Thanks to specific and practical leadership solutions, Regiment 228 has gained several important results in the studying and following of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style, making positive changes in both awareness and actions of cadres, party members and soldiers while generating motivation and synergy for the Unit to accomplish all assigned tasks.

Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment 228 – also known as Ham Rong Corps, was established to meet the urgent requirement of building the Army, strengthening the national defence, and preparing forces for the resistance war against the U.S. for national salvation. Over 65 years of combat and development, it has overcome many difficulties and challenges, shown bravery in war, won gloriously, made outstanding feats, and built up the tradition of “Solidarity, persistence, determine to win", contributing to highlighting the fine dignities of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" - the elite Air Defence - Air Force soldier. In particular, fighting to protect Ham Rong bridge (Thanh Hoa) during the period from 1965 to 1975 was the most exciting, heroic, arduous, fierce and glorious time of the Regiment. For its outstanding achievements in combat and work, notably: engaging in 921 battles and shooting down 120 American aircraft, 27 of which fell on the spot, the Regiment was honoured with the title of Heroic Unit of the people’s armed forces by the State in 1978 and many other noble awards.

At present time, the Regiment is tasked with training, maintaining combat readiness, managing and protecting the airspace and key targets in the North and Northeastern region of the country. In order to successfully complete its tasks, the Party Committee and Commanders of the Regiment always stick to the direction of the above echelons, the requirements of the tasks and actual situations of the Unit and the area, etc.,; focus their leadership and direction on the comprehensive implementation of all aspects of work. In particular, promoting the learning and following of Ho Chi Minh's thought, morality and style is an important solution to promote its tradition and the spirit of self-reliance, solidarity, creativity, rising up amid difficulties of its officers and soldiers.

Training on new facility at the regiment

In order to make the studying and following of Uncle Ho a regular and practical job, the Party Committee and commanders of the Regiment step up propaganda, education and awareness raising for its officers and soldiers about the content, the great value and significance of Ho Chi Minh's thought, morality and style, the quality of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers". Accordingly, the regiment thoroughly carry out the study of topics and works on Ho Chi Minh's thought, morality and style in accordance with regulations. At the same time, they direct agencies and units to take pictures and words that Uncle Ho came to visit and encourage the Air Defence troops in the anti-American resistance war as materials to propagate, educate, thereby making cadres and soldiers always imbued with Uncle Ho's thought and example, and proud of the traditions of the Army, the Service, and the Unit. This helps arousing the desire for dedication, the will to self-reliance and self-reliance, promote the qualities of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers" - the elite Air Defence - Air Force soldiers. Currently, the focus of propaganda and education work is placed to awareness raising and the implementation of the "self-examination and self-correction" of cadres and party members; resolute persistent overcome and correction of the limitations and shortcomings that have been pointed out after self-criticism and criticism, so that a unity in awareness and action is created throughout the Unit.

Promoting the learning and following of Uncle Ho in building pure, typical and strong Party committees, party cells with high leadership capacity and combat strength, capable of leading the unit to successfully complete all tasks is an important content, which is focused by the Party Committee of the Regiment. Imbued with Uncle Ho's teaching that: "Good party members make good party cells. In order to make good Party members, Party cells must regularly educate each comrade", all levels of Party committees and cells focus on implementing well the content of building "4-good Party cell, 5-exemplary Party member" and making breakthroughs in improving the quality of party meetings. Accordingly, all levels of Party committees and organisations set forth practical and feasible leadership and implementation guidelines and measures. Cadres, party members and troops register their commitments to cultivate, train and strive which are relevant to their responsibilities and tasks. The results of studying and following Uncle Ho is considered a criterion for emulation evaluation, commendation, and classification of cadres, party members, union members, and organisations. The contents are associated with the implementation of resolutions, directives, conclusions, regulations on Party building and rectification, regulations on setting example, and things that Party members are not allowed to do. Party committees and cells at all levels strictly maintain the Party's order, regime and principles; regularly review, supplement and complete working regulations, leadership regulations, especially for important work aspects; uphold the exemplary role of cadres and party members. As a result, the leadership capacity and combat strength of Party committees and organisations at all levels have been improved, contributing to building the Party Committee pure, strong and typical, the Regiment comprehensively strong and "exemplary and typical" for many years in a row.

The effectiveness of studying and following Ho Chi Minh's thought, morality and style is clearly shown in the regiment's performance of training and combat readiness tasks. As an air defence unit, the regiment faces increasingly high requirements in the current task of protecting the country’s airspace, while the necessary conditions for performing this task are inadequate; weapon and equipment are basically old and degraded after many years of use, etc. Studying and following Uncle Ho, its officers and soldiers always uphold the sense of responsibility, overcome difficulties, and successfully complete all assigned tasks. Annually, agencies and units make plans and strictly conduct training regimes according to the plan, completing all training targets, programmes, and time with relevance to combat reality and unit mission requirements. Its staff at all levels, especially the unit-level ones always closely, regularly check and grasp the battleground, and promptly encourage the soldiers on duty shifts, especially on peak days and in harsh weather conditions, ensuring that combat readiness is always maintained at the highest state in the regiment. At the same time, the mottos, viewpoints, principles and combinations in training are always grasped and applied to the annual training plans. Following Uncle Ho's teaching that: "Youth should come when there is a need, youth should take on difficult tasks", the Regiment promotes the pioneering role of union members and youth in the implementation of training and combat readiness tasks with many new models, creative and effective ways of doing which has been replicated and promoted, such as: "Youth battleground", "Typical firing team", etc. Moreover, it promotes the Determine to win emulation movement, the movements and campaigns of all levels and branches; encourages its officers and soldiers to overcome difficulties and fulfill their training and combat readiness tasks. In the past years, the number of troops participating in regular training reached from 98.5% - 99.5%; 100% of test results are satisfactory, in which 85.5% - 87.2% are good, 35.8% - 37.5% are excellent. Participating in contests and festivals at all levels, it has gained excellent results and won many high prizes.

Studying and following Uncle Ho, the Regiment always upholds the spirit of industriousness, thrift, self-reliance, ensuring good logistics and technical supplies for tasks. Its agencies and units have actively implemented the emulation movement of "Military logistics industry follows Uncle Ho's teachings" with specific programmes and actions; promoted farming production, practiced thrift, countered wastefulness, strengthened the management of facilities, strictly complied with financial regulations, and regularly ensured the right and sufficient reserve for combat readiness tasks as prescribed. It has also strictly managed and used petrol, electricity and water for the right purposes and tasks; taken good care of soldiers' health,  disease prevention, food hygiene and safety assurance. At the same time, it has promoted the campaign "Management and exploitation of weapons and technical equipment in a good, durable, safe, economical manner and traffic safety"; actively and proactively overcome difficulties to ensure weapons and technical equipment in time for the tasks.

By promoting the learning and following of Ho Chi Minh's thought, morality and style, officers and soldiers of the Regiment are always united and creative, overcome all difficulties, successfully complete all aspects of their work; build typical, pure and strong party organisations, all-strong "exemplary and typical" units, contributing to constantly improving the overall quality and combat strength. This serves as the foundation for it to strive to complete all tasks in the coming time.

Colonel NGUYEN TUAN SON, Political Commissar of the Regiment