Building the armed forces in general, and the Military in particular, is one of the distinctive elements of President Ho Chi Minh’s ideological legacy. Among these, his profound guidance on military building in the work “Thường thức chính trị” (Political Awareness) continues to hold significant value today, providing essential direction for our ongoing efforts to strengthen and modernise the Military.

The work “Political Awareness”, a cornerstone of Ho Chi Minh's ideological legacy, is a compilation of 50 insightful articles penned under the pseudonym Đ.X. Originally published in the “Political Awareness” column of the National Salvation newspaper (from issue 225, 16 January 1953, to issue 2430, 23 September 1953), these writings were later gathered and released as a book by the Truth Publishing House (now the Truth National Political Publishing House) in 1954. Offering a profound exploration of Marxism-Leninism and the Party’s strategic vision, “Political Awareness” serves as a vital resource for officials, soldiers, and the general public. The work instils unwavering ideals and confidence, empowering individuals to navigate hardships and sacrifices with unwavering determination. Its ultimate aim is to galvanise the collective struggle for complete victory against colonialism and imperialism.

President Ho Chi Minh in the Border Campaign of 1950 (file photo)

In his seminal work, President Ho Chi Minh outlined a comprehensive blueprint for constructing a new democratic state. Central to this vision was the imperative to establish a Military that is not only a formidable fighting force but also a reliable political ally. Ho Chi Minh emphasised the pivotal role of the Military in safeguarding the revolution's success and serving as the backbone of the nation's struggle for independence and sovereignty. Underscoring the importance of political indoctrination, our President stressed: “Building the Military - a truly strong people’s army, under the leadership of the working class and the Party…We must continuously strengthen political work to ensure that the Army is revolutionary, determined to fight and to win”. This concise directive encapsulates the strategic principles that continue to guide the development of the Military today, both theoretically and practically.

First and foremost, the People’s Army must be placed under the leadership of the Communist Party. This inviolable principle ensures that the Army always retains the revolutionary nature of the Party, stands firm on the stance of the working class, maintains a correct political orientation, and reflects the Party’s political, ideological, and organisational guidance within the Army. The Party charts the Army’s course, setting its strategic objectives, defining its tasks, and establishing the guiding principles for its development and operations. From training and equipping soldiers to planning combat strategies, the Party’s influence is pervasive. Moreover, the Party maintains direct oversight to ensure that its directives are faithfully executed. Absolute adherence to Party leadership is not merely a formality; it is the bedrock upon which the Army’s strength and combat effectiveness are built. This principle defines the very essence of a revolutionary Army, enabling it to successfully fulfil its mission of serving the Party and the people.

This steadfast viewpoint was not only expressed in Political Awareness but was voiced much earlier by Nguyen Ai Quoc. In the Party’s Brief Political Platform drafted in 1930, he stressed the importance of “organising a workers' and peasants’ army”, repeatedly underscoring the Party’s responsibility in organising, leading, and educating the people’s armed forces. By 1944, in the Directive for the formation of the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army Team, Ho Chi Minh emphasised that the Team’s creation followed the organisation’s new directives. The people’s armed forces, with the People’s Army at their core, were organised and guided by the Communist Party. He declared, “Our Army is invincible because it is a people’s army built, led, and educated by our Party”. He further emphasised the need to “strengthen the Party’s leadership within the Army” and to “translate the Party’s and Government’s resolve into the entire Army’s will”.

For nearly 80 years, it has been consistently affirmed that the Party’s absolute and direct leadership in all aspects has been the key to the process of construction, combat, victory, and development of our Army. This stands as a powerful testament to the lasting relevance of President Ho Chi Minh’s guidance on the organisation, leadership, and education of the Party concerning the armed forces, especially the Vietnam People’s Army. It also provides a solid, scientific foundation to counteract the strategies of "peaceful evolution" and efforts to “depoliticise” the Army by hostile forces, whose goal is to weaken the Party’s leadership over the Military.

Second, it is crucial to continuously strengthen political efforts to ensure the Army remains a revolutionary force, committed to fighting and winning. This directive, drawn from President Ho Chi Minh’s teachings, focuses on building a politically strong Army with unwavering determination and a high fighting spirit. Military operations are a unique area of society, marked by demanding and challenging conditions that require exceptional skill, willpower, and dedication from each individual. President Ho Chi Minh famously noted, “Good weapons are useless if the spirit is weak”. He consistently stressed the importance of developing the political and spiritual qualities of personnel, ensuring the Army’s political resilience.

According to President Ho Chi Minh, building a military force must follow the principle of “people first, weapons second”, with military tasks always serving political goals. He famously stated, “Military without politics is like a tree without roots, both useless and harmful”. This principle became even more crucial in times of severe hardship, where the Army faced professional troops armed with advanced weaponry. In such conditions, the political and spiritual element gained even greater significance. He further asserted, “The name “Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army Team” means that politics is more important than military matters”,  stressing that “In training troops, politics must be the foundation”, and “Ours is a people’s army... As a people’s army, we must learn the Party's policies”.

To build a politically strong Army today, the first priority is to establish a firm political stance grounded in absolute loyalty to the Homeland, the Party, the State, and the people. This requires enhancing the Army’s working-class nature, fostering its connection to the people, and reinforcing its national identity. It is essential to cultivate and elevate the political qualities of officers and soldiers, ensuring they remain loyal, intellectually capable, steadfast, and determined, ready to overcome any challenges and fulfil their duties with excellence.  A key focus should be on training and developing cadres and Party members in line with “The Seven Dares” principles. This includes ensuring they possess a deep understanding of Marxism-Leninism, are knowledgeable about the Party’s and State’s policies, and are capable of drawing practical insights from their experiences. By doing so, they can effectively harness collective strength to successfully accomplish all tasks.

In addition to fostering political strength, it is vital to build and refine the Army’s organisational structures in line with the Party’s principles, policies, and guidelines. These structures must be streamlined, efficient, and effective. The Army should maintain genuinely democratic, united, and disciplined political and social relationships. Simultaneously, efforts must be intensified to prevent and combat ideological and ethical decay, along with signs of “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” within the ranks. The Army must remain vigilant in countering any schemes that undermine the Party’s political direction, resolutely combating all tactics of “peaceful evolution” and political subversion employed by hostile forces.

Third, the People’s Army must be properly equipped and continuously improve its technical expertise to remain an elite force capable of excelling in its missions. President Ho Chi Minh highlighted that the Army’s combat strength is a combination of several factors, with personnel and weapons being essential. Therefore, building a strong Army requires a well-rounded approach. Alongside developing the core element - its personnel, particularly at various leadership levels - it is crucial to invest in modernising weapons and technical equipment. Additionally, training programs must focus on enhancing the technical and tactical skills of the troops to ensure they are fully prepared for their tasks.

Highlighting the critical importance of weapons and technical equipment in military operations, President Ho Chi Minh remarked, “Without weapons, revolts are doomed”. He recognised that weapons are the essential tools for transforming the troops’ spiritual strength into material power. The soldiers’ determination to fight must go beyond words and be demonstrated through concrete actions. By skilfully using and improving weaponry, troops can put their goals, thoughts, will, and resolve into practice. In this way, their spiritual strength is converted into material force to fulfil their duties. Weapons and technical equipment are not only tools for attack and defence but also enhance the soldiers’ senses, intellect, and physical capabilities, enabling more effective military operations.

Military operations, as a distinct area of society, challenge individuals on multiple fronts - physically, mentally, and intellectually. The body’s endurance and the functionality of human senses have natural limits, which can be further strained by harsh conditions such as war, difficult terrain, severe weather and many others. However, with the aid of weapons and technical equipment, troops can surpass these limitations, acquiring capabilities beyond their inherent capacities.  Today, rapid advancements in science, technology, and engineering have sparked revolutions in military science, making warfare more brutal and intensifying the challenges soldiers face. In line with President Ho Chi Minh’s guidance that “We must study technology because technology is advancing, and we must also learn to advance”, it is essential for every officer and soldier to continuously enhance their skills and master the weapons and equipment they are entrusted with.

The insightful directives on Army building found in Political Awareness embody the strategic vision of the distinguished military thinker Ho Chi Minh. These principles must be deeply understood and innovatively applied in the ongoing efforts to build an adept, compact, strong, Army towards modernity. Such efforts will play a crucial role in sustaining a peaceful and stable environment, ultimately fostering the continued prosperity and happiness of our nation.

Dr PHAM VAN MINH – Dr NGUYEN HONG NGUYEN