In response to the urgent requirements of the resistance war against the U.S. for national salvation, J250 Depot under the Vehicle Management Department (now the Department of Vehicles and Machines) was established on June 16, 1972, in Huu Lung district, Lang Son province, with the task of receiving the donated vehicles and technical equipment from friendly countries; modifying, preserving, maintaining and repairing; supplying vehicles, machines, weapons, ammunition, and materials for units in the battlefields. Over 50 years of construction, combat and growth, its officers, employees and soldiers have always promoted solidarity, creativity, self-reliance; overcome difficulties to complete all task assigned. For its achievements, the depot was awarded 02 Second-class Feat of Arms Medals; 01 Third-class Feat of Arms Medal, 01 Third-class Fatherland Protection Order and many other noble rewards.

In recent years, in response to the requirements of Army building and Fatherland protection, the demand for preservation, maintenance, repair, storage and synchronisation of vehicles and machines has increased sharply. Meanwhile, its allocated budget is limited; its technical staffs are not equal in expertise and capacity; natural disasters and incidents are on the rise, etc. threatening the security and safety of the Depot, etc. Facing that situation, the Party Committee and Commanders of the Depot focused on studying and forecasting the situation, implementing many synchronous solutions to improve the quality of engineering work together with building an all-strong unit to meet requirements and tasks.

First of all, consolidate its organsiational structure, improve the efficiency of its staff, and strengthen education to improve political zeal, quality and morality for cadres and soldiers. Deeply grasping the above resolutions, directives and instructions on force organisation, the party committee and Commdant of the depot direct its functional agencies to coordinate with Party committees and command of its subordinate units to properly review and evaluate actual status of its technical staff; compare with the requirements and responsibilities of each position to make appropriate adjustment and deployment. Select and send its technical cadres and staff to training courses at academies and schools; strengthen on-the-job training to raise the level of command, management and operation, and professional expertise. To date, 100% of its technical cadres and staff have received basic training, acquired high level of professional expertise; have good ethical qualities and are appointed to suitable position. They are enthusiastic with their job and committed to the unit.

Because of the characteristics and tasks of the industry and unit, as well as the requirements for management and use, the difficulties and challenges in preservation, maintenance and repair of the materials, weapons, technical equipment ... the Party committee and commandant of the depot promote political and ideological education to improve political zeal and solidarity of its cadres, staff and soldiers for successfully completing assigned tasks. To make it highly effective, the depot directs its subordinates to combine basic education with specialised and traditional education. Step up the implementation of Conclusion No. 21-KL/TW, dated October 25, 2021 of the Party Central Committee (13^th tenure) on accelerating the building and rectification of the Party and the political system; resolutely prevent and repel the degradation in political ideology, morality, lifestyle, "self-evolution", "self-transformation" of cadres and party members; Resolution No. 847-NQ/QUTW, dated December 28, 2021 of the Central Military Commission on "Promoting the qualities of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" resolutely opposing individualism in the new situation" and the Determined to win Emulation movement; improve leadership capacity, combat strength of party organisations, dynamism, creativity, political zeal, responsibility of cadres and party members.

Maintenance work at T285 Workshop

Along with structure consolidation and capacity building, the Party Committee and commandant of the Depot focus on leading and directing to improve quality and regularity of technical work. Thoroughly grasping and adhering to the regulations of the General Department of Technology on working order and regime, the Depot directs its subordinate units to make clear job description of each position; assign tasks, hold training, seminars, agreeing on the coordination in the management, inspection and supervision to ensure the flexible, interconnected and smooth flow of work. Adjust the bookkeeping system, unify forms and records, strengthen the application of information technology in management. Carry out good storage of stock in accordance with regulations for easy inspection,  distribution, and manoeuvre in the event of incident. Research and develop the plans to receive, distribute, and maintenance of vehicle and machine in accordance with maintenance order and cycle; strictly observe the technological process in preservation and maintenance; closely monitor the quality at each stage, especially in assembly and adjustment. In addition, it steps up the implementation of Campaign 50; promotes the movements of "Creative youth", "Good labour, creative labour", "Work safety, traffic safety, no discipline violation",... to create high sense of responsibility of each technical officer and staff. At the same time, it promotes the movement of "Promoting technical initiatives and improvement", with the "Young team of science and technology" model to research and apply science and technology in technical management and supply, improve the technological line of maintenance and repair, improve method for quality inspection and evaluation, supplement industry standards, etc. Along with that, the Depot promotes the planning, upgrading and synchronisation of equipment and facilities for the system of depots, workshops, shelters, internal roads so as to improve the effectiveness of fire prevention and combat, the way to arrange and distribute equipment... and the manoeuvrability in combat readiness, while increasing the longevity of equipment and supplies.

In order to improve the level of manoeuvrability and readiness in case of a situation, the Depot strictly maintains the modes of command, duty, and safety regimes; regularly reviews, and supplements the system of combat readiness plans, and practices the plans of: on-the-spot combat readiness, fire, forest fire, natural disaster prevention and control, search and rescue. Its agencies and units strengthens physical training, discipline management and regularity building, etc. In 2018, it successfully held a two-level one-sided command-and-counseling on-map exercise with actual troops, thereby, helping its technical staff firmly grasp the command and control measures in opening the seal, evacuating technical equipment, manoeuvring forces, as well as conducting technical activities in the evacuated area; the coordination and handling of situations in combat preparation; especially the method of coordinating with forces in the area of operation in supporting the unit to manoeuvre and build evacuation facilities.

With the spirit of self-reliance, overcoming difficulties to grow, the Depot always pays attention to material and spiritual life of its staff and considers it an important factor to encourage officers and soldiers to work, commit to the unit, and successfully complete all assigned tasks and responsibilities. In the past time, together with good provisions, especially allowances for working in hazardous environment,  hygiene, protection, occupational safety, health check, early detection and treatment of occupational diseases for officers and employees, the Depot also actively manages to improve the meals for its troops; pays attention to building regular, green, clean and scenic barracks with an area of thousands of square meters, and total cost of over 40 billion VND. It regularly conducts environmental cleaning, disease prevent and control, hold cultural, artistic and sport activities; provide legal and life counseling, etc. Over the past years, the Depot has always been rated as "Good nourishing unit and good supply management unit" with over 99% of  healthy troops. Its staff are excited, enthusiastic with their work, and commit to the unit.

With positive and synchronous solutions, and solidarity, the efforts of all officers, employees and soldiers, J250 Depot was awarded the title of Determined to Win Unit, and its Party was rated typical clean and strong for 5 consecutive years (2016-2021), making it one of the leading units in the emulation movement of the Department of  Vehicles and Machines. In 2022, the Depot was honoured to be awarded the Third-class Fatherland Protection Order by the State. This is such a noble reward to celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of its Traditional Day, and a strong encouragement for its officers, employees and soldiers to complete all tasks in the coming years.

Senior Colonel NGUYEN TOAN THANG, Chief of the Depot