To meet the requirements to safeguard the Fatherland in the new situation, on August 9^th, 1978, Brigade 204 (formerly Regiment 204) under the Artillery Corps was founded. With the honour and pride of being the first anti-aircraft artillery unit and the strategic reserve mobile force of the Ministry of National Defence (the MND), over the past 45 years, generations of cadres and soldiers of the Brigade have consistently brought into full play the revolutionary spirit, strived for initiative, creativity, self-reliance and overcome all difficulties and challenges to accomplish all assigned tasks. This contributes to cementing the heroic Artillery Force’s tradition of “Rapid maturity, massive build-up, across-the-board and steady progress” and “Iron feet and shoulders, proficiency in combat and precision in firing”. For its achievements in task performance, the Brigade has been honoured with 5 Feat of Arms Medals by the Party and the State, as well as 83 emulation flags, certificates of merit, and other prestigious awards by the MND and the Artillery Corps.

Recent years have witnessed the rapid developments of science and military technology, combat methods, etc., which leads to significantly demanding requirements for the Brigade. Being deeply aware of the requirements, as well as adhering to the assigned functions and tasks, the Brigade has been drastically and synchronously implementing a range of measures to lead and direct the comprehensive implementation of all aspects of work and breakthroughs to constantly enhance its overall quality, combat power, and readiness to accept and accomplish all missions.

The brigade receives the Good Training Unit flag awarded by the Ministry of National Defence

First and foremost, the Brigade has concentrated on leading and directing the restructuring of forces; and fulfilling political and ideological education to equip its cadres and soldiers with solid political zeal and sheer determination to accept and accomplish all tasks. Grasping and implementing Resolution No. 230-NQ/QUTW issued on April 2^nd, 2022 by the Central Military Commission (the CMC) and the Plan of the High Command of the Artillery Corps on implementing the Decision of the MND on leading the implementation of organising Vietnam People’s Army in the 2021-2030 period and beyond, the Brigade’s Party Committee has designed the Specialised Resolution on leading the restructuring of the forces; scientific and synchronous plans and action programmes that accord with the unit’s characteristics, functions, and tasks. In particular, the focus has been placed on the consolidation of manpower, weapons, and equipment in key areas and units and the plans to merge logistic-technical agencies. Simultaneously, the brigade has also implemented multiple measures to accelerate the building of transparent and strong party committees and organisations in association with the building of an all-strong, “exemplary and typical” unit.

To that end, the Brigade has placed a strong emphasis on renovating leadership processes, enhancing its capability to grasp and put resolutions and directives from higher echelons into practice; performing “division of tasks, sharing of responsibilities”, linking the delegation of authority with responsibilities. The primary criterion for evaluating the performance of cadres at all levels is the unit's task accomplishment. The Brigade has directed its agencies and units to step up popularising and propagating the Party's viewpoints and guidelines on military and national defence; regimes and regulations concerning combat readiness. The quality of information dissemination has been heightened to ensure that soldiers can accurately grasp the situation and the current requirements placed on the Artillery Corps, as well as the hostile forces' subversive conspiracies and tactics. Importance has been attached to conducting effective ideological work for cadres and soldiers; anticipating various scenarios to ensure readiness for handling situations and maintaining unity throughout the unit, which creates a driving force for accomplishing the task of building an all-strong unit with high combat readiness.

In addition, the Brigade has made a breakthrough in enhancing the quality of training and combat readiness. On the foundation of grasping documents on training, especially Resolution No. 1659-NQ/QUTW issued on December 20^th, 2022 by the CMC on enhancing the quality of training in the 2023-2030 period and beyond; other orders and instruction of higher echelons, the Brigade has concentrated on leading and directing the renewal of appropriate training contents, organisation, and methods to fit the current situation. The focus has been also placed on enhancing the quality of training management and administration at all levels. During the implementation process, in parallel with the adherence to the motto of being “Fundamental, practical, and steady”, the Brigade has paid much attention to training contents that accord with the combat tasks of each unit and allocated military hardware and equipment; and taken tactics as the focus and training cadres as the key stage. Attention has been paid to renewing the contents and methods of physical training to improve soldiers’ endurance; fostering will and adaptability and effectively handling combat situation to enhance manoeuvrability and resistance to enemy’s offensive that apply high-tech weapons, thereby preserving manpower and being ready to promptly prepare and combat in harsh weather condition.

For great effectiveness, the Brigade has stringently maintained the training with a focus placed on managing and conducting the training through hierarchical levels and associating the quality of training with the responsibility of presiding cadres and commanders at all levels. The Brigade has directed its agencies and units to research and organise training that combines various forms of tactics with modern combat environments and different terrains to simulate combat reality. The innovation of inspection and supervision methods has been accelerated, along with the regular organisation of competitions at all levels to accurately and objectively assess the training results. Consequently, the Brigade has spotted and addressed shortcomings, determined training content, and maintained ongoing effective training. Simultaneously, teams for competitions and events at the Corps, Army, and international levels have been selected. As a result, the quality of training and combat readiness of the Brigade has been heightened and honoured by the MND with the Unit of Excellence in Training flag for three consecutive years, from 2019 to 2021.

Conducting live firing drill in 2022

To be “ready for manoeuvre in all situations”, the Brigade has strictly maintained discipline and combat readiness and organised on-duty forces at all levels as stipulated to ensure adequate manpower, weapons, equipment, and constant and secret communication. Annually, the Regiment reviews, supplements, and improves combat documents at all levels, in line with the development of the situation and combat plans. Trenches and fortifications are reinforced in accordance with the practice of various battle scenarios. Simultaneously, the Brigade has maintained close coordination with local party committees, authorities, and other forces in the area to keep abreast of the political-security situation, social safety and order, and contributes to the construction of defensive areas. The Brigade has proactively prepared full strength and vehicles to promptly and effectively respond to incidents, natural disasters, search and rescue operations, etc.

As the Brigade is based in a rapidly urbanised are, together with favourable aspects, social ills, the negative influence of the market economy and social networks, traffic accidents, etc., have a considerable impact on ideology, emotions, health, and the management of soldiers. Accordingly, the Brigade has concentrated on leading and directing the improvement of the quality of regularity building and discipline management. Together with thorough education that enhances awareness and responsibility and promotes positive attitudes and self-awareness among the service members in adhering to the State's laws, regulations of the Army and the Unit, the Brigade has guided its agencies and units to enhance measures for grasping and managing cadres and soldiers and their social relationships. Particular attention is given to recruits, non-commissioned officers, those preparing for demobilisation, and cadres in difficult circumstances. Throughout the implementation process, the Brigade has emphasised the roles and responsibilities of presiding officers at all levels and implemented the practice of “two before, two after, four together” with soldiers. Importance has also been attached to maintaining the Grass-roots Democracy Regulations and actively renovating the organisation of Political and Cultural Days at the grassroots levels. The commanders of the Brigade and the agencies have strictly adhered to the protocol of meetings and dialogues with cadres and soldiers. This facilitates a timely understanding of the situation and resolution of challenges and issues that arise at the grassroots levels, thereby fostering high unity and cohesion throughout the unit. In addition, the Brigade has proactively brought into full play its internal strength, reinforced the landscape, and constructed regular, well-ordered, vibrant, clean, and beautiful bases with a complete set of prescribed display boards in all units to provide a conducive space for cadres and soldiers to study, train, and show their commitment to the unit. Since 2018, the Brigade has witnessed no serious violations. In particular, in 2019, the Brigade was honoured with the Emulation Flag by the Government.

In addition, the Brigade has paid attention to fulfilling logistic and technical work which is the determinant that enhances the combat power of the Unit. On the foundation of strict adherence to the order of higher echelons on logistic assurance, the Brigade has placed great importance on constructing comprehensive documents and logistics plans according to combat scenarios at different levels; ensuring sufficient quantities of reserved logistical materials and strictly maintaining rotation and replacement, etc. Importance has been put on actively renovating approaches to logistic assurance, combining on-site resources with those from higher levels, and intensifying food production and animal husbandry in the Unit to ensure the standards and improving the quality of military life. Simultaneously, efficient utilisation of budget, fuel, electricity, and water conservation have been well-implemented. In technical work, the Brigade has stepped up the implementation of the campaign “Effective, durable, safe, and economical management and utilisation of weapons and technical equipment, and traffic safety”. The Brigade has also enhanced the effective management and utilisation of existing weapons and technical equipment; gradually mastered weapons and technical equipment to meet all task requirements in the new context.

Bringing into full play the 45-year tradition of development and maturity, the cadres and soldiers of Brigade 204 will continue to “strengthen physical fitness, cultivate virtues, forge talents” and build a transparent, strong, and typical Party Committee in association with the building of an all-strong, “exemplary and typical” Brigade. The Brigade will also relentlessly enhance the overall quality, proficiency, and competencies in combat readiness and combat to accomplish all assigned tasks.

Senior Colonel NGUYEN DINH DU, Commander of Artillery Brigade 204