The National Counter-Terrorism Training Centre, under the Mobile Police Command, is tasked by the Ministry of Public Security with: organising professional training in counterterrorism; being ready to respond to and resolve terrorist, sabotage, armed riot, and extremely dangerous criminal situations; and participating in urgent rescue and relief missions.
The “steel roses” in a place with no privileges for women
Born in Viet Yen District, Bac Giang Province, Ngo Thi Dung, 27, is one of three brave and talented female soldiers of the centre since its earliest days of establishment.
After graduating from high school, Dung studied nursing at Bac Giang City, then spent three years practicing in the dental field.
In 2022, she registered for military service. After three months of basic training, in June 2022, thanks to her outstanding performance, Dung was selected for the martial arts team to compete in the provinces of Can Tho and Kien Giang.
From there, she began a series of rotations of training, and competing in martial arts, shooting, and swimming teams. In every discipline, she achieved good results, bringing home various medals for her unit.
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Dung is a member of the Shooting Training and Technical Equipment Operations Team. |
Notably, in 2023, Dung was selected for the Ministry of Public Security’s team to participate in the International competitions in fire and rescue sports in Belarus, which helped her gain valuable opportunities to learn from international colleges and hone her experience.
Dung shared that she received the order to transfer to the National Counter-Terrorism Training Centre in November 2023, while she was still in Belarus. So when she returned to Vietnam, she went straight from the airport to the centre.
When she became a member of the centre, Sergeant Ngo Thi Dung was assigned to the Shooting Training and Technical Equipment Operations Team. She is one of the centre’s three female soldiers, together with Nguyen Thi Mo and Trieu Thi Yen.
From then on, she has engaged in intensive trainings with her male colleagues from 5 AM, conducting integrated operations through scorching summer days and cold, rainy winters — all with the spirit of "every minute is for training, every second for honing skills."
Those were days of sweating on the training field with male soldiers in unarmed and armed combat, shooting, camouflage in rivers and swamps, and neutralising terrorists. Every technique — martial arts, shooting, rope climbing, armed tire dragging, group wood-carrying runs — was rigorously practiced daily.
In this elite combat unit, training standards are the same for everyone, with no special treatment for female soldiers. Dung said: “Once you’ve chosen to stand in the counterterrorism ranks, there’s no distinction between men and women.”
While male colleagues must give their all to complete gruelling exercises demanding endurance and strength them, female soldiers must exert their effort doubled or tripled to overcome their limits, adapt, and complete the training.
On Tuesday and Thursday nights, according to the training schedule, the soldiers are requested to march through forests carrying 20–25 kg on their backs for a 20 km trek.
After six months of intensive training, spending 80% of the time in harsh field conditions, the three “steel roses” of the centre have mastered the training content. They have not only built solid physical foundations but also shown talent in military martial arts, being selected for advanced training, especially in shooting.
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Female soldiers have not only built solid physical foundations but also shown talent in military martial arts, being selected for advanced training, especially in shooting. |
Deserving of being a “steel rose” in a special unit
Sergeant Ngo Thi Dung has gained numerous achievements and medals at sporting events and contests, including 1 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze medal at the 5th Sports Festival – Mobile Police Command in 2023; and 2 gold medals in women’s team events at the 2024 People’s Public Security Martial Arts Competition.
According to Dung, the centre’s leadership pays close attention to every soldier, especially the female members.
“On our first days of arrival, Colonel Trieu Van Minh, the Director of the centre, invited our families to visit our living area and training grounds to ensure that they are not worried about our living condition.”
Female soldiers have made significant contributions to the unit’s achievements, truly deserving the title “steel roses” in the counterterrorism ranks.
Director of the National Counter-Terrorism Training Centre, Colonel Trieu Van Minh.
Answering a question about her future plan, Dung said she wants to study at the People’s Police University to improve her knowledge and develop herself further.
“In this elite unit, though few in number, female soldiers have made significant contributions to the unit’s achievements, truly deserving the title “steel roses” in the counterterrorism ranks,” said Colonel Trieu Van Minh, the Director of the National Counter-Terrorism Training Centre. Photo: Pham Hai.
As an exemplary role model honoured at the Conference, Dung said she was proud that all her hard, rigorous training, achievements, and daily efforts have been recognised by the leadership, pledging to strive even harder to be worthy of that recognition.
