In recent years, Ninh Thuan’s armed forces have fervently studied and followed President Ho Chi Minh’s thought, moral example and living style in accordance with Politburo Directive 05-CT/TW (Tenure XII). As a result, the political awareness of the people, military members and government officials in the province have been significantly improved, and Ninh Thuan’s armed forces have become more and more capable of fulfilling their assigned tasks.

Ninh Thuan is a province that boasts complex terrains and extreme climate. However, thanks to the efforts of the Party, the State, and the local authority and people, the province have made progress in economic, cultural and social aspects, local defense –security capability was enhanced and local people’s living standard also enjoyed some improvements. Nevertheless, Ninh Thuan is still an underdeveloped province and has a population consists of many minority ethnic communities. Therefore, Ninh Thuan Military Command and its Party Committee committed to defense – security tasks to create a favorable environment for the economic development and the improvement of living standard in the province. In doing so, studying and following President Ho Chi Minh thought, moral example and living style is considered to be a critical factor.

Sr. Col. Luu Xuan Phuong gives Certificates of Merit to collectives and persons with outstanding achievements in training new recruits in 2018

First and foremost, the Provincial Military Command and its Party Committee ordered their cadres and members to carefully study resolutions and topics about Uncle Ho in accordance with the Directive 05. In this process, special characteristics and existing issues in defense – security operations were related in this work to develop solutions; and it was also combined with the implementation of the Party’s Central Resolution 04 (Tenure XII) on Party building and rectification, “Uphold tradition, devote talents, be worthy of the title “Uncle Ho’s soldier” Campaign, and “For a diverse and healthy cultural environment Movement in accordance with Directive 05”, etc. Until now, most cadres and members of Ninh Thuan’s armed forces have enjoyed significant development in political awareness, morality, living style and working ethics, firmly preserved and upheld noble characteristics of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers”, and truly become a reliable anchor of local authority and people and a core element in executing defense – security tasks of the province.

Thanks to correct awareness, the results of studying and following President Ho Chi Minh’s thought, moral example and living style were clearly shown in the performance of local defense – security work. Uncle Ho once said: “We must enhance military work, and we have to focus on training first”. That said, Ninh Thuan Military Command and its Party Committee heavily emphasized on strengthening the awareness of military members of the province in realizing his precepts. At the same time, the two bodies effectively advised the provincial authority on implementing all aspects of defense – security work; building capable provincial armed forces with political prowess as the core element; and developing the province into a strong defense zone. Besides, units of the provincial military force frequently cooperated with local Police and Border Guard to monitor and evaluate the defense – security situation in the province to report to the authority and issue appropriate response in a timely manner to maintain social order and public security. At the same time, Ninh Thuan armed forces advised and assisted the provincial administration in conducting military drills, defense planning and adjusting defense posture in industrial parks such as: Thanh Hai (Phan Rang City – Thap Cham); Phuoc Nam (Thuan Nam District), Du Long (Thuan Bac District), etc. Besides, the provincial military increasingly inspected, maintained and built defense structures to utilize in defense operations when necessary.

Also, Ninh Thuan authority effectively conducted defense – security education programs for the population, especially students, religion dignitaries and Cham people. Consequently, the awareness of the people about their patriotic duty has been significantly improved. Since 2005, there have been many members of Cham community serving in the military, some even became military officers. It can be said that Cham people always put their trust in the Party, Uncle Ho, the Military, and local authority. In addition, many “military semester” classes were organized for high school students to propagate the image of “Uncle Ho’s soldier – the soldier of the people”. Besides, the provincial military provide assistance for local authority in enforcing the Law on the Militia – Self-Defense Forces and resolutions on building the forces; and issuing the Projects on building the Militia – Self-defense Forces in the  2016-2020 period and Militia – Self-Defense Intermediate Training (Until now there have been 4 courses organized). The main goal of these programs is to build “strong and extensive” militia and self-defence forces with sufficient number and capability. Also, coastal cities and districts and related administrative branches were asked to collaborate on organizing defense – security operation training for fishermen, militia members and regional troops in accordance with Government Decrees 30 and 130. Currently, the militia and self-defense forces in the province have truly become a core element in implementing defense – security work in the region. Besides, Ninh Thuan’s reservist force was also increased and enhanced. Reservist contingents were regularly inspected and trained to ensure readiness to response to any unexpected situation. Party building work for these contingents was also held in high regard.

The highlight of the movement of following Uncle Ho’s words in Ninh Thuan is public relation work. Fully grasping the President’s precept: “If we have bad public relation, we can’t succeed, with good public relation, we can do anything”, military units in the province effectively conducted many activities to encourage the people to follow Party lines, State policies and local defense – security tasks. At the same time, provincial armed forces actively worked with local authority to support the people in building “new countryside”, economic development, and “eradicate hunger and reduce poverty” movement. In this work, many successful models were implemented such as: “rice jar for the poor”, or “100 VND house”, etc. Additionally, Ninh Thuan local troops were always willing to participate in natural disaster relief activities and drought prevention. For example, in 2014 and 2015, Ninh Thuan suffered from a prolong drought which led to a serious water shortage, and the province’s military units, using their vehicles, became the main supplier of water for the population; they also actively conducted irrigation projects to help the people overcome the drought. Besides, every year, military units of the province sent troops to Cham and Raglay communities to celebrate their traditional New Year Holiday, which is different from Kinh’s Tet Holiday; as a result, the bond between “Uncle Ho’s soldier” and people in these communities have been more and more tightened. Following President Ho Chi Minh’s words, military units in Ninh Thuan also worked with related administrative branches to realize post-war and social welfare policies; effectively organizing charity and commemoration programs for families of war invalids and martyrs.

Party building work in accordance with President Ho Chi Minh thought, moral example and living style has made significant progress. The Provincial Party Military Committee focused on strengthening leadership ability of its Party organizations and Party members. Notably, the internal integrity and the principle of collective leadership and individual management were strictly maintained. Also, Party inspection, rules of self-criticism, and Democratic Stature at grassroots level were seriously imposed. In addition, under the instruction of the Party’s Central Resolution 04 (Tenure XII), Party members and cadres were regularly trained and educated to strengthen their working capability and morality, they were also required to practice “self-supervision” and “self-correction” to prevent moral and political corruption, “self-transformation” and “self-degeneration”.

Based on these positive results, in the coming years, Ninh Thuan Military Command and its Party Committee will continue to effectively realize Politburo Directive 05 (Tenure XII) to strengthen their subordinate contingents and military members and successfully complete any given tasks.

Senior Colonel Luu Xuan Phuong, Ninh Thuan Provincial Military Commander