Willpower is one of the most important qualities of a revolutionary soldier. Fostering willpower among military cadets, as a crucial and long-term task, plays a vital role in helping future officers develop their qualities, overcome difficulties, and fulfil their tasks in order to meet the requirements of building the Army and protecting the Fatherland in the new situation.

Graduation ceremony for cadets of University of Politics, Ministry of National Defence (photo: daihocchinhtri.edu.vn)

Military cadets are young soldiers who have undergone rigorous selection and recruitment processes. They are future officers - the core force in building a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern Army. At military training institutions, cadets have access to an exemplary military educational environment characterised by strict organisation and discipline, closely aligned with the realities of military units and combat circumstances. To overcome these challenges and meet training objectives and requirements, cadets must possess a strong sense of willpower.

Today, hostile forces are intensifying their sabotage against the Party, the State, and the Army, promoting “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” among military officers, especially young ones. Meanwhile, the fact that rapid advances in science and modern technology have given rise to new forms and methods of warfare, and powerful new weapons have been deployed in conflicts around the world, has, to a greater or lesser extent, undermined soldiers’ morale on the battlefield. This reality requires military schools to pay constant attention to instilling willpower into cadets, enabling them to remain resilient, stay proactive in their study and training, expand their political, military, cultural, scientific, and technical knowledge, master weapons and equipment and possess willpower and intelligence needed to fulfil every assigned task. Being fully aware of this, military schools have paid close regard to this work and have achieved notable progress in recent years. Despite achievements, at times, the cultivation of willpower among military cadets has yet to receive constant attention, which has resulted in a number of military cadets displaying signs of avoiding hardship and lacking the will and determination to strive for self-improvement. In rare cases, some have even violated discipline or failed to accomplish their assigned tasks.

To further foster willpower among military cadets, the following issues need to be focused on.

First, strengthening leadership, direction, and execution by Party committees, political commissars, and commanders at all levels. To this end, Party committees, political commissars, and commanders within military schools must thoroughly grasp the guidelines, policies, resolutions, and directives by the Party, the Central Military Commission (CMC), and the Ministry of National Defence (MND) on building the Army and improving the quality of education and training in response to new demands. Particular focus should be given to the Politburo’s Conclusion 91-KL/TW, dated 12 August 2024, on continuing to implement Resolution 29-NQ/TW (dated 4 November 2013) on fundamental and comprehensive reforms in education and training to meet the demands of industrialisation and modernisation against the backdrop of international integration and a socialist-oriented market economy. Other guiding documents include the Resolution by the 11^th Military Party Congress and the CMC’s Conclusion on reviewing Resolution 86-NQ/ĐUQSTW (dated 39 March 2007) on education and training in the new context. This foundational understanding is essential to transforming the awareness of Party committees, key cadres, and leaders of military schools regarding education and training, grounded on the principle that “The quality of military schools’ training reflects military units’ combat readiness”. Accordingly, leadership must be comprehensive and synchronised, with specific action plans closely aligned with military schools' practical conditions. Priority should be given to improving leadership capacity and combativeness of Party committees at all levels and integrating the work of fostering willpower into routine education, training, and emulation movements. This also means eliminating the tendency to shift responsibility, assuming that this task belongs to solely Party committees, political commissars, or political bodies. Party committees and organisations at cadet management units need to strengthen leadership, adopt appropriate measures, clarify responsibilities, enforce implementation rigorously, and conduct close supervision to ensure that the task of fostering willpower among military cadets is carried out regularly and meets requirements. At the same time, military cadets should be encouraged to pursue self-improvement in order to enhance their political awareness and overall competence, thereby fulfilling their assigned duties successfully.

Second, continuing to renovate and improve political and ideological education for military cadets. This is an important measure that directly contributes to enhancing the effectiveness of fostering willpower among military cadets. In reality, students are at a youthful age, eager to explore new things and engage in dynamic activities. Therefore, military schools must harness these youthful traits by innovating propagation and education through training activities, routine and ad hoc tasks, and extracurricular activities. In terms of content, it is necessary to continuously improve the quality of education on Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh’s thought, and the Party’s political and military line. Military cadets must develop revolutionary consciousness, patriotism, commitment to socialism, confidence in victory, and high combat morale. Additionally, due regard should be paid to exposing the nature, schemes, and tactics of hostile forces, particularly their “peaceful evolution” and violent subversion plans aimed at instigating war. Military cadets should also be educated to recognise the strengths and limitations of high-tech weaponry and warfare strategies, thereby enhancing their willpower and fostering their trust in the Party’s leadership, the cause of Doi Moi, the strength of people’s war, and Vietnam's armed forces, weaponry, and military art. Additionally, military schools must further promote patriotism and proud tradition of resistance against foreign invaders as well as the Military’s glorious traditions. Significance should be attached to cultivating and replicating exemplary individuals and “good people, good deeds”, while preventing the spread of toxic, harmful publications within military schools. It is important to emphasise the combined strength of organisations and forces involved, particularly political cadres and lecturers. These efforts will contribute to continuously improving the quality of political education and enhancing military cadets’ willpower.

Third, promoting the implementation of duties and adherence to regulations, improving the quality of drill and discipline training for military cadets. This is a matter of importance in building a regular Army, which plays a pivotal role in enhancing military cadets’ command and unit management capabilities after graduation. To this end, military schools must clearly define authority, functions, duties, and working relationships among units and departments to ensure smooth and efficient operations throughout the education and training process. Each military cadet must develop a strong sense of self-discipline and comply with established regulations, according to their assigned duties. Commanders and political commissars at all levels must serve as role models in fulfilling their responsibilities and tasks, ensuring that their actions align with their words, so that military cadets can learn from their conduct. In particular, to meet the requirements placed on future commanding officers, military schools must educate cadets to have a professional military demeanour, a strong sense of discipline, and command and management skills. Military cadets must be trained to act swiftly and decisively, to stay within the scope of their duties, and stand ready to take responsibility for their action. Special attention should be paid to developing command language that is standardised, concise, coherent, and assertive, ensuring urgency and precision while gradually eliminating vague or overly wordy communication. Additionally, military schools must strictly implement the drill and formation training, ensuring a systematic approach. The goal is to enable military cadets to master theoretical knowledge and execute movements with accuracy and confidence.

Fourth, fostering a positive psychological environment and friendly relationships within military schools, ensuring adequate support for education, training, and willpower-fostering activities. This is an important factor in improving the overall quality of education and training and fostering willpower among military cadets. In practice, a positive and friendly psychological atmosphere is essential to nurturing willpower among each military cadet. Relationships within military schools are diverse, particularly those between functional departments and cadet management units, between administrators and cadets, between instructors and cadets, as well as among cadets themselves. These relationships must be properly nurtured and developed, as they have a significant positive impact on fostering willpower among military cadets throughout the training process. Simultaneously, military  schools must ensure adequate facilities, weapons, equipment, and models for training purposes, build a synchronised system of tactical training grounds and technical practice areas that closely align with combat conditions, invest in simulation systems and modern technologies to meet the increasing requirements of improving training quality and fostering willpower among cadets. Besides, military schools should develop a comprehensive system of cultural and educational facilities. These serve as vital tools for political and ideological education. Ultimately, such efforts contribute to the comprehensive development of military cadets in terms of physical fitness, intellect, morality, lifestyle, and practical competence, ensuring that they possess qualities, capabilities, and willpower necessary to fulfil their assigned duties effectively.

Sr. Col. PHAM VAN XAY, PhD

Commander of Campus 2, Military University of Culture and Arts