In order to successfully carry out defence operations at coastal provinces and cities of the Northern delta, creating favorable condition and opportunity to defeat the enemy right on the beachhead line and firmly protect the area, it is necessary to synchronously carry out a number of solutions, in which technical assurance plays a particularly important role, contributing to generating the synergy for the local armed forces in combat. However, the practice of technical preparation and assurance in the defence area exercise has shown that there are still some shortcomings. To meet the requirements and tasks of defence operations in coastal provinces and cities of the northern delta, it is necessary to implement some following measures for the technical assurance:

Firstly, strengthening the leadership and administration of the party committees and local authorities in preparing technical assurance for the combat operations right from the peacetime. Party committees and local authorities need to thoroughly grasp and strictly comply with the Party's resolutions and directives, State legal documents related to the building of defence zones in the new situation with a focus on Resolution No. 28-NQ/TW, dated September 22, 2008 of the Politburo (10^th tenure) on building provinces and central-governed cities into solid defence areas in the new situation, etc. In particular, focusing on contents related to the preparation of technical facilities, building technical reserve force and mobilising technical assurance industry. Local authorities need to issue thematic resolutions and guiding documents suitable to their conditions; attach importance to combining socio-economic development planning, projects and programs with building technical infrastructure, improving the quality and capability of weapon and technical equipment production, maintenance and repair for the armed forces.

Second, perfecting mechanisms and policies for combat technical assurance. This is a solution to ensure the legality, attach the responsibility of the political system for technical assurance to supply for the armed forces in the event of war. The content should focus on expanding the technical reserve force. In addition to traditional sources, the local military agencies need to expand its sources from students of universities, vocational colleges, workers in industrial establishments... in their area to supplement for the technical reserve units, and ready for mobilisation when needed. At the same time, they should propose their advice to the Supply Council and People's Committee on some contents as a basis for the Party and the State to promulgate the system of legal documents to improve the mechanism for registering and managing the technical reserve resources.

Implementing the policy of combining national defence with socio-economy and socio-economy with national defence, provinces and cities should have specific guidance on the content, responsibilities and order of participation in the appraisal of local military agencies, including technical agencies for local socio-economic development programs, projects, and plans; ensure the building of a technical force according to the master plan on the defensive posture of the defensive area and the determination of the commander in defensive combat. At the same time, to ensure the annual budget for building a technical mobilization reserve force; technical bases, industrial mobilisation and application of scientific and technological research results into technical assurance.

Third, developing the technical militia and self-defence force. Localities must base on the quantity and types of weapons and technical equipment on the payroll and their geographical features to establish a technical militia and self defence force at all levels. Select the high skill personnel with professions similar to military technique for mobilisation. As for technical vehicle and material, the military agencies of the provinces and cities should have calculations and propose reinforcements to the military regions or new procurement to the localities.

Fourth, coordinating closely the ability of combat technical assurance of forces. Right in the preparation phase, local military agencies should consult with the Supply Council, administer and coordinate with socio-economic sectors and organisations to mobilise all abilities and forces: move and deploy technical forces and facilities to the right positions; maintain, repair, and rescue the damaged or idle weapons and technical equipment before and after the  changing of combat readiness state; prepare roads and communication systems for maneuvering, commanding, and directing technical assurance, etc. Coordinate with local departments, branches to grasp the technical reserve force and be ready to receive and timely supplement to ensure quantity and quality. In combat: the military agencies continue to cooperate with forces in the defence area to maintain, repair, and rescue weapons and technical equipment according to their capabilities; recover weapons, technical equipment and war spoils. Promote the application of local research results to the production, maintenance, repair and rescue of weapons and technical equipment, and the defence of forces and technical facilities, especially at sea and on islands.

Fifth, closely combining socio-economic development with building a solid, dangerous, flexible, and uninterrupted technical posture on coastal, sea and island areas. Basing on defence determination at all levels, plans and master plan on defence disposition and development of key economic regions of the Government and specific situations of localities, the Military Command of provinces and cities should advise the local Party committees and authorities to review the overall socio-economic development plans associated with the plans on establishing defence posture in defence areas, ensuring interconnectivity, synchronicity, defence and security enhancement, creating a premise and a scientific basis to establish a solid, dangerous, interconnected and flexible technical posture in the defence area. When deploying technical forces and facilities, it is necessary to consider and make use of natural geological and topographical factors, the location of the planned civil works; give priority to the research, development, and construction of dual-use materials and structures, and underground tunnels for storing weapons, technical equipment and ammunition. In the development of agriculture, forestry and fishery, it is necessary to plant breakwater trees to camouflage and conceal forces and technical facilities. Prioritise the construction of mechanical repair and production establishments to meet civil living needs, economic development, and create potentials for technical assurance. At the same time, clear the channels and canals, renovate and build seaports, river ports, ferries, ... to ensure traffic for socio-economic development and coastal combat operations of defence areas and military regions.

In addition, the provinces and cities should have plans to adjust the population arrangement, encourage fishermen to actively participate in building and developing marine economy on sea and islands; adopt preferential policies to attract people and mobilise capital sources for  infrastructure development, socio-economic development, and create all favorable conditions for people of all strata, domestic enterprises and   foreign-invested enterprises to feel secure in investing and developing a sustainable marine economy. Implement well the registration and management of technical personnel among the people; pay special attention to high skill human resources with professions and specialties close to the Army's needs in technical establishments to supplement for technical reserve units and militia and self-defense force, then conduct training to make them available for deployment to technical assurance units when necessary.

Senior Colonel, Dr. PHAM ANH TUAN, Department of Military Schooling, the General Staff