Building high-quality human resources is a strategic breakthrough to implement socio-economic development, and to realize the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country. For the Vietnam People's Army (VPA), building high-quality human resources is crucially significant for the VPA to fulfill its tasks, meeting national defense demands under new conditions. This is a both immediate and long-term issue with new requirements that need to be focused on.

Marching of cadets of the Academy of Logistics (illustrative photo)

To carry out the Resolutions of the 11th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) on building the VPA “revolutionary, regular, seasoned and gradually modernized", of which some forces straightly advance to the modernization stage, the VPA would be equipped with more weapons of modern technology so as to enhance its combat capabilities. Those weapons and technical equipment are made on the basis of applying the achievements of advanced science and techniques, of high technology with the development different from  previous generations of weapons and technical equipment. In conditions of a future war (if war is to occur), the parties at war will all deploy their available high-tech weapons, therefore the electronic warfare (especially in the early stage of war) will dominate and play the key role, then determine the combat duration and effectiveness. To master and to take full advantage of weapons and new technical equipment, thus conducting an effective electronic warfare, as well as reducing  the efficacy of the enemy’s high-tech weapons, the VPA must build high-quality human resources since in the relationship between people and weapons, the former always plays the decisive role. As can be seen from the past wars for our national liberation and reunification, as well as from the current national defense cause, in addition to a care of  its weapons, and its technical equipment, the VPA has attached a great importance to cultivating its officers and soldiers of a strong political stance, of a high combat will, and of an out-standing professional capability, who are always able to master and bring into full play all the features and the specifications of weapons and technical equipment in combat. As a result, in all circumstances, the VPA is always successfully in accomplishing its assigned tasks.

On fully grasping this point, over the last years, the Central Military Commission, and the Ministry of National Defence have specifically paid their attention to cultivating high-quality human resources and mapped out  a number of guidelines and measures in leadership, direction and implementation with their high political determination. On the basis of guidelines of the higher level, and to meet the actual needs, military units and schools have regularly taken into their account this mission with many effective approaches and steps. Propaganda work, vocational orientation and talent absorption into the military have been attached importance to. The training and education mission of military schools has been reformed in conformity with their reality. Requirements of improving training quality, in-service cultivation, discipline practice and regularity have always been  highlighted. Officers and soldiers’ political stance, moral quality, life style, working methods and behaviors have always been led, directed, oriented, educated and trained. Therefore, officers, soldiers and defense workers are those who own a political virtue, professional qualification, capabilities of high quality, meeting the demands of military construction and national protection under new conditions... However, as compared with the pre-set requirements, the quality and the cultivation of high-quality human resources in some areas have not satisfied the demand of the military development. There has been a shortage of leading specialists on all the majors. A part of grassroots-level cadres has been provided with no basic training, lacked specialized and systematic knowledge; their capabilities of troop commanding, training and management are still weak. The policy to attract and remunerate talents serving in the Army is unsatisfactory. Investment in human resources for education and training has not met the pre-set requirements... There are many reasons for this situation, but mainly due to a number of Party committees  and leaders who have not been fully aware of the requirements of cultivating high-quality human resources; there have been no synchronous solutions in organization and execution, etc.

To meet the requirements of building the VPA, strengthening the national defense in coming time, the development of high- quality human resources in the military should be addressed by many guidelines, policies, synchronous measures, among which attention should be paid to following issues:

Firstly, achieve the unity in awareness of all levels and sectors, especially of Party’s committees, leaders in charge of cultivating high quality human resources in the military.

Secondly, map out the schemes and plans of high-quality human resources cultivation to satisfy immediate needs and long-term deployment.

Thirdly, continue to reform and improve the comprehensive quality of troop education and training.

Fourthly, consider and care for the implementation of regulations and policies on attraction and intensive use of talents, cultivating the high-quality human resources in the military.

Building high-quality human resources is an important solution in order to improve the joint strength of the military, meeting the requirements of national defence mission under new conditions. Party’s Committees, leaders at every level, in every sector need to thoroughly grasp the resolutions of the CPV, of the Cetral Military Commission, the directives and plans of the Ministry of National Defence to promulgate synchronous and efficient policies and measures on this issue.

Major-General Dang Nam Dien, Ph.D

Vice Political Commissar of the Logistics Academy