In response to the imperative requirements of safeguarding the sovereignty over the Fatherland's seas and islands, on July 5th, 1978, the Marine Brigade 147 (formerly the Marine Regiment 147, of the Navy) was established. Throughout its 45 years of construction, combat, and maturity, under the leadership and direction of the Party Committee, the Command of the Navy, Naval Region 1 and receiving the support and assistance of friendly units, authorities, and people in the local areas, cadres and soldiers of the Brigade have always brought into full play the spirit of unity and self-reliance to overcome all difficulties and gradually build and develop in all aspects to accomplish the requirements of manoeuvre and combat readiness. Accordingly, together with units in the Navy and involving forces, the Brigade has firmly safeguarded the assigned sea and island areas and cemented the tradition of "Loyalty and Courage - Proactive Creativity - Solidarity and Coordination - Victorious deployment." For these achievements, the Brigade has been awarded with Medals and Certificates of Commendation by the State, the Flag "Leading Unit in the Emulation Movement" by the Ministry of National Defence, the Naval Command, and multiple other noble rewards.
Recent years have witnessed the complication and unpredictability of the global and regional situation, especially the situation in the East Sea; therefore, new requirements and tasks of the Navy in general and the Brigade in particular must be fulfilled. To that end, in parallel with the comprehensive implementation of all aspects of works as well as constant improvement of the overall quality and combat power, the Brigade’s Party Committee and Command have attached immense importance to the building of an all-strong, “exemplary and typical” unit with multiple synchronous and appropriate measures, thereby drawing practical experience to effectively apply in the forthcoming time.
 |
| Signing emulation commitment at the launch of 2023 training season |
First and foremost, the Brigade concentrates on building strong agencies and units in terms of politics. Due to the particular tasks, the Brigade has to operate in complex environments that require constant and prolonged manoeuver in various terrains and face dangers that can significantly impact the soldiers' thoughts, emotions, and health. Therefore, the Brigade has attached importance to intensifying political education and building a high will, determination, self-reliance, and the ability to overcome all difficulties so that cadres and soldiers can accomplish all assigned tasks. In parallel with the proper implementation of political education as stipulated, the Brigade has provided effective guidance to its agencies and units to implement the Project on "Renovating political education in units in the new period". Notably, prior to each event in the East Sea, the Brigade has conducted research and compiled documents relevant to its functions and tasks; revealed the conspiracies, tricks, and subversive activities of hostile forces as well as the views, guidelines, and policies of our Party and State in addressing maritime disputes to thoroughly and extensively popularise these activities throughout the unit. Close coordination between education, encouragement and the management, orientation, and effective solutions to soldiers' ideological situation has been implemented, especially among units carrying out both trivial and important tasks and long-range naval training and combat forces.
Additionally, the Brigade has constantly strengthened the leadership and combat power of party committees and organisations at all levels; the building of transparent and strong party organisations in association with the building of all-strong, “exemplary and typical” agencies and units. The Brigade has also implemented Conclusion No. 01-KL/TW issued on May 18th, 2021 by the Politburo on continuing the implementation of Directive No. 05-CT/TW on studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics, and manners in association with the implementation of the Campaign to promote tradition, devoting talent to deserve the title of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" - Naval Soldiers. Outstanding collectives and individuals achieving remarkable accomplishments have been timely commended to create a driving force for officers and soldiers to train and strive. As a result, in the past five years, the Brigade’s Party Committee has accomplished all assigned tasks; the annual political awareness assessment achieved high results; all cadres and soldiers have shown their service commitment.
To improve the level and capability in combat readiness and firmly safeguard the sovereignty over the seas and islands in all situations, together with strengthening the organisation in accordance with Resolution No. 230-NQ/QUTW issued on April 2nd, 2022 by the Central Military Commission, the Brigade concentrates on leading and directing the breakthroughs in enhancing the quality of training and combat readiness. Thoroughly grasping the resolutions. Directives, and orders on training, the Brigade’s Party Committee has mapped out annual thematic resolutions which determine targets, requirements, and measures for leadership to lay a foundation for commanders at all levels to design appropriate training plans; simultaneously, required party committees and commands at all levels to supervise, inspect, and surmount all weaknesses. During the implementation process, the Brigade has creatively applied the approach of being “fundamental, practical, and effective”, 8 principles and 6 combinations in training; emphasised synchronous and in-depth training with the goal of safeguarding sovereignty over seas and islands and building a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern brigade. As for the contingent of cadres, the Brigade has concentrated on training to improve their organisational and training methods; shooting techniques and command skills; methods of manoeuvre and prolonged operations at sea and on islands and the use of new weapons and equipment, etc. Regarding recruits, emphasis has been placed on physical training, armed swimming in complex weather conditions, long-distance marches (with heavy loads) in combination with field training in various terrains; boarding and disembarking from aircraft, endurance testing on the sea for extended periods, etc.
 |
| Conducting amphibious operation exercise |
To enhance combat capabilities in safeguarding sovereignty over seas and islands, the Brigade has closely coordinated with relevant units to develop and implement combined training plans for amphibious landing and air landing. The focus has been placed on naval infantry's landing techniques and tactics; the techniques and tactics of artillery and armour; fire support for airborne naval infantry; live-fire exercises for various forces, etc. Accordingly, the Brigade has supplemented and perfected combat plans to lay a foundation for basic training at each level and for each task. Cadres’ and soldiers’ physical endurance, combat will, proficiency in weapons and technical equipment, and competence in responding to various combat situations have been trained to satisfy all task requirements. Consequently, the Brigade's training quality, proficiency, and combat readiness have been substantively enhanced; therefore, the Brigade has been awarded the "Unit with Excellent Training" flag by the Ministry of Defence and the title of "Outstanding and typical unit with combat readiness to safeguard the seas and islands in the Navy" in 2022 by the Naval High Command.
In the building of regularity, discipline management, and military administrative reform, the Brigade has paid attention to effectively disseminating and heightening the awareness and responsibility of all service members in observing the State laws, military discipline, and unit regulations; working in accordance with assigned duties, acting in accordance with regulations, and setting role models. The Brigade integrates the development of regularity and discipline management with the building of a wholesome and cultural environment that encourages soldiers to voluntarily comply with daily and weekly regimes. Importance has been attached to preventing and strictly handling disciplinary violations and breaches of regulations regarding traffic safety, training safety, etc. Additionally, the Brigade has promoted the simplification of administrative procedures and enhanced the application of information technology to promptly and effectively address all tasks. Through practical measures, since 2018, the Brigade has not witnessed any serious disciplinary violations, which ensures absolute safety.
In line with the successful implementation of the above-mentioned measures, the Brigade always emphasises effective logistics and technical support for tasks in all situations. Adhering to the orders regarding logistic support of higher echelons and considering the current tasks of the unit, the Brigade has regularly adjusted, supplemented, and replaced material reserves and logistics equipment to meet regular and unscheduled tasks. The Brigade has also directed units to actively research and apply models for efficient and suitable methods of food production and animal husbandry based on the actual conditions and terrain. Special attention is given to constructing production areas with gardens, ponds, and animal farms to provide a variety of vegetables, fruits, and food items, thereby significantly improving the living standards of the service members and contributing to maintaining a high proportion of robust troops. The agencies and units have accelerated their participation in emulation movements.
Concerning technical support, due to the management of a vast variety of weapons and technical equipment, the Brigade has attached importance to multiple measures for the implementation of the Campaign to “Effectively, durably, safely, and economically manage and use weapons and equipment and traffic safety”; effectively using modern weapons and equipment; step-by-step master the modern weapons and equipment. Emphasis has been also put on strictly maintaining the regimes for technical work and stringently implementing the process of maintaining, storing, repairing, and extending the service life of weapons and equipment, especially those for field training. Besides, the Brigade has also given attention to improving the professional qualification for cadres and technical personnel; actively consolidating and upgrading facilities for technical support as well as bringing into play initiatives and technical renovation, etc. to maintain high technical coefficient and ensure sufficient weapons and equipment for regular and unscheduled tasks.
Bring into full play the 45-year tradition of construction, development, and maturity, the cadres and soldiers of the Naval Infantry Brigade 147 will continue to make every endeavour for the building of an all-strong, “typical and exemplary” unit and relentlessly enhance the overall quality and combat power to firmly safeguard the sacred sovereignty over seas and islands of the Fatherland in all situations.
Colonel NGO VAN LUA, Commander of Marine Brigade 147