In February 2017, Ta Van Tuyen joined the 95th Regiment of the 325th Division of the 2nd Corps (now 12th Corps). Driven by his passion for martial arts and the desire to train in a specialized environment, he applied to the Special Forces Officer School in 2018 and was accepted. He consistently excelled during his training period and was recognized as an Outstanding Soldier in 2019 and 2020. In 2022 he graduated from school as top of his class. Shortly before graduating, he won the gold medal in the weight class up to 64 kg at the all-military hand-to-hand combat championships for martial arts clubs.
First Lieutenant Ta Van Tuyen (second from left) gives instructions to soldiers during an exercise. |
Upon graduation, Lieutenant Ta Van Tuyen was assigned to the 113th Special Forces Brigade. The intensive practical environment contributed significantly to his rapid development and the expansion of his skills and strengths. In 2023, Ta Van Tuyen again won the gold medal in the 68 kg weight class at the US Army all-hands hand-to-hand combat championships for martial arts clubs, helping the special forces to overall victory. Because of his practical achievements and skills, First Lieutenant Ta Van Tuyen was entrusted by the commander of the 113th Special Forces Brigade with the direct training and leadership of young officers and soldiers in martial arts. First Lieutenant Ta Van Tuyen is also proficient in the use of nunchucks, long sticks, short sticks, broadswords and other weapons as well as various breaking techniques. He is part of the core team that trains and demonstrates martial arts to domestic and foreign delegations that visit, research and study in the unit.
Lieutenant Ta Van Tuyen shared his training methods saying, “My motto is ‘Learn hard, practice well’.”
During his training he suffered numerous injuries such as sprains and pulled ligaments; In particular, a knee injury in 2024 forced him to take a temporary break from competition, which brought him much regret. Despite the obstacles, he continued his training and continued to make an important contribution to his unit’s training mission. From 2022 to 2025, Ta Van Tuyen was consistently recognized as an outstanding soldier. Colonel Nguyen Van Pha, political commissar of the 113th Special Forces Brigade, said of Lieutenant Ta Van Tuyen: “Comrade Ta Van Tuyen is a young officer with strong political convictions, good professional skills and a high sense of responsibility. He is always proactive and creative in training, thereby contributing to improving the overall quality and combat effectiveness of the unit.”
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