Political and spiritual element plays an important role in building military pilots’ political and combat will and determination to overcome difficulties and fulfil the tasks, particularly in hi-tech warfare. Thus, studying measures to improve the political and spiritual element for military pilots is an urgent issue.
The tasks of military pilot bear specific characteristics. Military pilots have to independently combat in the air. They frequently face pressure and danger. It is necessary for them to possess flight competence, physical fitness and strong mindset. Thus, improving the political and spiritual element for military pilots is a task of utmost importance, deciding their capabilities and task performance.
Fully aware of that, the Air Defence - Air Forces have attached great importance to political and ideology education, improving military pilots’ will, ethics, lifestyle, mindset, fitness, working method and style, linking the improvement of political and spiritual element with the education of law, discipline, Flight Regulations, and flight safety rules. It has also intensified the work of enhancing their knowledge, professional competence and capabilities to deal with situations in the air. Moreover, it has invested in equipping units with modern aircraft and equipment to meet the requirements of air combat in hi-tech warfare; unceasingly improving military pilots’ material and spiritual life and ensuring them special policy. Therefore, military pilots have shown strong political will and mindset, good morality and self-discipline, being ready to take on and successfully fulfil all assigned tasks.
However, there remain a small portion of party committees and commanders that are not fully aware of the role of political and spiritual element. In addition, contents and methods of political education and ideological management have yet to be diverse, even “old-fashioned” and unconvincing. Policies on military pilots are still limited and improper.
From characteristics of hi-tech wars, the Air Defence - Air Forces should move straight to modernity as our Party has identified. In this regard, the top requirement is to further enhance the capability of human factor. Therefore, the task of improving military pilots’ political and spiritual element, combat morale and determination is imposing new issues which need to be solved with synchronous measures.
First, successfully conducting the work of political and ideological education, building up job motivations among military pilots. The content of education must focus on improving knowledge on Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh’s thought, the Party’s guidelines and viewpoints; grasping the situation and the tasks of the country, the Army and Air Defence - Air Forces, particularly the tasks of combat readiness and flight training. After each flight training session, units should hold review to draw up experience and point out weaknesses and strengths. Moreover, units should organize activities, such as field trips, friendship exchanges, talks between pilots, flight instructors and experienced pilots. It is necessary to strengthen the faith of military pilot staff in available weapons, equipment and combat tactics, and build up a sense of responsibility, creativity and determination to fight against all invaders.
Second, enhancing the quality of flight training for military pilots. Together with political and ideological education, it is necessary to improve military pilots’ flight capabilities and skills to deal with different complex situations. The reason is that political and spiritual element of military pilots is only ensured as long as they master flight skills. During the process of flight training, it is important to follow the “basic, practical, skillful, safe, and economical” guideline; plan flight training sessions appropriate to flight level of each pilot. Units should focus on making pilots grasp contents of each flight task and technical and tactical exercise, master aircraft equipment, and successfully handle situations. As for new pilots, units should focus on basic training, flight theory, steps to deal with in-flight emergencies and methods to evaluate flight terrain and airspace. Also, units should focus on training combat flight exercises under both good and bad weather conditions; lessons on day flight, night flight, sea flight and land and sea target attack.
Third, being active in preventing aviation accidents and incidents threatening flight safety. Once flight is safe, pilots keep their mind on their job, being proactive in training and combat readiness. Thus, it is necessary to fully understand and successfully carry out the procedures to maintain flight safety. First and foremost, military pilots should study and grasp Flight Regulations, seriously follow rules on flight safety. It is important to actively fight against the signs of subjectivity and carelessness in flight preparation and during flight process. Air regiments should thoroughly understand their unit situation, particularly the state of aircraft, weapons and equipment, the quality of pilots and flight crew as well as task performance to design flight plans and guarantee fight safety appropriately and effectively. Units must monitor the weather condition, resolutely not allow aircraft to take off when the weather is not good enough for flight. Aircraft accidents and flight incidents must be analyzed seriously, publicly and democratically. The causes of accidents will be carefully analysed and examined to draw lessons, strengthen the faith of military pilots, minimize the number of incidents threatening flight safety, and enhance units’ quality of training and combat readiness.
Fourth, improving and ensuring material and spiritual life of military pilots. To improve political and spiritual element for military pilots, the matter of ensuring their material and spiritual life is of utmost importance. In this regard, it is necessary to attach great importance to the assurance of health care, diet, recreation, and physical training. Moreover, units should strictly implement the Regulations on Grass-Roots Level Democracy, properly manage relationships on the basis of comradeship, solidarity and unity, build healthy military cultural environment for military pilots.
Measures mentioned above are designed to improve political and spiritual element of military pilots, making contribution to building strong political will and mindset for the pilots and helping them effectively handle situations in the air to successfully fulfil the task of protecting Homeland airspace.
Major Dao Hoang Duc, MA
Air Defence - Air Force Academy