Implementing the Central Military Party Committee’s and the Ministry of National Defence’s guidelines of building the Signals Corps straightforward modernized, the Party Committee and the Corps Command outlined the “Strategy of the development of the military communication system from 2011 to 2020”, of which the mobile and seasoned signals force is an element to be developed toward modernization.

A conference on the modernization of the signals (Photo: qdnd.vn)

First, the modernization of the mobile and seasoned signals force must be based on the scientific and advanced organizational structure. This is a very important issue which plays as the foundation for building other elements of the mobile and seasoned signals force, such as: personnel, modern communication equipment, etc. Based on the studies of the functions, missions and the status of the communication support of the mobile signals force as well as the development of the current military and commercial communication systems, characteristics of the hydro meteorological changes, natural disaster law, floods, geography, population in each region (area), security situation, in particular the disposition of the armed forces, battlefield facilities in conformity with strategic and operational combat plan, determined in peacetime, etc, the mobile and seasoned signals force maybe disposed in three basic patterns: centralized, dispersed and the combination between centralized and dispersed patterns. The strategic mobile and seasoned signals force should be organized as centralized-pattern units, i.e. the combined mobile signals battalion is organized into a company-sized mobile detachments which are synchronously structured and equipped in conformity with the table of organization and equipment. The operational mobile and seasoned signals force maybe organized as dispersed-pattern or combined centralized and dispersed pattern units. For a long term, in order to improve the effectiveness of communication support for the operational level, a plan of organizing the mobile and seasoned signals force as company-sized, centralized-pattern units at the military region level or platoon-sized at the corps level, should be made to stabilize the organization, both personnel and equipment.

Second, develop high quality human resource of the mobile and seasoned signals force, meeting the demands in the new situation. Personnel and communication equipment constitute the strength of the mobile and seasoned signals force of which personnel is a core factor and decides the success of the modernization. Deeply understand and educate the mobile and seasoned signals force to raise their awareness and responsibility in keeping information confidential and the spirit of overcoming difficulties in both peacetime and wartime in order to fulfill the tasks. It is necessary to promote the training and re-training the cadres of all levels, regularly train and foster and improve all-round aspects, especially update new knowledge in conformity with increasingly development of science and technology. Regarding military officers, they should be centrally trained on specialized basic knowledge, scientific thinking methodology and command and operation methodology of subunits to coordinate and link with other information systems, aimed at establishing a wide, robust and diversified information system, ensuring the emergency response of the commanders. Regarding non-commissioned officers, they should be basically trained  on specialization in order to improve their professional level and specialization in the following orientations: professional, specialized, and good at combat not only with modern communication equipment on land, at sea or in airspace, but also with assigned synchronous weapons and equipment. They must also be skilful at methods of organizing, specifically the ability to deploy, operate, recover, maneuver, communication vehicle-to-vehicle link.

Besides, it is necessary to make plan and conduct the exercise safely, paying attention to train the sustainment of the  mobile and seasoned signals troops in order to fulfill their assigned tasks.

Third, enhance the investment in modernizing communication equipment. The mobile and seasoned signals force should be equipped with modern vehicles and equipment in conformity with the development of the national and international telecommunication systems. Regarding communication vehicles, the acquisition should be reduced in number of vehicles, improve the integration capability, aimed at integrating some of communication vehicles into one, thus make a multi-functional communication vehicles. Equipped with this kind of vehicle, the mobile and seasoned signals force can carry out a number of functions at the same time and fulfill their task of communication support in various types of terrains, environments and weather, simultaneously raise the capability of self-support of communication vehicles and  trouble-shooting, research and development and gradually replace the vehicle mounted communication equipment in conformity with conditions and characteristics of the areas of operations. Regarding the transportation vehicles, they should be made with compact design, high mobility and compatible with variety of terrains: mountain forest, flat and river terrains. Besides, in emergency situations, specifically when moving on land and rivers is difficult, the transportation of personnel and communication equipment by aircraft could be taken into consideration. Regarding vehicle mounted communication equipment, they are required to be light and compact in terms of engineering, meeting the demands of stability against shaking, reducing at most impacts of outside environment and the ability to prevent and encounter the enemy’s electronic warfare. Hardware should be designed with module patterns, aimed at having capability of mutual replacement when necessary. Regarding technical structure, it is essential to integrate the communication equipment for easy use, repair, replace, connect with other equipment in order to quickly set up a communication network. Much importance is attached to diversify communication channels, aimed at having capability of conducting various ways, such as: voice, telegraph, data transmission, fax, television, etc, while ensuring secret and high reliability. Future communication equipment should be digital radios, smart radios, integrated multi-functional switchboard, including both IP switchboard and exchange terminal circuit switchboard. Besides fixed equipment on-board vehicles, the use of separate equipment such as: VSAT1, portable radios should be taken into consideration for communication support in case of inaccessibility of communication vehicles.

Col. Nguyen Hoang Tuyen

Rector, College of Signals Officers