The 4^th Military Corps (4^th MC), stationed in the southern region, is a main mobile unit being tasked with training, combat readiness, and other ad hoc tasks. In order to meet increasingly demanding requirements and tasks, along with reorganising forces according to the plan and roadmap of the Ministry of National Defence (MND), the 4^th MC has focused on improving its overall quality and combat strength, which are determined as the decisive factors in the successful completion of its political tasks. Importance is attached to making breakthroughs in improving the quality of combat training, especially the successful organisation of joint forces exercises, which is a highly complex task accompanied by several difficulties due to the fact that the unit must be in combat readiness status, marching for a long distance (nearly 200km) and carrying heavy loads through complex types of terrain. Indeed, the unit has to move by both vehicles and on foot, or to perform river crossing while handling complex situations and cooperating with other forces, weapons, equipment, etc. Meanwhile, there are many difficulties, including: gaps in the awareness, qualification, capability, and health of officers and soldiers; insufficient basic weapons, equipment, and means; and unpredictable weather conditions. To overcome these difficulties, the 4^th MC’s Party Committee and Command have implemented measures to lead, direct, and promote the role of forces, organised marching, and conducted joint drills with good results, which was highly appreciated by the MND.

4th Military Corps Command discuss scenario of combat readiness

Firstly, strengthening the leadership and direction of all-level party committees and commanders; educating and raising awareness for officers and soldiers about the importance of drills. By thoroughly grasping higher echelons’ resolutions, directives, orders, plans, and instructions, the 4^th MC Party Committee and Command have issued thematic leadership resolutions and orders of annual military work with appropriate goals and measures. Besides, the 4^th MC Party Committee and Command have directed party committees and commanders of agencies and units to concretise into resolutions and plans to organise the implementation of drills at their respective levels, suitable to the requirements and tasks, and areas of operation. Stepping up education for soldiers to raise their awareness about the meaning and importance of joint drills to the unit’s task completion and the development of officers and soldiers. To achieve high efficiency, the 4^th MC has combined general education and private education at all levels, associated with each stage of drills, maintaining party and political work during drills. Agencies and units have organised emulation movements to perform the tasks of marching, garrisoning, and tactical manoeuvres with appropriate contents and goals. Collectives from the platoon to battalion level as well as individuals have written registration of determination to successfully fulfil all assigned tasks. Consequently, the 4^th MC’s resolutions and plans to organise drills are comprehensively, synchronously, and consistently implemented at all levels with all the officers and soldiers sharing a well-defined ideology, high will, and determination to overcome all difficulties.

Secondly, undertaking careful preparations for drills. Along with compiling and perfecting the system of documents on weapons, and materials for drills, the 4^th MC’s Party Committee and Command have focused on leading and directing the preparation of human resources, scouting, and cooperation with other forces. Regarding human resources, the 4^th MC has directed agencies and units to consolidate their organisations, staffing, training, and physical training to improve technical and tactical skills for officers and soldiers involved in drills. Accordingly, the units have reviewed and selected officers with sufficient qualifications, capability, and health to participate in drills. To improve the commanding and coordination ability for officers and soldiers, the 4^th MC has directed agencies and units to focus on organising additional training with the following contents: command-and agency 2-level drills on maps and fields and themes: infantry brigades, regiments, and battalions crossing rivers in marching and garrisoning, infantry regiments and battalions attacking enemies’ air landings; attacking defensive enemies; defending, etc. Besides, organising and practicing conferences to introduce combat determination and plans to party committees (or party cells). During training, officers at all levels have imparted the experiences withdrawn from previous drills to soldiers so that they could imagine the nature and characteristics of marching, garrisoning, river crossing, and live-fire drills at infantry battalion level. Additionally, agencies and units have strictly implemented swimming training plans, organised long-distance night-time marching with heavy loads (twice a week) in combination with skills to effectively handle situations while marching, ensuring 100% of officers and soldiers are qualified for drills.

Scouting plays a vital role in grasping the situation of political security, social order and safety, ensuring safety before and during drills. The 4^th MC has directed units to form teams that actively and closely coordinate with local party committees, authorities, and people in the areas of marching, river crossing, garrisoning, and live-fire drills. Simultaneously, directly contacting and exchanging plans for cooperation with the Air Force Division 370, the Air Defence Division 367, and the commanders of the National Shooting Range Region 3, etc. to provide favourable conditions for units to compile joint drill plans. The 4^th MC has promoted the role and functions of political agencies and mass mobilisation officers and has upheld the responsibility of officers at all levels in grasping situations. Based on their own forces and means, agencies and units participating in drills closely coordinate with localities in stationing areas and marching routes in both mountainous and urban areas to proactively anticipate plans to promptly handle problems arising during task performance.

Third, ensuring safety in marching, garrisoning, and live-fire drills. This is a decisive stage in determining the outcomes of drills. Therefore, the 4^th MC has strictly followed the steps in marching, garrisoning, and live-fire drills. To fulfil the “dual goal”, the 4^th MC has directed agencies and units to strictly assign goals for forces participating in drills as well as forces staying in the barracks and has assigned responsibilities to officers in charge. The notable point is that the 4^th MC has directed units to coordinate with forces from higher echelons and localities to cross Saigon River close to combat reality, ensuring absolute safety for people, weapons, and equipment. Thanks to good scouting, the units have done all the preparations so that the troops can immediately station on arrival.

Live-fire tactical joint drills at corps level is the highest form of training taking place at different scales, levels, and themes, among which the theme of “Infantry battalion in offensive and defensive engagement” is popularly applied. This is a particularly important content, requiring the promotion of the synergy of forces. Therefore, before live-fire drills, on the basis of higher echelons’ command and coordination plans, the 4^th MC has actively contacted relevant forces, such as the National Shooting Range Region 3, the air force, artillery, air defence, armoured vehicles, etc. to prepare equipment, organise tactical formations and firepower under the firing plans. Assigning tasks and targets to different attacking waves, especially those of the air force, air defence, artillery, and tanks, ensuring no overlap during live-fire drills. Additionally, directly commanding and directing the training from occupying the battlefield to attacking the enemy and handling situations under coordinated plans with other forces. When the forces can skilfully coordinate, the 4^th MC directs them to perform live-fire drills in turn according to their assigned tasks. After drills, forces clean the training ground and destroy explosives under regulations. The 4^th MC has sent delegates to participate in lesson drawing conferences hosted by the General Staff while carrying out lesson drawing meetings at all levels, promptly praising and rewarding collectives and individuals with outstanding task performances. Meanwhile, seriously pointing out limitations and weaknesses to improve the quality of future drills.

Promoting the results and experience gained, the 4^th MC will continue to improve the quality of drills, contributing to improving the overall quality, combat strength, and manoeuvrability, successfully fulfilling all assigned tasks, further embellishing the tradition of the Cuu Long MC as being “loyal, united, creative, self-reliant, and determined to win” in the new era.

Senior Colonel LE VAN HUONG, Commander of the 4^th Military Corps