Studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics, and manners have long been a vibrant revolutionary action movement of the Logistics branch of Air Defence – Air Force. In the face of new requirements, the Branch must continue to accelerate the studying and following through practical actions which are recognised as pivotal measures as well as a tremendous spiritual motivation to accomplish all assigned tasks.

The Air Defence – Air Force not only had the honour of welcoming and receiving encouragement from Uncle Ho but also received constant attention from Uncle Ho concerning combat activities and daily life. Particularly, During the escalation of the war against the U.S. imperialists in the North of Vietnam, He always paid great attention to the logistics and daily life of the Air Defence – Air Force for the protection of the Capital. He once even devoted his savings to the Ministry of National Defence and gave it to the Air Defence troops in Hanoi to provide them with refreshments during hot days, etc. His care, devotion, and wholeheartedness have become a profound lesson, a valuable legacy, and the lodestar for the operation of the Logistics branch of the Service throughout the past 60 years.

Conference to deploy logistics work of 2023 at the Air Defence - Air Force

In recent years, thoroughly grasping and implementing Directive No. 05-CT/TW of the Politburo (12^th tenure), Directive No. 87-CT/QUTW of the Central Military Commission on “Promoting the studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics, and manners within the Military Party Committee and the entire Army’, the Logistics branch of the Service has issued multiple measures to deepen and effectively and practically implement the Emulation Movement “The Logistics branch of the Army follows Uncle’s teachings” and achieved positive outcomes in all aspects. In particular, assurance activities in logistics have witnessed extensive renovations that stick to the reality of each region and task requirements of each force (air defence, missile, radar and anti-aircraft artillery forces). Logistic units at all levels have proactively prepared and adequately and promptly ensured combat readiness, search-and-rescue operations, and other unscheduled tasks. Logistic assurance has seen steady development, which improves the quality of soldiers’ lives and health. Movements for food production and animal husbandry, the practice of thrift, and wastefulness prevention have been intensified with a variety of effective models and practices. The barrack maintenance work, fuel and transportation provision work have made a significant breakthrough. The Military Service has victoriously implemented Resolution No. 623-NQ/QUTW of the Central Military Commission on “Military logistic work until 2020 and the next”, thereby heightening the Service’s assurance in Logistics. These achievements have made a significant contribution to strengthening combat power and modernising the Service.

The current tasks of constructing the Service and safeguarding the Fatherland present new and highly demanding requirements for the Logistics branch of the Air Defence – Air Force. The need for logistical support has significantly spiked, especially for the building of forces and combat readiness to protect the country’s airspace, seas, and islands, and respond to unscheduled tasks; meanwhile, the restructuring of forces is ongoing and issues such as natural disasters and epidemics are unpredictable. Therefore, to make a seismic shift in logistic work in the current context, the Branch must continue to synchronously and drastically implement the measures. In particular, studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics, and manners is the driving force and springboard for the Branch to accomplish its tasks.

Accordingly, the Logistic branch of the Service must continue to intensify education and propagation work, provide all service members with Ho Chi Minh’s ideology and ethical examples and His teachings on Military logistic work to raise their awareness and responsibility and generate great motivation and determination for all cadres, personnel, and soldiers. Simultaneously, the Branch must direct its agencies and units to stick to the functions and tasks of each force and the specialisation and characteristics of each locality so that the “compulsory” contents can be determined to ensure its practicality and feasibility, avoid monotony and boredom, concentrate on surmounting weaknesses in logistic work in agencies and units. For great effectiveness, the Department of Logistics should attach importance to directing the building and duplication of progressive models, detect and honour typical groups and individuals, and eliminate any manifestations of formality or complacency. Especially, the Department should continue to orient its focus on the implementation of Directive No. 05-CT/TW by the Politburo and Directive No. 05-CT/TW by the Central Military Commission on executing the Emulation Movement “The Military Logistics follows Uncle Ho’s teachings”. During the implementation process, it is necessary to adhere to the Campaign to Promote tradition and devote talents to deserve the “Uncle Ho’s soldiers” title in the new context, Determined-to-Win Emulation Movement, and the building of all-strong, “exemplary and typical” agencies and units to facilitate the effective and all-pervasive studying and following Uncle Ho’s teachings.

Being deeply imbued with Uncle Ho’s teachings: “Provision of supply is as important as direct combat in the front line, However, to execute correctly, there must be a coherent policy and ideology”, the Branch must concentrate on advising the Service’s Party Committee and High Command and giving guidance to agencies and units to intensify leadership and direction over logistic work. First and foremost, the focus must be placed on concretising and leading the implementation of Plan No. 102-KH/ĐU issued on April 6th, 2023 by the Service’s Party Committee on the execution of Resolution No. 1658-NQ/QUTW issued on December 20th, 2022 by the Central Military Commission on logistic work until 2030 and the next. In addition, all goals and targets of the Regulation must be achieved in accordance with the modernisation process of the Service. The Branch must stick to “One concentration, three breakthroughs”, and “Five goods” in logistic work and concretise them into appropriate themes, contents, and targets in accordance with the characteristics of tasks of the Service in each stage. It is necessary to encourage and mobilise the participation of forces and bring into play the principal role of the contingent of cadres and logistic personnel at all levels in directing, guiding, and implementation.

To perform Uncle Ho’s teachings: “How to make a bowl of rice, a coin, a bullet, a pill, a piece of cloth go straight to soldiers”. The Service’s Logistics branch must continue to surmount all difficulties and ensure timely provisions for combat readiness and unscheduled tasks without being passive in all situations. Accordingly, the Branch must direct its agencies and units to proactively check, supplement, and complete all documents regarding logistic support for combat, prevention and remediation of the consequences of natural resources, and search-and-rescue operations; stringently maintain logistic regimes for combat readiness at all levels; intensify training and military exercises to enhance mobility and support of logistic forces. Priority must be given to supporting forces in charge of combat readiness for the protection of the airspace, borders, seas, and islands and those stationed in key areas and regions. The forces must be equipped with modern weapons and equipment.

Logistical supply for training at Regiment 916

In addition, the Service’s Logistics branch must continue the drastic implementation of measures to enhance the quality of logistic support on a regular basis, which is the main point of studying and following Uncle Ho’s teachings. In particular, the focus must be placed on renewing new regimes concerning financial management; enhancing the quality of all aspects; stepping up food production and animal husbandry, maintaining stability and improving soldiers’ lives. The Service’s Department of Logistics is required to accelerate the decentralisation of logistic support in combination with inspection and supervision work to create a  favourable condition for units to bring into play their advantages of terrain and the positive sides of the market economy. The Service must direct its Ordnance branch to concentrate on improving the quality of ensuring soldiers’ clothing; closely managing, inspecting, and supervising the assurance of food hygiene and safety, especially the messes for pilots. The whole Branch must accelerate the movement of “Nourishing the troops well, managing ordnance effectively”; and actively improve soldiers’ rations. Furthermore, it is necessary to consolidate and duplicate the effective, sanitary, and appropriate models of food production in accordance with each unit’s characteristics; and strive for self-provision of all vegetables and other types of food.

Adhering to Uncle Ho’s teachings, the Branch must direct medical work to concentrate on enhancing the professional qualifications and ethical values of cadres and medics and the quality of healthcare for soldiers right from grass-roots levels, especially in the field of aviation. Emphasis must be placed on boosting the implementation of the movement “Medics follow Uncle Ho’s teachings” and “Five goods medical units”, the prevention of diseases and close management of soldiers’ health, especially pilots, aircrew members, flight cadets, specialised forces without occurring any outbreak of diseases, and maintenance of over 98.5% of robust strength, etc. The Service’s Logistic branch must direct its barrack maintenance branch, fuel and transportation provision branch to accelerate the emulation movement of “Building and managing a regular, green, clean, and beautiful barrack”, “Building a regular, safe, and effective transportation unit”, “Managing and using safely, economically, and effectively” to make a breakthrough in the assurance quality and promptly meet the tasks of the Service. In his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh was an exemplary model of diligence, thrift, integrity, and righteousness. Studying and following His examples, the Service’s Logistic branch must step up the practice of thrift and prevention of wastefulness and negative issues in all activities. The Branch must continue to educate, train, nurture, and develop cadres and logistic personnel at all levels to “set a role model of diligence, thrift, integrity, and righteousness; maintain strict adherence to principles and regulations; closely combine logistic support with management, inspection and supervision; continue to implement various measures to save resources and prevent corruption and wastefulness, especially in fundamental construction, purchase, and the use of fuel, electricity, and water.

“Cadres are the root of all tasks, the success or failure of all tasks depends on cadres’ competence”. Being deeply imbued with President Ho Chi Minh’s teaching, the Branch continues to cement the organisational structure and build all-strong, “exemplary and typical” logistic units to meet all task requirements and the modernisation process of the Air Defence - Air Force. Accordingly, the Branch must proactively advise the Party Committee, High Command and party committee levels of units to lead and direct the implementation of the Plan to dissolve and merge the logistics-technique branch in accordance with Resolution No. 545-NQ/ĐU issued on June 8^th, 2022 by the Service’s Party Committee on leading the implementation of organisational structure in the 2021-2030 period and the next to maintain internal solidarity and unity without influencing the logistic support before, during, and after the merger.

With great reverence, a strong will, and a high determination, it is believed that studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics, and manners of the Service’s Logistics branch will achieve more positive results and truly serve as a driving force for the Branch to accomplish all assigned tasks, which contributes to the successful realisation of the goals of constructing a modern Air Defence - Air Force.

Senior Colonel NGUYEN QUANG LUYEN, Head of Logistics of Air Defence – Air Force