On August 12^th, 2019, the Central Military Commission Standing Board released the Directive 855-CT/QUTW on accelerating the execution of the Campaign entitled “promoting tradition, devoting talent, deserving to be Uncle Ho’s soldiers in the new period” (hereafter the Directive 855). Immediately after the issue of the Directive, the provincial armed forces of Quang Ngai have actively, closely implemented it and initially achieved positive results.

Grounded on the obtained results and experiences in executing the Directive 788-CT/QUTW, dated December 26^th, 2013 by the Central Military Commission Standing Board on the Campaign titled “promoting tradition, devoting talent, deserving to be Uncle Ho’s soldiers,” the Provincial Military Party Committee (PMPC) and Command as well as all-level party committees and commands within Quang Ngai’s armed forces have set the realistic targets for the Directive 855.

A thorough grasp and close leadership and direction

The PMPC and the Provincial Military Command (PMC) have always focused their leadership and direction on grasping and seriously implementing the Directive 855 via creative, effective measures. Right after the Military Region 5’s Party Committee released the Plan 57/KH-ĐU, dated October 3^rd, 2019 and the Military Region 5’s Political Department issued the Guidance 287/HD-TH, dated October 6^th, 2019 on enhancing the Campaign “promoting tradition, devoting talent, deserving to be Uncle Ho’s soldiers in the new period,” the PMPC Standing Board has developed the Plan 131/KH-ĐU on speeding up the implementation of the Campaign within the provincial armed forces. Grounded on those documents, yearly, all-level party committees formulate action programmes/plans and combine the execution of the Directive 885 with the study and following of Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics and lifestyle. In addition, they have opportunely drawn lessons to ensure the quality and effectiveness of the implementation process.

Competent offices and party committees’ assistance sections have given sound advice on implementing the Directive 855. Commissars and political offices at all levels have counselled party committees and commands to study and concretise the main contents of the Directive, with a focus on 5 basic points on deserving to be “Uncle Ho’ soldiers” in the new period, 5 moral criteria within the whole Military and higher echelons’ directives and regulations. Specific plans and guiding documents on the study and following of Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics and lifestyle in line with the Directive 855 have been developed. The provincial armed forces have closely cooperated with offices, committees, sectors and unions in advising local party committees and authorities on exercising leadership and direction over the execution of the Directive 855 within the standing force, the militia and self-defence force and the reserve force. Due attention has been paid to monitoring, helping and multiplying typical examples in the implementation of the Directive 855 associated with the study and following of Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics and lifestyle within the provincial armed forces.

The provincial armed forces join hands in building new-style countryside

Drastic and diverse measures

To effectively execute the Directive 855, it is vital to adopt drastic and diverse measures. Thus, the PMPC and the PMC together with all-level party committees and commands have attached importance to political education to raise troops’ awareness of the importance of implementing the Directive 855 and improve their knowledge of heroic tradition of Quang Ngai’s people and armed forces. At the same time, due regard has been paid to grasping and introducing all resolutions, conclusions and directives by the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, the Central Military Commission, the Military Region 5’s Party Committee and the Provincial Party Committee to every cadre and soldier. To translate the Directive 855 into life, the provincial armed forces have clearly identified special topics and closely organised classes, which has been highly appreciated by local party committees. Moreover, they have cooperated with the Provincial Television and Radio in producing TV reports on the Campaign entitled “promoting tradition, devoting talent, deserving to be Uncle Ho’s soldiers in the new period.” Offices and units within the provincial armed forces have proactively propagated and disseminated the Directive 855 via the system of panels, posters and slogans, while cultural institutions have been used and promoted. Each artefact at the Traditional House of the provincial armed forces has been exploited to enhance the effectiveness of political education. Political offices and particularly cadres in charge of the propaganda and training work have been required to introduce a book via the internal radio systems, noticeboards, and social networks as well as at offices and units’ meetings on a weekly basis.

Furthermore, the provincial armed forces have brought into play the spirit of self-criticism and criticism amongst cadres and party members so that they could opportunely detect, prevent and settle negative signs and practices within each office and unit. Consideration has been given to practising thrift, combating corruption and wastefulness, and following Uncle Ho’s simple, open-minded, and sincere lifestyle. Therefore, cadres and party members’ awareness and attitude of serving the people have been improved. Cadres and soldiers have always showed their proactiveness and creativity, dared to think, dared to do, dared to take responsibility and matched their words with action as their working motto.  Young generations within the provincial armed forces have always demonstrated their effort, determination and modesty.

To spread the study and following of Uncle Ho’s example, the PMPC and the PMC as well as party committees and commands at all levels have launched movements and models in accordance with each group of troops. The provincial armed forces have always effectively organised the emulation movement of “clever mass mobilisation,” built “good mass mobilisation units,” and actively taken part in the movements, namely “the Military joins hands in new-style countryside construction,” “the whole country joins hands for the poor - no one will be left behind,” and “the Military joins hands for the poor.” Via the execution of the Directive 855, there have many good, effective, creative models within the provincial armed forces, such as “supporting children’s schooling,” “fishing net of affection,” “military-civilian water purifier,” and “soup bowl of affection.” At the same time, the provincial armed forces have provided financial assistance, fishing equipment, gifts, and medical examination and treatment for poor households and families under the preferential treatment policy. Doing so has helped uphold and promote the national tradition of “remembering the source when drinking water” and “paying debt of gratitude.” Youth unions within the provincial armed forces have launched the movements, such as “the military youth strive to reach peaks,” “the youth save money for the future,” and “piggy banks for the border, sea and island area.” Women’s unions within the provincial armed forces have well executed the movements, such as “military women improve their task performance, practise thrift and give assistance to poor women and children,” “the provincial armed forces’ female members successfully fulfil the task and build happy families to deserve to be Uncle Ho’s soldiers” and “Quang Ngai’s women strive for a green, clean, scenic environment.” The above-mentioned models and movements have produced noticeable results and made contributions to cementing the close-knit bond between the military and the people, strengthening the national great unity block, and spreading the image of “Uncle Ho’s soldiers” in the new period. Many of the movements launched by the provincial armed forces have been applied to localities.

Besides, the Directive 855 has always been combined with the study and following of Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics and lifestyle. As a result, there has been a positive change in morality and lifestyle amongst cadres, party members and the masses. Weaknesses in implementing the Directive 788 have been overcome. Party organisations’ leadership and combativeness have been raised. Offices and units have been at a high level of synergy and combat readiness and met the requirements set by the military-defence mission in the new situation. Offices, units, cadres, party members and the masses have all successfully fulfilled their assigned task.

In order to continue effectively executing the Directive 855

In the upcoming time, to speed up the implementation of the Directive 855, the PMPC and the PMC determine to enhance all-level party committees, commissars and commands’ leadership and direction over the implementation process associated with the study and following of Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics and lifestyle as well as the Party building and rectification under the 12^th Party Central Committee’s Resolution No.4. Emphasis will be placed on raising the quality of party cell-level meetings and correctly assessing cadres and party members’ execution of the Campaign. Due attention will be paid to building, multiplying and introducing good, creative, effective examples and approaches within the provincial armed forces. Additionally, the provincial armed forces will keep improving the effectiveness of political education to render cadres, party members and the masses fully aware of the significance and contents of the Directive 855 so that they will apply to their task properly.

Promoting the combined strength of organisations and forces and taking various measures for implementing the Directive 855, the provincial armed forces have succeeded in translating the Directive into their members’ life, contributing to encouraging democracy and unity, building pure, strong party organisations and making offices and units comprehensively strong.

Sr. Col. BUI TA TUAN, Commissar of the PMC