Tien Giang is located in the key economic region of the Mekong Delta, with an important position in politics, economy, defence and security in the Southwestern region of the country. Fully aware of its importance, over the years, the Party Committee, government, people and armed forces of the province have always upheld their strong determination and will to successfully implement socio-economic development goals, enhance defence and security potentials, well fulfil military and defence tasks, making an important contribution to strengthening the all-people’s national defence, the all-people national defence posture associated with the people's security posture in the locality. In particular, building strong and widespread militia and self-defence forces is regularly cared for, led and directed by the province with many drastic and synchronous solutions. From the practice of building the militia and self-defence forces in the area, some lessons and also solutions have been drawn and applied by units and localities as follows.

First of all, improving the effectiveness of the leadership of the Party Committee, the direction and administration of the government, promoting the role of military agencies at all levels for the task of building and training militia and self-defence forces. Thoroughly grasping and implementing the Law on Militia and Self-Defence in 2019, the above resolutions, directives, plans and instructions on building militia and self-defence forces, the Provincial Military Command closely coordinates with the departments, agencies and branches to promptly advise the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council, the Provincial People's Committee to issue resolutions, schemes, documents, plans, in order to unify the policy, leadership measures for the management and administration of the construction and operation of the militia and self-defence force in accordance with the tasks and characteristics of the locality. At the same time, it directs military agencies at all levels to proactively advise party committees and authorities at the same level, direct the construction and training of militia and self-defence forces relevant to local and practical conditions. The local governments have promoted propaganda, education and awareness raising for cadres, party members, armed forces and people about the position and importance of militia and self-defence forces in protecting the Party committees and authorities; protecting political security, social order and safety at the grassroots level, as well as in building the all-people national defence and Fatherland protection. As a result, the province has mobilised the participation of the whole political system, branches, forces and the whole people; promoted the core role of military agencies at all levels in advising, guiding, inspecting, urging, and implementing effectively the construction and training of militia and self-defence forces.

Basic training for the militia (Photo: tiengiang.gov.vn)

The province pays attention to building a militia and self-defence force with an increasingly appropriate number, structure, composition, and high overall quality by synchronous and unified measures. Implementing Project No. 307/DA-UBND, dated November 9th, 2020 of the Provincial People's Committee on force organisation, training, operation and provision for the militia and self-defence forces in the period of 2021 - 2025, the province directs agencies and units to review, consolidate, and strictly manage militia and self-defence forces from provincial to commune levels. The Provincial Military Command directs the military commands of the districts, cities and towns to focus on improving the quality of input selection; in which, priority is given to recruiting young people who are party members, union members and youth with high education level, good health, and often present in the locality. In addition, emphasis is placed on building self-defence forces in agencies, organisations, enterprises, etc. in accordance with local characteristics and requirements for building defensive areas. Up to now, the total number of militia and self-defence forces in the province has accounted for 0.98% of the population.

Developing party members in the militia and self-defence forces has also been paid due attention and achieved good results. Up to now, the number of party members in the militia has reached 22.38%, exceeding the target set in the resolution. The percentage of Party members in the self-defence forces of agencies and organisations reaches 63.44%. Military party cells have well promoted their role in advising local Party committees and governments to lead and direct the construction of military agencies, and execution of military and defence tasks.

In order to constantly improve the overall quality of the militia and self-defence forces, along with updating and fostering defence and security knowledge, the province requires that military training and drills for this force are strengthened and put into regularity. Based on Circular No. 69/2020/TT-BQP, dated June 15th, 2020 of the Ministry of National Defence, the province directs to supplement the content on prevention, control and overcoming of natural disasters and diseases to the training programme. Before each training season, the province requires localities and units to consolidate their payroll organisation, make and approve training plans according to decentralisation, etc.; prepare, renovate and invest in materials, lesson plans, facilities, training ground to meet standards and regulations. In addition, based on the specific situation, the province decentralises military training to 100% of officers at all levels, especially those directly engaged in training in order to improve their responsibilities, capacity, methods and manners. In addition to using professional staff of military agencies in localities, the Provincial Military Command also sends officers to coordinate with military commands of districts, cities and towns to help and support the professional teachers.

In fact, the weak point of militia and self-defence officers and soldiers is their practical actions and settlement of specific situations. Therefore, the Province directs its localities and units to stick to the training motto of "Fundamentals, essentials, quality", and adhere to the requirement of "Knowing the training content; applying creatively and effectively in the execution of assigned tasks”. Closely combine military training with political and legal education, and between theory and practice; focus on training militia and self-defence units in key areas, especially mobile militia, standing militia, and maritime militia; strengthen training according to expected situations that may occur at the base so that militia and self-defence officers and soldiers know how to identify and handle appropriately; maintain the order of contests and festivals at the end of each training content, section or season; at the same time, hold annual drills to improve combat readiness level for the militia and self-defence units of communes, in which attention is paid to defensive drills at commune level, close to the reality of combat, and possible scenarios in each commune.

In order to improve the quality of training, the Province strengthens the state management over militia and self-defence work. Accordingly, the presidents of the People's Committees at all levels, especially at the commune level, must directly manage and control the military agencies at their respective levels in formulating plans and performing the task of training militia and self-defence forces. Units actively innovate training forms and methods, and apply decentralisation in training, while closely coordinating with the police agencies of the same level to develop plans for professional training, methods and measures of coordination among forces to handle situations. After each training session, the units hold exercises to disperse demonstrations, protect the Party and governmental offices at all levels. Every year, the province directs 2-3 district-level units to conduct defensive area drills; from 25% to 30% of the communes to conduct defensive combat and natural disaster prevention drills, contributing to improving the leadership and direction capacity of the Party committees and authorities, bringing into full play the advisory role of military agencies, departments, branches, Fatherland Front and mass organisations in handling situations.

The achievements in building and training militia and self-defence forces in recent years have contributed to building a strong political foundation, ensuring political security, social order and safety in the province. At the same time, they are the foundation for building the all people's defence posture in association with the people's security posture, building the province's defence area increasingly firm, creating favourable conditions for Tien Giang to yield fast and sustainable socio-economic development.

Senior Colonel PHAM VAN THANH, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Commander of the Provincial Military Command