Over the past years, in addition to the implementation of other tasks, the Military Region 7’s Party Committee and High Command have focused on leading and directing the logistics work for both regular and contingency tasks with importance attached to renewing and improving the quality of logistics work. In spite of the fact that the Military Region’s logistics sector provides logistics support for various types of troops, both regular and contingency tasks and different regions and areas with a huge amount of material of all kinds, it has built up a sense of unity, being proactive and creative, striving to successfully fulfil the assigned task. In recent times, the Military Region’s logistics work has witnessed new developments. The capability of logistics maintenance for the task of combat readiness and the construction of defensive zones has been improved. The face of barracks, facilities and means have been increasingly perfected. Living standards of the Military Region’s troops have been raised.

To earn those achievements mentioned above, first, the Military Region’s logistics sector has thoroughly grasped directives and resolutions by the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defence and the Military Region’s Party Committee on logistics work, with a focus on the Central Military Commission’s Resolution 623-NQ/QUTW and the Military Region’s Party Committee’s Resolution 1021-NQ/ĐU on leading logistics work until 2020 and beyond. Grounded on those documents, the Party Committee and Command of the Military Region’s Logistics Department has concretized those into measures and determined that it is necessary to encourage troops’ self-reliance, proactiveness and creativity, the area’ potential and advantage as well as social resources in logistics work. As an agency responsible for counselling and implementing logistics work, the Military Region’s Logistics Department has closely cooperated with relevant agencies in counselling, directing and developing projects and plans for logistics work on a periodic and yearly basis. At the same time, it has directed logistics forces of localities and units to promote the synergy of forces and means and to implement plans and projects closely, scientifically and effectively. Up to now, the Military Region’s logistics work has made comprehensive changes. Logistics Projects have been carried out in accordance with the preset road map.

For the sake of the improved quality of logistics work for combat readiness task and construction of defensive zones, the Logistics Department’s Party Committee and Command have reviewed, supplemented and completed operational logistics documents and plans for building defensive zones’ logistics in accordance with the Military Region Commander’s operational projects and determination. At the same time, it has instructed and directed logistics sections at all levels to improve the quality of combat readiness documents; to counsel local party committees and authorities to build defensive zones’ logistics; to establish the Councils for Logistics Support at all levels and complete their structure and working regulations; to build logistics-technical bases in each area. Besides, units and localities have maintained the order of combat readiness logistics; increased training and exercises to improve manoeuvrability and support capability of logistics offices, depots and sections; proactively maintained high-quality, sufficient reserve logistics material for combat readiness, particularly for full-strength units and those responsible for important tasks and stationed in border, sea and island areas. The project for developing agricultural production has been combined with the construction of defensive zone logistics-technical bases. It is noted that up to now, most of the provinces and cities in the Military Region’s area have planned and built logistics-technical bases.

To ensure the quality of troops’ daily life, the Logistics Department has focused on regular logistics support. In this regard, the Military Region’s Logistics Sector has decentralized the method of material provision; stepped up management, inspection and supervision by offices at all levels; expanded auctions of acquisition; gradually socialized a number of type of logistics support; actively exploited and mobilized support from localities. As for the work of ordnance, the Department’s Party Committee and Command have counselled the Military Region’s Party Command and High Command to direct units and localities to improve the quality of troops’ meal and ordnance equipment. The system of messes has been modernized by localities and units. To opportunely, sufficiently provide troops with ordnance equipment, the Logistics Department has directed units and localities to follow the guidelines “accurate preparation, detailed reception, decentralized management, personal distribution”, while focusing on directing provision of ordnance equipment for new recruits right in localities. Moreover, logistics forces at all levels have actively boosted agricultural production in accordance with tasks and particularities of the area; proactively worked with provinces and cities’ Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to implement the Projects on developing agricultural production in 2015-2020 period. Many models of hi-tech agricultural production have been set up and multiplied. Besides, the Department has directed units and localities to carry out the Project “developing the network of military-civil medicine and maintaining logistics support for the Military Region’s armed forces’ combat readiness and defensive operations until 2020”; to effectively cooperate with the Naval Region 2 in protecting sea and island sovereignty; to actively hold training courses for military medical forces taking part in the United Nations peacekeeping operations. The Military Region’s 7A Hospital has effectively run the Telemedicine System to connect online to the Infirmary of the Central Reefs (Truong Sa Islands) to monitor troops’ health. At the same time, it has directed units and localities to maintain hygiene regulations for the sake of epidemic prevention and control. As a result, the percentage of the Military Region’s fit troops has always been above 99%.

The Military Region has renewed and conducted the work of petroleum and transportation with sufficient stages and steps. The Logistics Department’s Party Committee and Command have regularly directed offices to grasp and anticipate the market to develop projects for petroleum resources in a stable, steady manner; to build plans for distribution of petroleum in accordance with particularities of each unit; to minimize the impact of price rise; to maintain petroleum reserves properly for the Military Region’s armed forces’ combat readiness task. The Logistics Department has also directed localities and units to consolidate and build the system of depots, ports, pipes for petroleum reception, reserve and maintenance; to acquire equipment and upgrade the system of fire prevention and control.

Moreover, the Department’s Party Committee and Command have counselled the Military Region to direct units and localities to successfully conduct the work of vehicle and vessel maintenance and repair; to decentralize the method of transport support and socialize transportation for several regular and contingency tasks of the Military Region. At the same time, significance has been attached to the safety regulations on transportation. Priority has been given to technical support for vehicles used for combat readiness task, special diplomatic affairs, natural disaster, fire and explosion prevention and control as well as search and rescue operations. To enhance the capability in transportation, the Department has speeded up the Project to renew means of transport. Up to now, the Military Region has acquired 718 vehicles of all types. In the 2016 inspection of the 10-year implementation of the Movement to “Build regular, safe, effective transport units”, the Military Region 7's Transport Brigade 657 won the first prize.

As for the work of barracks building, the Department’s Party Committee and Command have proactively counselled the Military Region to direct units and localities to enhance the quality of planning barracks site; to closely manage and supervise the quality and progress of constructions; to sufficiently provide electricity, water and equipment for troops, especially clean water for units stationed in border, sea and island areas; to design the supplementary ration of electricity and water for new equipment and special tasks. At the same time, the Department has directed units and localities to mobilize resources to the most to repair and build barracks and to improve troops’ living conditions. Besides, the Department has counselled the Military Region’s Party Committee and High Command to adopt measures for managing and using defence land to the true purpose. Up to now, the Military Region has completed the goal of removing seriously degraded bungalows; 100% of its units have accessed the national electricity network and clean water. The Military Region’s Party Committee and High Command have directed localities and units to accelerate the emulation movement “Military Logistics Sector follows Uncle Ho’s teachings” and seriously implement the Directive 158/CT-BTL by the Military Region Commander on logistics work in the new situation as well as campaigns related to the study and following of Ho Chi Minh’s thought, ethics and lifestyle.

In the time to come, requirements imposed for the logistics work of the Military Region 7 will be very high. Promoting the achievements recorded, cadres and troops of the Military Region’s logistics sector will continue to strive to accomplish this work, contributing to building strong armed forces of the Military Region and fulfilling every assigned task.

Sr. Col. Ton Huy Vinh, Head of the Military Region 7’s Logistics Department