Participation in international Army Games is one of the activities to operationalise foreign policy and proactive international integration of our Party and State, which contributes to increasing position and prestige of the Viet Nam People’s Army in the international arena, strengthening of military, defence capabilities, and protecting the Fatherland from afar. This is also an opportunity for cadres and soldiers in the entire military to share their experience and enhance their knowledge, capacity, and steadfastness in training, operations, and exercises as well as their ability to handle weapons and technical equipment, especially the new, modern ones.

On grasping and realising this guideline seriously, over the past few years, the General Staff has proactively included participatory content of the Army Games in the Order for military, defence work to let departments and units formulate their training plans. It has requested functional bodies to firmly perceive situations and advise the Central Military Commission (CMC) and Ministry of National Defence (MND) on sending contingents to the Army Games; established the Steering Committee and the Steering Committee’s Standing Office of the MND to command and control the participation; hold meetings to assign tasks to departments and units; develop plans and give instructions for implementation. Functional agencies also appraise the plans and estimates of units seriously to facilitate execution; regularly examine and help units during training and competition; surmount difficulties to timely provide sufficient weapons, equipment, vehicles, fuel, materials, etc., for contingents as requested by the events.

Given high resolution and synchronous, drastic measures, the entire military has gained comprehensive, robust outcomes in training and participation in international Army Games. Specifically, cadres’ and soldiers’ awareness of the mission to participate in the Army Games has been improved. The leading role of party committees and commanders at all levels has been brought into play. Departments’ command and control have witnessed positive changes. Soldiers’ ability to master next-generation, modern weapon systems and equipment has been enhanced. Facing complex developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, departments and units took initiative in adjusting training time and method scientifically to pursue twofold objectives, namely good training and effective prevention and response to the pandemic. Thanks to good preparation and proper tactics, in 2022, seven out of ten contingents of Viet Nam People’s Army (VPA) received medals. In the medal tables, Team Viet Nam claimed one gold, two silvers, and four bronzes and ranked fifth among 34 countries, exceeding its target.

Sr. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Van Nghia presents flags to teams participating in Army Games 2022

The international Army Games is an important diplomatic, political event of the VPA and the country. This is a good opportunity for us to integrate into the world; learn experience in training, use, and maintenance of modern weapons and equipment, contribute to elevate image and position of Viet Nam and its people in the international arena. Party committees and commanders of departments and units, therefore, need to continue to leverage outcomes, address shortcomings, and work out many synchronous, effective solutions to further improve their performance at the international Army Games 2023 and in coming years, most notably the following measures.

First, it is necessary to strengthen party committees’ and commanders’ leadership of this vital task. On the basis of deeply grasping resolutions and directives of the CMC and MND on training, directly the Order of military, defence work of the Chief of General Staff, departments and units proactively issue leadership resolutions, which define that combat training is a central, regular task; training and participation in Army Games are a crucial task that needs to be led through concrete targets, requirements, and measures suitable to characteristics, missions, and force organisation. Furthermore, units should promote ideological, political education and popularisation of missions to bring about more drastic changes in cadres’ and soldiers’ awareness and responsibility for this vital task and reach a unanimous perception that participation in international Army Games is one of the central political tasks under direct leadership of party committees, commanders, and commissars at all levels. Participation in the Army Games not only serves to train soldiers’ intelligence and competence but also makes important contribution to increased cooperation and exchange in military, defence aspect, cultural exchange among countries, beautification of images and reflection of the VPA’s solidarity with militaries. To improve performance at the Army Games is responsibility of entire cadres and soldiers.

The international Army Games is a big “playground” and hosted by many countries, which are far from one another, lie in different time zones, and have severe weather conditions. Most of the weapon systems and equipment used for training have not been in units’ possession yet. The training grounds for some contests fail to match real conditions. Our teams have not had much experience in international tournaments. Soldiers’ physical fitness and command of foreign languages have certain limitations, causing difficulties in handling modern weapon system and equipment as well as employing tactics and flexibility during competition. Consequently, units need to proactively make good preparations in every aspect. On closely following the Directive on the VPA’s participation in the international Army Games 2023 of the Minister of National Defence and the Order of military, defence work of the Chief of General Staff, the Department of Military Training and Foreign Relations Department work with functional departments to early have enough information about the Army Games, which enables departments and units to make good preparations ranging from understanding regulations of the games, establishing the Organising Committee and Training Committee, issuing documents to instruct departments’ and units’ implementation in an effective, timely, synchronous manner. They are to review, appraise, and synthesise cost estimates; formulate plans to host contests in Viet Nam before submitting them to leaders of the General Staff for approval.

Departments and units participating in the Army Games should proactively work with functional agencies of the MND to develop plans, select instructors and team members, and carry out training in accordance with regulations of the games. The selection of trainers and team members should be based on many scientific, synchronous measures. Priorities are given to those with good political quality, physical fitness, and high competence. There needs to mobilise resources for consolidating and upgrading training grounds to resemble conditions of competition. Attention is paid to provision of budgets, weapons, technical equipment, ammunition, vehicles, etc., for training; improvement of soldiers’ spiritual, material life; satisfaction of demands of departments, units, and teams.

Additionally, departments and units step up renewal of training content and methodologies in the direction of “basicness, practicality, firmness, intensiveness, professionalism, and high performance”; attach importance to comprehensive training but with focuses; promote physical training and capacity to undertake missions in rough terrain and severe weather condition. On the basis of lessons learnt from previous participation, departments and units need to scrutinise contests, modes of delivery, and training methodologies according to regulations of the Army Games 2023 in order to apply them to increased training quality. The training process must be carried out in a basic, close manner right from the beginning, ensuring firmness and stability; divide training stages properly; pay attention to training at high intensity prior contests. To achieve high performance, teams must scrutinise regulations, content, and methods to find suitable tactics for the games; combine skill training with physical training to improve soldiers’ fitness, agility, and flexibility. Moreover, teams should get early access to weapons, equipment, vehicles, training ground, and practical conditions of competition, which enables soldiers to master weapons, equipment, and vehicles as well as improve their mentality before competition. Furthermore, departments and units actively organise extra activities to introduce Vietnamese cultural traditions, people, and cuisine culture, contributing to spread of images of the country and VPA among international friends.

Apart from the above-mentioned solutions, departments and units step up coordinated activities to innovate and upgrade weapons, equipment, and vehicles; advise leaders of the MND to invest in procuring some types of weapons, ammunition, and equipment to facilitate training and participation in the Army Games 2023 and beyond. They are to enhance examination and instruct teams to carry out training and draw experience from the training process to identify causes of strengths and weaknesses, laying the foundation for furthering advantages and dealing with limitations. Departments and units are requested to successfully carry out propaganda; timely praise and reward team members; implement policies towards forces participating in the Army Games. These measures aim to encourage soldiers to compete for the highest positions and glory for the heroic Viet Nam People’s Army.

Senior Lieutenant General NGUYEN VAN NGHIA, Deputy Chief of General Staff, Viet Nam People’s Army