The role of the army - The fighting army in the cause of defending the motherland

The People’s Army of Vietnam, which was founded, led, educated and trained by the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh, is an army that comes from the people, fights for the people, and is closely bound to the people.

Over the past 80 years of building and fighting under the absolute and direct leadership of the Party in all aspects, with the nurturing, protection and shelter of the people, the coordination of central ministries, departments and organisations, and local Party committees and authorities, and the help of international friends, the People’s Army of Vietnam has continuously grown and gained strength, working together with the entire Party and people to achieve great victories in the cause of national liberation and reunification.

Dien Bien Phu Victory (Photo: People's Army Newspaper)

In the period of national construction and defence, the People’s Army of Vietnam has always remained steadfast and firm, demonstrating absolute loyalty to the motherland, the Party, the state and the people; effectively fulfilling its functions as a fighting force, a working force and a production force, making worthy contributions to the country’s renovation process.

Among these, the function as a fighting force is the most fundamental and essential function, which has been thoroughly understood and implemented strictly and seriously throughout the army with high effectiveness, thus ensuring that the army truly serves as the core force working alongside the entire population to firmly protect the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the motherland, protect the Party, State, people and socialist regime; protect revolutionary achievements in the cause of renovation, industrialisation and modernisation; protect the culture and international reputation and position of the country; maintain a peaceful environment for national construction and development; and actively contribute to maintaining regional and world peace.

To effectively perform the role of a combat force, over the years, the army has consistently monitored, assessed, and accurately forecast the situation, promptly advising the Party and State on policies and strategies to handle various situations successfully, maintaining a proactive strategic stance, and being flexible and adaptable in tactics. This ensures that the army is not caught off guard or forced into a reactive position, especially on complex and sensitive issues related to independence, sovereignty, border disputes, maritime matters, and national and ethnic interests. The army has actively researched and advised the Party and State on issuing and implementing military and defence strategies, resolutions, and projects, contributing to the development of theoretical thinking and military guidelines and art, better meeting the requirements of national defence in the new situation.

The army has always excelled in its core role of building a national defence based on the entire people, linking it with the construction of a people’s security system, creating a combined strength in the cause of building and protecting the homeland.

The Ministry of Defence and all military agencies and units have actively coordinated with central agencies, ministries, sectors, mass organisations, localities, and various levels to carry out military and defence tasks, strengthening defence areas in each region and nationwide. They continuously enhance military and defence capabilities, contributing to protecting the homeland early and from afar, ensuring the nation’s safety even before threats emerge.

The entire army always strictly maintains combat readiness and regularly grasps the situation of airspace, sea, border, inland, peripheral, and cyberspace, especially in key areas and hot spots, promptly and effectively handles situations. It does not let conflicts occur and regularly reviews, supplements, perfects combat plans and practices the determined plans suitable for each area, environment, and combat space, ensuring initiative when situations occur.

Agencies and units have constantly innovated and improved the quality of training according to the motto “Basic - Practical - Solid”, focused on synchronous and in-depth training, focusing on practice. They train to master new and modern weapons and equipment, with increased night training, mobile training, situational training and training for soldiers' endurance and flexibility. This includes organised drills for forces with different forms of combat in various scales with high results, contributing to improving the combat level of units and the entire army.

The Ministry of Defence has successfully directed many large-scale drills, reported to the Party and State on the quality, level and combat readiness of the Army, and participated in drills with ASEAN countries United Nations peacekeeping drills, which were highly appreciated by international friends, contributing to creating a peaceful environment in the region and the world.

The entire army has consistently prioritised building and enhancing the political and spiritual elements among its soldiers. Efforts are focused on education and training to ensure officers and soldiers possess firm political courage, high determination, and readiness to undertake and excel in assigned tasks, even in the face of challenges, hardships, or sacrifices. Comprehensive measures have been carried out to strengthen the army's political foundation, serving as the basis for improving overall quality and combat strength to meet the demands of national defence in the new context.

The exercise is conducted. (Photo: People's Army Newspaper)

The armed forces maintain a high level of revolutionary vigilance, clearly understanding the Vietnamese revolution's partners and adversaries, resolutely combating and thwarting the schemes and strategies of "peaceful evolution" and subversive plots by hostile forces.

In addition to fulfilling its role as a fighting force, the military has demonstrated its core and pioneering role in disaster prevention, disease control, search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance.

Recognising these activities as "combat missions in peacetime", the military officers and soldiers have shown unwavering dedication to overcome difficulties and dangers to be present in disaster and epidemic hotspots and in critical, hazardous areas to safeguard the lives and property of the people. Many officers and soldiers have made the ultimate sacrifice in this "peacetime battle", further enriching the noble image and qualities of the "Uncle Ho Soldiers" in the new era.

It can be affirmed that in recent years, in the context of many difficulties and challenges for the cause of building and defending the Fatherland, under the absolute and direct leadership in all aspects of the Party, the centralised and unified management and administration of the State, the coordination and cooperation of the central and local departments, ministries, branches, and organisations, and the support of the people of the whole country, the Army has strived to effectively fulfil the functions and tasks assigned by the Party, the State, and the people. Notably, it has excellently fulfilled the function of a combat army, successfully carrying out the task of defending the Fatherland in all situations.

That situation poses increasingly higher requirements for the cause of consolidating national defence and security and defending the Fatherland.

In the coming years, the world and regional situation is forecast to develop in a rapid, complicated, and unpredictable manner; disputes over sovereignty of borders and islands will continue to occur fiercely; natural disasters, epidemics and non-traditional security challenges will become increasingly complex; and hostile forces are likely to intensify their sabotage against the Party, State, and country. 

This situation poses increasingly higher requirements for the cause of consolidating national defence and security and protecting the Fatherland.

A military drill

To effectively perform the function of a combat army in the new situation, the Vietnam People's Army needs to continue to thoroughly grasp the Party's military and defence guidelines; regularly grasp the situation, improve strategic forecasting capacity, and advise the Party and the State on appropriate policies to firmly protect the Fatherland, while further promoting its core role in building a strong national defence.

The entire military must strictly maintain discipline and readiness for combat, absolutely avoiding complacency, negligence, and loss of vigilance. They should have plans prepared to successfully handle various situations, ensuring they are not caught off guard. Focus should be on innovating and enhancing the quality of training in line with Resolution No. 1659-NQ/QUTW (dated December 20, 2022) from the Central Military Commission regarding the improvement of training quality for the 2023-2030 period and following years. It is essential to effectively carry out logistics, technical support, and other necessary measures for training, combat readiness, and drills.

The military must maintain strict discipline and readiness for combat, ensuring no complacency or negligence occurs.

In particular, leaders and commanders need to enhance political education and ideological work, building and maximising the political factors and morale of the troops, ensuring that officers and soldiers remain highly determined and make significant efforts to fulfil their assigned tasks.

With pride in the glorious tradition built over 80 years of establishment and development of the heroic Vietnam People's Army, all military personnel pledge unwavering loyalty to the Fatherland, the Party, the State, and the people; striving to overcome all difficulties and hardships; and standing ready to fight and achieve victory while working alongside the entire Party and people to firmly protect the socialist Vietnam, maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for the country to confidently step into a new era, the era of nation’s rise.

NDO