In recent years, studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts, morality and style has become a regular practice for the officers and soldiers of the Logistics Branch (LB) of Military Corps 4 (MC4). It serves as a motivation and a crucial measure to build a strong LB that can fulfil all assigned tasks.

Being aware of the significant role of logistics work within main mobile divisions, in recent years, the LB of MC4, particularly the Logistics Department, has actively advised the Party Committee and High Command of MC4 and has effectively guided and directed logistics work within agencies and units. Besides, it strictly adheres to the direction and guidance from the General Department of Logistics in implementing synchronised measures concerning ideology, organisation, expertise, and professional skills. This aims to innovate and enhance the quality of logistics work, thus meeting the requirements of missions.

Imbued with President Ho Chi Minh’s teaching that “The work of logistics assurance is as important as directly engaging the enemy on the front lines… However, this work needs an appropriate policy and a thorough ideology”, and from practical experiences, the Party Committee and Commanders of Logistics Department have actively provided counsel to assist the MC4’s High Command in leading and directing the logistics work effectively. Recognising this as a crucial and decisive matter for ensuring increasingly profound and effective logistics operations, the Logistics Department has cooperated and advised the MC4’s Party Committee and High Command as well as party committees and commanders at all levels to adjust the organisational structure of logistics forces in accordance with Resolution No. 05-NQ/TW, dated 17 January 2022, of the Politburo, Resolution No. 230-NQ/QUTW, dated 2 April 2022, of the Central Military Commission, and Plan No. 1228/KH-BQP, dated 25 April 2022, of the Ministry of National Defence regarding the reorganisation of the Vietnam People’s Army for the 2021-2030 period and beyond, ensuring strict adherence to and achievements of the set goals and requirements. Moreover, it actively provides counsel to the MC4’s Party Committee and High Command to issue the directive regarding the promotion of the Emulation Movement titled “Military Logistics Branch follows Uncle Ho’s teachings” per Directive No. 98/CT-BQP, dated 10 December of the Ministry of National Defence. Besides, it directs agencies and units to strengthen leadership and direction in incorporating logistics emulation targets into leadership resolutions and work plans. It also consolidates and effectively maintains the operations of all-level Steering Committees for Emulation Movements. Furthermore, it intensifies propaganda and education on promoting the Emulation Movement through various lively forms that focus on grassroots units to create a significant and comprehensive transformation in awareness, responsibility, and motivation for officers and soldiers to engage in the movement correctly and persistently, with self-reliance, self-improvement, and determination.

Commandant of Military Corps 4 checks vegetale production at Division 9

To achieve high results in logistics assurance, the Party Committee and Commanders of the Logistics Department proactively review, supplement, and perfect combat logistics documents in line with the operational plans and determination of the Corps Commander. Accordingly, in addition to maintaining the regime of logistics combat readiness and effectively managing reserve materials for combat readiness as per regulations, the Logistics Department directs logistics units to proactively review, supplement, and perfect the logistics documents for ensuring logistics support for emergencies, disaster prevention, search and rescue, etc. Moreover, it guides and instructs logistics units to develop logistics plans aligned with each unit’s tasks and to regularly conduct training based on operational plans to enhance the mobility of logistics agencies and units. The Department requires strict distribution and management of goods to avoid waste and losses and rigorous patrols and guards to ensure the safety of personnel and resources. Prepared combat-ready materials should be in sufficient quantity, high quality, and compactly packed for easy mobility while the rotational circulation in reserve warehouses should be closely monitored in accordance with the requirements of tasks.

Following Uncle Ho’s teaching that “…in Military-building, it is necessary to increase production and practise thrift to improve the standards of living and reduce the contributions of our fellow people”, the LB of MC4 attaches importance to enhancing the quality of regular logistics support and ensuring the well-being of the troops. The Party Committee and Commanders of the Logistics Department follow the practical situations to research, advise, and propose various policies and measures to the MC4’s Party Committee and High Command to innovate and improve the quality and effectiveness of logistics work. This is closely linked with the promotion of the movement “Units with excellent troop-feeding and logistics resources management” based on leveraging the responsibility and dedication of logistics personnel at all levels. The LB has also focused on promoting initiatives, improving food processing, and enhancing food safety and hygiene. Given the complex weather conditions and frequent fluctuations in food prices, the Logistics Department actively advises the MC4’s Party Committee and High Command to innovate methods for ensuring material support through new financial management mechanisms, decentralisation, and socialisation of certain aspects of logistics support. This includes expanding procurement through bidding processes and creating favourable conditions for units to proactively exploit and source food at advantageous times, thus leveraging the positive aspects of the market mechanism and strengths of the stationed areas. The Department has advised the MC4’s High Command to purchase paddy and milled rice with good quality and stable prices to ensure 100% demand for rice for units. Moreover, it emphasises and enhances the effectiveness of thrift practice, anti-corruption, and waste prevention efforts, promoting the awareness of “diligence and thrift” and the spirit of “self-reliance and self-improvement”, and implementing a comprehensive set of measures to improve the quality of logistics support. The Logistics Department actively builds exemplary production models suitable for practical conditions and promotes the expansion of centralised livestock farms at brigade and division levels to bring out significant transformations in logistics support work for units and MC4 in a sustainable manner. As a result, the MC4’s production targets are consistently met and exceeded. In addition to production to improve the troops’ living standards, the Logistics Department directs its units to effectively implement the principle of “accurate planning, specific reception, decentralised management, and direct distribution”, distributing equipment to new recruits in assigned areas. Moreover, it emphasises management, guidance, and inspection of usage, especially with new recruits and shared equipment, ensuring standardisation and uniformity throughout MC4.

Commandant of Military Corps 4 checks poultry husbandary at Division 309

In addition, the Logistics Department strengthens the guidance to the Medical Branch to enhance the quality of management, with a focus on protecting and taking care of troops’ health at the grassroots levels and to establish hygienic living habits and clean, beautiful green environments. Through emulation movements such as “5-good medical units” and “Cultured hospitals and medical clinics”, the medical clinics in units have been comprehensively invested in terms of human resources and facilities. Units have intensified environmental sanitation, food safety disease prevention, and health improvement for the troops. Accordingly, MC4 has maintained a consistently high level of troop health, exceeding 99% for consecutive years. The combined military-civilian hospital and medical clinic models prove effective in diagnosing, treating, and providing healthcare to both military personnel and civilians in the region. Military Hospital 4 has proactively collaborated with Military Hospital 175 (under the Ministry of National Defence), the Department of Health of Ho Chi Minh City, and provinces such as Binh Duong and Long An to enhance scientific research and apply research topics into practice. With the attitude of “warm reception, meticulous care, and thoughtful advice”, Military Hospital 4 has become a trusted destination for the people of Binh Duong, contributing to enhancing the military medical capacity and building the “people’s hearts and minds posture” in the region. Embracing the principle of “always remembering the source of water when drinking it”, the medical team of the Hospital is always present in impoverished areas, providing assistance to policy beneficiaries and local residents. Over the past five years, the Hospital has provided free medical check-ups and treatment for over 30,000 poor individuals and policy beneficiaries, amounting to over 1.6 billion VND. Additionally, the emulation movements in other fields, such as “Safe, economical, and efficient fuel management and use”, “Building regular, safe, and efficient transportation units”, “Building and managing regular, green, clean, and beautiful barracks” are regularly maintained, hence creating synchronised changes across all aspects. Currently, all agencies and units within MC4 have well-maintained gardens, flower beds, and ornamental trees with beautiful landscapes, and the living conditions of the troops have significantly improved.

With strict leadership and direction measures and resolute, innovative implementation, over the years, studying and following Uncle Ho’s teachings within the LB of MC4 has seen positive developments. Despite significant demands and high requirements for ensuring logistics support, complicated weather conditions, climate, and disease outbreaks limiting on-site logistics exploitation, the LB has consolidated its strength to become a driving force in fulfilling logistics tasks. The logistics regime from agencies to units has been regularised and standardised, while assurance activities have seen several innovations with enhanced overall quality. Logistics units at all levels have proactively prepared and ensured regular and timely logistics support for training, combat readiness, exercises, and disaster response and recovery. It can be affirmed that studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts, morality, and style within the LB of MC4 has become a daily practice, serving as a pivotal motivation in improving the material and spiritual well-being of the troops and task completion of agencies and units. Building on these accomplished results, in the coming period, the LB will continue striving to further enhance the quality of logistics work, contributing to building a revolutionary, regular, elite, and gradually modernised MC4 that meets the requirements of Homeland protection.

Senior Colonel NGUYEN VAN PHUONG, Head of the Logistics Department of MC4