Deeply aware of the importance of the task of responding to non-traditional security situations, the Division Party Committee and Commanders have focused on synchronously and drastically implementing solutions to improve quality and efficiency in performing the task to contribute to protecting the people's lives and properties and building safe areas in the south of Military Region 4.

As the main mobile unit of the Military Region 4, besides the main political tasks of training and combat readiness, Division 968 also has the task of maneuvering to handle situations of natural disaster prevention and control, search and rescue ... in the three provinces of Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien Hue. This is a difficult area in all aspects compared to the national average, characterised by its easily fragmented terrain, harsh environment, and extremely complicated hydro-meteorology with frequent natural disasters and pandemics, causing great damages to people lives, facilities, and economy.

Thoroughly grasping the assigned tasks and mastering the characteristics of the area, over the years, the Division’s cadres and soldiers have united to promote their core role in coordinating with relevant forces and local people in promptly and effectively handling non-traditional security situations to protect the people's lives and properties, stabilise political security and social order and safety, and create favourable conditions for local quick and sustainable economic development.

Troops of the Division participate in disaster relief in Hue City in 2000

In the coming time, the local climate and weather conditions will still be complicated and unpredictable, especially when the rainy season is coming and the Covid-19 pandemic is still complicated and difficult to control in many localities across the country, which poses high demands on the Division's tasks. To respond promptly and effectively to non-traditional security situations, the Division’s cadres and soldiers are required to continue uniting, striving to overcome difficulties, and making breakthroughs in comprehensive implementation of the following contents and measures with its strongest political will.

Firstly, to raise awareness and sense of responsibility of cadres and soldiers for the task of responding to non-traditional security situations. The Division should focus on educating the soldiers to be thoroughly aware of the meaning, importance, and necessity of preparing and effectively responding to non-traditional security situations as this is the “combat task in peacetime” and performing the function of "the working force" of the Army. Accordingly, the units need to actively innovate the contents, forms, and methods of education to help the soldiers firmly grasp the resolutions, directives, and orders of the MR4’s Party Committee and High  Command and the instructions of the functional agencies and clearly understand the characteristics, requirements, tasks, difficulties, complexities, and fierce nature of each task, thereby, to determine motivation and build the will and spirit of willingness to accept hardships, sacrifices, initiative, creativity, and solidarity in striving to fulfill their assigned tasks of protecting the people's lives and properties, remedying and mitigating damages, keeping environmental sanitation, and stabilising people's lives.

Secondly, to continue promoting the core role in mastering, forecasting, and assessing the situation and advising the Military Region High Command and local Party committees and authorities on policies and measures to respond to non-traditional security situations. The advisory body should regularly master information and developments of climate, weather, natural disasters, and hydro-meteorology in the area through the reserve force and mass media and coordinate with functional forces in accurately analysing and forecasting development trends, assessing the level of influence and damages in each specific situation, and focusing on situations of forest fires, storms, floods, tornadoes, landslides, pandemics, etc., thereby to advise the MR4 High Command and local Party committees and authorities on response policies and measures. At the same time, it should actively prepare for forces and means, commanding, coordination, and assurance; propagandise and mobilise the people and the armed forces to take measures to ensure safety with attention paid to the central areas of storms and floods and locations of high risks of floods and landslides; coordinate with the people in solidifying works and houses and evacuating; review documents, plans, and options; and contact and cooperate with relevant units, localities, and forces to be ready to respond promptly and effectively to all situations.

Thirdly, to improve the quality of training and drills and promote the key role in prevention and control of natural disasters and pandemics and search and rescue. The advisory body should coordinate with agencies and units in researching, developing plans, and organising rigorous, serious, and high-quality training on the contents of prevention and control of natural disasters and pandemics and search and rescue to serve as a basis for the soldiers’ effective application to the process of performing their tasks to contribute to strengthening the military-civilian relationship and building a solid "people’s heart-and-mind posture" in the area.

To actively develop plans, organise exercises and rehearsals under specific plans and situations and improve flexibility, creativity, and decisiveness in handling situations of cadres and commanders at all levels and ability to maneuver and coordinate in handling situations among detachments and sections within the Division and with local departments, agencies, mass organisations, and the armed forces. Functioning as the main mobile force, the Division’s subordinate units should focus on promoting their core and offensive role in responding to situations under the motto that "Division 968’s soldiers go wherever there are difficulties"; actively participate in activities before, during, and after the occurrence of natural disasters, pandemics, and search and rescue with priority put on precaution and prevention of damages; thoroughly review and draw lessons after each situation and task; and timely praise and reward collectives and individuals with excellent achievements to motivate and encourage the soldiers to perform their tasks better.

Fourthly, to closely coordinate with the localities and relevant forces to create overall power for fulfillment of the assigned tasks. The Division should regularly coordinate closely with the Commanding Committees for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue of the provinces of Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien Hue in mastering and exchange information in the area; receive and promptly handle proposals and documents of coordination  between the Division and local Party committees, authorities, departments, agencies, and mass organisations and  relevant forces in natural disaster and pandemic prevention and control and search and rescue; report to the MR4 High Command for leadership and direction to coordinate in handling the arising situations; participate in monthly and quarterly coordination conferences among agencies, departments and branches with the Military Commands, the Border Guard Commands, and relevant forces on the task of natural disaster and pandemic prevention and control and search and rescue organised by the Provincial People's Committees to serve as a basis for agreement upon plans and mobilisation of forces, means,  equipment, etc.

Finally, to ensure adequate and timely facilities and means to serve the tasks of natural disaster and pandemic prevention and control and search and rescue. Agencies and units should continue promoting the tradition of "self-sufficient and self-reliance" and the motto of "good troop caring and strict troop training"; develop logistical and technical plans suitable for each task and situation; closely coordinate with localities and functional forces in organising field surveys to master the nature, characteristics, and requirements of tasks as a basis for formulating plans and preparing materials and means for performing the task; assure adequate and timely material facilities for the soldiers and people to be ready for mobilising and handling situations when ordered; and focus on anticipating situations and tasks that may arise. Basing on the specific situation, agencies and units should coordinate with local Party committees and authorities in building the on-spot logistical and technical posture and promote the roles and overall power of the whole political system, departments, branches, unions, organisations, and individuals in preparing material facilities and conducting supply, hunger relief, rescue, transportation, and medical treatment for the people in areas of natural disasters, pandemics, and fires ... to contribute to taking care of and ensuring the material and spiritual life of the soldiers and people.

Being well aware of the task and based on the experience in recent years, especially in 2020, Division 968’s cadres and soldiers synchronously implement solutions and continue promoting their core role in maneuvering to respond to non-traditional security situations in the area and well perform the function of "the working army" to contribute to highlighting the nature and tradition of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" in the new period.

Colonel NGUYEN THANH HUNG, Division Commissar