Attending the event were numerous generals, veterans, officers, and family members of the Liaison Board, those who once spent years studying at the former Zhukov National Air Defense Academy of the Soviet Union.
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Delegates attending the event |
At the meeting, delegates reminisced about their years of study and service in the Soviet Union. Across different periods, many generations of Vietnamese cadets were trained at this tradition-rich institution.
Senior Colonel Vu Ngoc Dieu, former officer of the Air Defense - Air Force Service, recalled, “We were a group of 14, from radar, missile, and anti-aircraft artillery units, the first intake from 1977 to 1981, to study at the academy. Since we had completed Russian language training in Vietnam, we were able to communicate and live normally without the need for interpreters when we arrived there. Language differences did not pose a real obstacle to Vietnamese air defense soldiers; the greatest challenge was the extremely harsh climate. Winters there were bitterly cold, with temperatures dropping to minus 41 degrees Celsius. Overcoming all difficulties, we persevered and studied diligently, acquiring knowledge imparted to us.”
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An art performance at the gathering |
For Major General Vi Van Lien, former Deputy Commander of the Air Defense - Air Force Service, the years spent studying at the Soviet Union’s National Air Defense Academy remain indelible memories. He recalled that in 1986, while he was serving on the border, five comrades and he were selected to study at the National Air Defense Academy. Since he and two other soldiers had previously studied in the Soviet Union, they took responsibility for mentoring and supporting the remaining comrades. They constantly encouraged one another to overcome hardships and focus on studies. “For me, the most profound impression was the affection, kindness, and respect shown by the teachers toward Vietnamese cadets. Thanks to their dedicated instruction and wholehearted transmission of knowledge, we were later able to apply what we learned effectively in our practical work,” said General Lien.
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The years spent studying at the Soviet Union’s National Air Defense Academy remain unforgettable memories for the veterans. |
Established in 2022, the Liaison Board of Former Cadets of the Soviet Union’s National Air Defense Academy has since become a focal point for reunions, information sharing, mutual encouragement, and support in daily life.
Major General Le Van Ngoc, former Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Defense - Air Force Service and Head of the Liaison Board, said, in the time ahead, the board will further promote activities, such as visiting comrades, sharing experience, and supporting one another in both work and life. It encourages groups by unit, cohort, and class to meet, exchange, and share information in appropriate forms, helping those currently in service to fulfill their duties well and contribute to building ever-stronger agencies, units, and the service as a whole.
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Generations of cadets of the Soviet Union’s National Air Defense Academy (now the Russian Federation’s Aerospace Defense Academy) and their family members pose for a commemorative photo. |
Translated by Tran Hoai