On December 28, 2021, the Central Military Commission issued Resolution No. 847-NQ/QUTW on promoting the quality of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers", resolutely countering individualism in the new situation. This is a very important resolution, demonstrating the strategic thinking, vision, and acumen of the Central Military Commission, with urgent policies and solutions, in order to further promote the quality of "Uncle Ho Soldiers”; at the same time, resolutely counter individualism in the whole military, thereby, contributing to building a politically strong military, serving as a basis and foundation for improving the overall quality and combat strength, meeting the requirements and tasks of defending the Fatherland in the new situation. Dwelling on this content, the National Defence Journal would like to introduce a series of articles by the group of authors: Dinh Phiem - Pham Tuan - Dinh Bang - Minh Duc - Le Phong with the title: Promoting the quality of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers", resolutely countering individualism, building a politically strong military in the new situation.

I. "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" - Noble title, core value of the Viet Nam People's Army

"Uncle Ho's Soldiers" - An idyllic but extremely noble title that our People dedicate and honour our Military. This beautiful image implies good qualities of a revolutionary soldier, a cultural and moral value of Vietnamese people in the Ho Chi Minh era. The qualities and traditions of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" have been built up from the endless efforts and sacrifices of generations of cadres and soldiers; organized, educated and trained by our Party and President Ho Chi Minh; wholeheartedly loved, supported and nurtured by our People. Those precious qualities are further enhanced through the practice of revolutionary struggle, the practice of building, fighting, developing and maturing the Military; handed down, inherited and promoted by generations. It is a source of great endogenous strength, an honour, pride and a strong motivation, motivating military officers and soldiers to constantly strive and train to be worthy of the noble title, the love of the Party, State and People, and President Ho Chi Minh's commendation: "Our military is loyal to the Party, filial to the people, ready to fight and sacrifice for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, for socialism. Accomplish very task, overcome every difficulty, defeat every enemy”.

Cadres and soldiers of Regiment 3, Division 324, Military Region 4 helping the people with flood prevention and combat

The qualities of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" are reflected in all aspects, all activities of cadres and soldiers, first of all in their absolute loyalty to the Party, the Fatherland, and the People. Being founded, educated and trained by our Party and President Ho Chi Minh, our Military has the nature of the working class, the people, and the nation; fight for the Party's goals and ideals, for national independence and socialism, for the people's happiness; always absolutely submit to the leadership of the Party; do not mind sacrifices and hardships, fight bravely and resolutely, successfully complete tasks in the previous wars of liberation as well as in the cause of national construction and defence today. The loyalty of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" has been deeply reflected in the spirit of “Determining to sacrifice for the vitality of the Fatherland”, always taking the lead, standing firmly in the front line, the remote and border areas, islands, and areas with the most difficulties, hardships and fierce wars; ready to fight, to sacrifice their youth and lives to protect every inch of the sacred land of the Fatherland, the Party, the State, the people and the socialist regime. At present, the absolute loyalty to the Party and the Fatherland is also expressed in the fact that the Military is always the leading force, actively participating in Party building, building a strong socialist rule of law state; struggling to defeat all conspiracies and tricks of "peaceful evolution", "self-evolution", "self-transformation", military "de-politicisation" of hostile forces, contributing to protecting the Party, defending the renewal policies for the goals of " a wealthy people, a powerful country, democracy, equity and civilisation", firmly defending the Fatherland in all situations.

Always "ready to fight and sacrifice for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, for socialism. Accomplish every task, overcome every difficulty, defeat every enemy” is the core value, reflecting the functions and tasks of the revolutionary military. During the war of national liberation as well as in the cause of national construction and defence, under the leadership of the Party, generations of military officers and soldiers heroically fought and sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, for the happiness of the people. Millions of cadres and soldiers have sacrificed themselves for the cause of national liberation, reunification, independence, sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity is a testament for the willingness to fight and accept sacrifices for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, and for socialism of “Uncle Ho's Soldiers”. Inheriting that heroic tradition, at present, military officers and soldiers always try their best in training and disciplining to improve the overall quality, combat strength, master new and modern weapons and equipment; regularly raise vigilance, be ready to fight, work, protect people's lives and properties in the event of natural disasters, epidemics, etc. In any tasks assigned, the first, foremost and primary goal of military officers and soldiers is for the sake of national independence, interests, socialism, and peaceful and happy life of the people; always perform well the function of “an army ready for combat, an army ready for work, and an army ready for production” in the new situation, clearly demonstrating the pivotal role in defending the Fatherland, protecting the Party, the State, the people and socialism.

Originating from the people, fighting for the people, "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" always attach to the people like blood and flesh. They are protected, supported, and shouldered by the people both in the revolutionary struggle and in peacetime. This is expressed specifically and deeply in the love, respect and attachment to the people of military officers and soldiers; the wholehearted serve for the people; the will to fight and sacrifice for the people's freedom and happiness throughout the process of foundation, fighting and development. Today, that quality is further affirmed in practice through the military's mass work and is clearly demonstrated by the specific actions of officers and soldiers in helping people eliminate hunger and reduce poverty, disasters and epidemics prevention and relief, search and rescue, building strong local political bases and firm "people's heart and mind posture".

"Just like the more polished the brighter the pearl gets, the more annealed the purer the gold becomes", the more difficulties and hardships the more the quality of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" shines. With the spirit of "saving the people is the command of the heart", in preventing, fighting and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, environmental disasters and epidemics, military officers and soldiers did not hesitate the losses. They started upon the call of duty. The image of military officers and soldiers rolling in hardship and being creative in the rescue of 12 workers trapped in the collapsed tunnel at Da Dang Hydropower Plant (Lam Dong); the heroic death of 11 military officers and soldiers on their way to search and rescue workers at Rao Trang 3 Hydropower Plant (Thua Thien - Hue), etc. are vivid examples for this. In particular, during the recent high movements in the Covid-19 prevention and control, officers and soldiers of the whole military promoting their spirit of commitment and sacrifice, dealing with hardships, and overcoming all difficulties to protect the health and life of the people with the motto "reach to the people to know what they need rather than seeing them run to the military for help", and "Don't let anyone be left behind" is a living proof of that spirit; demonstrated the "blood and flesh bond" between the military and the People, thereby, continuing to write the immortal epic of an all-victorious, people-affectionated military, at the same time, affirming that: "Our Military is always the pillar of the country, especially when the country is in danger, epidemics, and natural disasters".

The qualities of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" are also reflected in the pure and faithful international solidarity. Tens of thousands of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers sacrificed their lives to save Cambodian people from the genocide of the Khmer Rouge, so that Cambodian people called the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers - "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" as “Buddhist military". Over the past seven years, Viet Nam has deployed nearly 250 military officers and employees to the United Nations peacekeeping missions in South Sudan, Central African Republic, etc. Overcoming difficulties, language barrier, security instabilities, hard living conditions, harsh climate, etc., in the missions, Vietnamese "green beret" soldiers always fulfil their duties well. Thereby, the image of cadres and soldiers of the Viet Nam People's Army with the good qualities of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" has gone beyond the limitations of time and space to deeply impress international friends, contributing to enhancing the role and position of Viet Nam and the Viet Nam People's Army.

For nearly eight decades, under the care, training and leadership of our Party, in any revolutionary period, even in the most difficult, complicated and arduous times, the qualities of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” still shine, making an important contribution to the task accomplishment of the Military. This is a noble title honoured by the people; the core value for building a politically strong military, maintaining and strengthening the nature of the working  class and the nation, upholding revolutionary ideals and combat objectives, political steadfastness, really being a sharp tool, a political force, an absolute loyal and reliable fighting force of the Party, State and People. That values should be preserved, protected, and promoted by generations of military officers and soldiers to new heights, meeting the increasing requirements of the cause of national construction and defence in a new situation.

(Next: II. Individualism damages prestige and erodes the quality and morality of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers")

DINH PHIEM - PHAM TUAN - DINH BANG - MINH DUC - LE PHONG