Building the contingent of operational and strategic technical officers with high qualifications, capacity and prestige, on par with tasks is an objective requirement of the cause of national construction and defence. As for the military technical branch, building this contingent of cadres is both an urgent need and a long term fundamental issue, which should be implemented with synchronous guidelines and solutions under a specific roadmap.

The contingent of operational and strategic technical officers serves as the core force of the military technical branch who are in charge of technical work at strategic and operational levels in the Military. They advise and propose the formulation of planning, strategies, medium and long-term plans, schemes and projects on technical work; and advise, guide and implement technical work in units under the Ministry of National Defence, contributing to the fulfillment of materiel supply in the Military and successfully performing assigned tasks. Being well aware of that, over the past years, the Party Committee and commanders of the General Department of Technology, and specialised departments have actively advised the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence to build the contingent of operational and strategic technical officers with firm political zeal, absolute loyalty to the Party's goals and ideals, compatible knowledge and qualifications, and practical experience, etc.

Director of the Department of Arms Technology chairing a conference on technical work

However, this work still remains some shortcomings. Therefore, building a contingent of operational and strategic technical officers with a rational organisational structure, appropriate quantity and high quality, meeting the requirements of the Military building according to the objectives set by the Resolution of the 13^th National Party Congress is an important and urgent issue. This process requires many drastic and synchronous solutions in accordance with the defined roadmap. Following are some basic ones:

Firstly, well conducting advisory work in building the operational and strategic technical officers on par with tasks. On the basis of thoroughly grasping and implementing Resolution No. 109-NQ/QUTW, dated 11^th February 2019 and Plan No. 405-KH/QUTW, dated 24^th April 2019 of the Central Military Commission on building the contingent of Military cadres, especially at operational and strategic levels to meet requirements and tasks in the new situation, and on the basis of practical conditions, in the coming time, leaders and commanders of the Department of Arms Technology  shall continue to study, propose to the General Department of Technology to advise the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence and coordinate with functional agencies to direct agencies and units to select and use operational and strategic technical officers according to the set-out criteria. In addition, the General  Department of Technology should propose and coordinate with the General Staff to direct military academies and schools to perfect their training programs for officers, especially technical cadres holding managerial positions; increase the enrolment at the National Defence Academy; direct the military technical branch  to advise Party committees and commanders at all levels to proactively build a contingent of technical officers, in general and those at operational and strategic levels, in particular according to the criteria, objectives, and set-out requirements; at the same time, review and advise the Ministry of National Defence to develop regulations on coordination between technical, staff and logistics agencies in a unified way throughout the Military in terms of organisation, staffing, area of responsibilities, etc., suitable for each type of unit; research and propose preferential policies for the high-skilled technicians as a kind of motivation, etc.

Second, well conducting the management, planning, use of technical officers, ensuring succession and inheritance. Based on the development of military and defence lines, military structure, materiel inventory, especially new requirements and tasks, party committees and commanders of technical agencies at campaign and strategic levels should regularly supplement and complete criteria for promotion and selection of technical staff, thereby, adjusting plan to suit each agency and unit every year, each period to avoid the shortage and imbalance in terms of structure, quantity and quality of personnel. During the implementation, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the procedures of detecting, training, selecting, testing, interviewing and evaluating technical staff before employing them to the operational and strategic technical agencies.  

Third, increasing training to improve the level and capacity for the operational and strategic technical officers. In order to fulfill the functions of management, direction, guidance and supply of technical establishments, commandant of operational and strategic technical agencies should flexibly combine and diversify forms of training to raise the political and advisory levels, and update new knowledge about science and technology for their staff. Emphasis should be placed on basic training, re-training, advanced training, in-depth training to develop many leading experts, senior engineers, chief engineers, etc., thereby, making the level of technical staff on par with tasks. Regularly pay attention to and build a system of strategic partners in training and retraining; coordinate with institutes, schools and experts to organise short training courses on technical command, management, and supply for tasks or update new knowledge in order to improve the quality and level of expertise in the fields of high technology and advanced techniques; research and expand the enrolment of short refresher courses at the Military Technological Academy and technological schools in the Military to meet immediate requirements.

In addition, regularly hold technical talented contests and drills in general and specialised technical supply at operational and strategic levels, so as to both create a training environment and opportunities to challenge this team in peacetime and test the reality and complete the theory of technical work in the new situation, and in high-tech, non-traditional warfare, thereby, helping this force constantly cultivate, study and practice to improve their bravery and professional expertise which are the criteria for evaluation and selection of high-quality operation and strategic and technical officers.

Fourth, promoting personnel rotation to improve their ability to solve practical problems. The fact shows that the more unit models technical officers experience, the more effective their work will get. Therefore, the military technical branch needs to promote the rotation of capable technical staff to create development source and meet the requirements of military modernisation. Accordingly, it needs to rotate its cadres in three forms: level and type of unit; technical expertise; types of materiel supply establishment. In addition, it should deploy cadres to different areas of difficulties to help them grasp the situation in the military, and propose relevant measures to practical needs for materiel supply of the units. Rotation is to create new motivations for cadres in their cultivation and training, create solidarity, unity, impartiality in each unit and area; at the same time, reinforce staff for key units and areas with difficulties, promptly solve problems of technical work.

Finally, the industry should promote military technology cooperation with foreign partners, especially major and partner countries. Expand the exchange of delegations to  scientific seminars, exchange of experience on military technology; maintain dialogue and contact through military cooperation forums or through defence and military cooperation sub-committees with other countries with a view to  building a team of operational and strategic technical officers to meet requirements both in the immediate and long term, contributing to the construction and development of the military technical branch  on par with the task, successfully carrying out the task of building the revolutionary, regular, elite, and gradually modernised Military.

Major General DO DINH PHONG, Director of the Department of Arms Technology