formation for the parade celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025).

Elated to set off

Yesterday morning, April 4, Provincial Military Command held a ceremony to send off the third phase of training for Binh Duong female militia and self-defense force, who will participate in the parade celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025), also referred to as mission A50.

As part of the Ministry of National Defense's project to organize forces for the parade, Military Region 7 assigned Provincial Military Command with the task of selecting and training the female militia and self-defense force. Recognizing this as a key political objective and a significant honor for Binh Duong province, Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Military Command have carefully grasped the task at hand, ensuring thorough planning and preparation, as well as strict selection processes.  

The female militia and self-defense personnel were chosen from Military Commands of nine districts and cities, as well as from Dau Tieng Rubber One Member Co., Ltd. and Phuoc Hoa Rubber Joint Stock Company. The unit is required to form a standing bloc, and they must be capable of standing at attention for 3.5 to 4 hours.

Colonel Pham Van Kien, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of Provincial Military Command, stated that to successfully complete the assigned tasks, Provincial Military Command has directed its agencies and units to select 128 female militia and self-defense members who possess the necessary political qualities, ethics, qualifications, and health for training. Additionally, a training framework at the company and platoon levels has been established to facilitate management, operations, and maintenance of the training process. All training staff hold college or university degrees, have undergone basic training, and possess experience in conducting parades and marches.

Training is divided into 4 stages: Phase 1, basic training at Provincial Center for National Defense and Security Education; phase 2, training and joint training at Military School of Military Region 7 and Air Force Regiment 935 (Bien Hoa airport); phase 3, preliminary review, general rehearsal, and official duty at Le Duan Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City; phase 4, after the mobile parade, return to the unit and organize experience sharing.

The training content of the standing bloc emphasizes command movements without firearms, unit formation, internal arrangements, and measures to prevent heatstroke and wind stroke. It particularly focuses on training and practicing skills as well as standing at attention movements.

Be determined to complete tasks

To meet requirements set by Ministry of Defense, female militia and self-defense members must undergo days of rigorous training. Initially, many individuals fainted from exhaustion as they adjusted to the demands of the program. After nearly four months of progression from basic to advanced training, the A50 female militia and self-defense group can now stand at attention outdoors for 225 minutes, even in hot and sunny weather conditions, effectively fulfilling their responsibilities.

For girls, joining block A50 is a matter of honor and pride. Despite facing numerous challenges during the training process—such as harsh weather, a changing living environment, and increasing training intensity—they consistently uphold their spirit. They strive to do their best and are determined to successfully complete all assigned tasks.

Pham Thi Anh Thu, a member of the female militia and self-defense team in Dau Tieng district, expressed, “The biggest challenges for my teammates and me are the hot weather and the pressure to complete our exercises correctly and beautifully. Despite these difficulties, my friends and I have persevered, overcoming both sun and rain. We practice diligently to fulfill our responsibilities as we prepare for the 50th anniversary of the country's complete reunification.”

Tran Ngoc Nga, a member of the female militia and self-defense team from Thuan An City, showed her pride in participating in the parade for the 50th anniversary of Southern Liberation Day. "Although the initial days were challenging, we always reminded each other that this was a rare opportunity in our lives—an opportunity to contribute to this significant national holiday. As a result, the women in our team gave their all. Those who were more skilled guided those who were less experienced, and those who needed improvement took the chance to practice more in the evenings and on weekends. With our utmost determination, we are committed to successfully completing the tasks assigned to us," Ms. Nga shared.

With the pioneering spirit of youth, the "steel roses" of the Standing Female Militia and Self-Defense Bloc in Binh Duong province are dedicated to training rigorously and fulfilling their assigned tasks with excellence. They are committed to contributing to the important national holiday and showcasing the admirable image of the heroic Eastern female militia and self-defense forces.

Reported by Thu Thao - Translated by Ngoc Huynh