II. Individualism damages prestige and erodes the quality and morality of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers"

Individualism is the arch-enemy of revolutionary morality. When alive, President Ho Chi Minh considered individualism a dangerous “internal  enemy”, and it was even more difficult to defeat it than an enemy with swords and guns on the battlefield. He said individualism "obstructs" cadres and party members to strive for the Party's and the nation's goals and ideals, and undermine the people's trust in the Party, because “individualism makes mistakes”. He warned that: "A nation, a party and a person might well be good yesterday, but would not necessarily be so and admired by people today and tomorrow if they are no longer pure and fall into individualism”. It is one of three extremely dangerous enemies with diverse and subtle manifestations, appearing at many times, in different aspects of social life, sabotaging the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation.

The qualities of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" were built up from the endless efforts and sacrifices of generations of cadres and soldiers, under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh. They are wholeheartedly cared, supported, nurtured and honoured by the people. Being honoured and proud of that noble title, officers and soldiers of the People's Army always respect, preserve, promote, and brighten the qualities of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" in the new era. However, in practice, despite being regularly educated, trained and strictly disciplined, some cadres and soldiers still fell into individualism - an "internal enemy" and a dangerous poison in every human being and inside the Army. Although they don’t appear in large number, they do damage the reputation and erode the quality and tradition of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" as one scabby sheep is enough to spoil the whole flock.

Because of individualism, soldiers fail to adhere to the 10 Oaths of Honour and the 12 Disciplines of the military, which is manifested in the degradation in the working class nature, the betrayal of the revolutionary goals and ideals, and the disloyalty to the Party, Fatherland and People. It is completely opposite to the spirit of readiness to fight and sacrifice for the goals and ideals of the Party, for national independence and socialism, for the people's happiness, which is a noble and important quality of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers". This may lead to the disobedience to the leadership of the Party and the organisation, hesitation to hardships, sacrifices, or difficult tasks, or even surrender to the enemy. Currently, in the face of severe sabotage from hostile forces and the negative impacts of the market economy,... a number of military men cannot keep themselves from falling into individualism, spoil their revolutionary goals and ideals, expressed as: not speaking, writing and acting in accordance with resolutions, directives, regulations, principles of the Party, and discipline of the Army; working without effort and proper manner;  disobedience to orders of the superior; undisciplined behavior. This not only fades away the beautiful image of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers", but also adversely affects the effectiveness and quality of building a politically strong unit right from the grassroots level.

Soldiers with individualism only care for and put their own interests first and foremost. This is contrary to the revolutionary morality of the soldiers that features: diligence, thrifty, integrity, public-mindedness and selflessness and the Oath to protect public property, not to contract embezzlement and wastefulness - a core value of the quality of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers". To achieve their goal, they defy everything; violate the principle of democratic centralism; cause internal disunity, factions, power struggles, authoritarian, etc. This is especially dangerous when people with individualism are cadres, party members, leaders and managers of agencies and units. That is the potential danger that causes the Army to gradually lose its revolutionary, its Party and people's nature; erode people's trust in the Army - the loyal political and fighting force to protect the Party and the regime.

The above manifestations are one of the causes leading to the deterioration of political thought, morality, lifestyle, causing "self-evolution", "self-transformation" internally. It not only contradicts the good qualities of revolutionary soldiers who are enthusiastic, brave in fighting and working, but also harms the interests of the revolution and the people, causing division in the unity bloc within the organisations, undermining democracy in agencies and units. More severely, some military personnel, including senior officers and generals today only care for their own interests and think of getting rich, hence falling into individualism, violating the law of the state and the disciplines of the military. It not only directly undermines the quality and tradition of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers", but also causes frustration in public opinion, reducing the people's trust in the Army. In addition, the violations of discipline in the military-people relationship; the relationship between cadres and soldiers; between old soldiers and new recruits, ... in some agencies and units in the whole Army are also opposite with the nature of taking care of developing and maintaining the internal unity; wholeheartedly treating for comrades like siblings; listening, respecting, learning, helping, sticking with the people, and ready to sacrifice to protect the lives and property of the people. Those violations will eventually lead to division between cadres and soldiers; undermine the synergy of the unit in task performance, especially in combat tasks. It also provides opportunity for hostile forces to distort and sabotage the solidarity and the blood and flesh relation between the Army and the people which is an important condition for our Army to fight and win.

It should be reaffirmed that, at present, the tradition of the Army, the qualities of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers” are still basically promoted. Army cadres and soldiers are still trusted and loved by the people, and they are performing well the task of firmly protecting the sovereignty of the Fatherland. However, the wrongdoings of some military personels due to individualism in the past time, though being odd in just a few agencies and units, if not being repelled opportunely will cause significant consequences; damage and erode the good qualities and tradition of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers"; distort the relationships and negatively affect the construction of a military cultural environment, especially in building politically strong units - an important foundation for improving the quality of the overall quality and combat strength of the Army.

DINH PHIEM - PHAM TUAN - DINH BANG - MINH DUC - LE PHONG