Law enforcement in the waters and continental shelf of the country is a difficult, complex and dangerous task that requires Coast Guards to not only uphold the will and determination, master legal knowledge, but also master synthesis skills. Therefore, constantly improving the quality of professional training for this force is an objective and urgent requirement.

Sr. Col. Le Dinh Cuong checks a simulator of generator on VCG's ships (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Deeply grasping the resolutions and directives of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence on training work, especially Conclusion No. 60-KL/QUTW, dated January 18, 2019 of the Central Military Commission on continuing to implement Resolution No. 765-NQ/QUTW; Resolution No. 397-NQ/DU, dated March 29, 2013 of the Vietnam Coast Guard's Party Committee on “Improving the quality of training for the 2013 – 2020 period and beyond”, over the years, the Vietnam Coast Guard’s Command has focused on directing the implementation of the motto of “comprehensive, synchronous and focalised innovation in contents, and method of training and improving the quality of personnel training”. Accordingly, its agencies and units have thoroughly grasped and conducted training according to the content, programmes and time as planned; attached importance to synchronous, intensive, relevant training to requirements and tasks, taking sovereignty protection, law enforcement and building “revolutionary, regular, elite and modern” Coast Guard force as objectives of training. As a result, the training quality of the entire force has been gradually improved, relatively comprehensive, uniform and solid. The ships undertaking long-term missions at sea have all completed their tasks well, contributing to improving the overall quality, combat strength, the ability of law enforcement, maintaining security, order and safety on the seas and continental shelf of the country.

However, in the context of current international integration, “seawards development”, asserting sovereignty, superiority and power at sea are becoming a global trend, and Vietnam is not an exception. Besides the positive sides, criminal activities, traditional and non-traditional security threats in the seas of our country are increasing, happening complicatedly and unpredictably. This poses more demanding requirements for the task of protecting sovereignty, sovereign rights, national jurisdiction and law enforcement at sea. Meanwhile, Vietnam Coast Guard is undergoing restructuring; its forces and means (ships and boats) are inadequate, but often have to operate for long days at sea, etc. In order to fulfill their assigned functions and tasks, units of the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) should continue to promote innovation and further improve the quality of professional training, focusing on thoroughly implementing the following main solutions:

Firstly, strengthening the leadership and direction of the party committees and commanders at all levels for training tasks. Party committees and commanders of agencies and units continue to thoroughly grasp the Conclusion No. 60-KL/QUTW, dated January 18, 2019 of the Central Military Commission on continuing implementing Resolution No. 765-NQ/QUTW, training and combat orders of the superiors; develop a thematic resolution to lead the training task with targets and measures suitable to the actual situation. At the same time, strengthen the leadership and direction capacity of Party committees and commanders at all levels in each stage and step of training, especially in directing, managing, operating and supplying for training; focus on promoting the roles and responsibilities of each member of party committees and presiding cadres at all levels in leading and directing this important task.

Secondly, thoroughly making preparation for training. Every year, before each training season, agencies and units should thoroughly conduct training and retraining for their staff, focusing on combat advisory work, new and difficult issues emerging from training and working practice; methods of training for commanders of the fleets and ships,  and newly graduated officers. At the same time, it is necessary to send officers abroad to attend training courses held by the Coast Guard forces of countries in the region and the world to improve their level and capacity of law enforcement on sea, search and rescue, in accordance with Vietnam’s law and international law. To meet the high requirements of  training tasks, Vietnam Coast Guard Command should closely cooperate with the functional agencies of the Ministry of National Defence and the Army Officer School No.1 to hold training and retraining courses to improve skills for its staff; at the same time, encouraging its cadres to promote self-study to improve their qualifications to meet requirements and tasks.

Along with that, agencies and units focus on investing in building and consolidating classrooms and training grounds; actively research and propose initiatives and improve the model of training tools in the direction of basic, regular and unified; proactively ensure correct, sufficient and timely materials and equipment for training. Cadres and teachers involved in training all uphold their sense of responsibility, research and learn about training contents, and prepare lesson plans in a thorough manner. For ships undertaking long-term duties at sea, the development of training plans should adhere to the weekly, monthly and periodical contents and training plans of the fleet, squadron, and region, but may be subject to flexible adjustments to ensure both training and task accomplishment.

Thirdly, making training relevant to reality, tasks, plans, combat targets and areas of operation. Training of the Coast Guard may be disrupted as the trainees are diverse and the ships often operate long days on sea. To overcome this problem, the units classify trainees according to their qualifications and professional experience to design appropriate courses. VCG’s Command requires units to focus on training for commanders at all levels to master the combat advisory work, grasp the adversaries, partners, viewpoints, mottos for handling issues at sea; improve the level and ability of analysing and assessing, and handling flexibly, correctly all situations, not to be left passive or surprised. At the same time, emphasis should be placed on improving the technical and tactical level of Coast Guard ships; the process of patrolling, controlling, and plans to protect sovereignty of sea and islands, law enforcement. Promoting innovation, improving the quality of night training, long-term training at sea, and operations in complicated weather conditions; improving maneuverability, and the ability to handle situations, such as: ensuring maritime safety, flood and storm prevention and control, search and rescue, patrol and law enforcement; mobilising civilian manpower and means in the protection of the sovereignty of sea and islands; associating training with the execution of regular and unexpected tasks.

Moreover, VCG’s Command directs its units to strengthen training to make their officers and soldiers master the provisions of the law, develop creative thinking and quick adaptation, and the ability to analyse, evaluate, and predict the situations in the protection of the country's sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction at sea; act resolutely and handle effectively situations in accordance with the law; capable of detecting, arresting, investigating and handling crimes and legal violations in accordance with the law on national security protection; handle administrative violations and criminal procedure. In addition, VCG’s Command regularly coordinates with the Navy and military regions to conduct drills; holds contests, sports festivals and checks on a regular basis, thereby, properly assessing the qualifications, improving the leadership and commanding capacity of cadres at all levels, meeting the requirements and tasks.

Finally, combining training with regularity construction and disciplining. Agencies and units closely combine training with observing regulations, disciplining and building all-strong, “exemplary and typical” units. In particular, attention should be paid to training the soldiers to grasp and effectively apply the terms and contents of command and regulations, especially the documents and instructions for the implementation of regular order, military discipline and State law in the process of training and working at the units. Along with that, agencies and units actively innovate the management and administration of training in the direction of “concentration, unity, synchronisation, and efficiency”. Promote research and application of information technology in management, administration of training, and pay attention to building typical training units and replicate role models and innovative ways of combining training coaching with disciplining. Strengthen inspection work, assign responsibilities to subordinates, adhere to the motto of “check the agency first, the unit later”.

Synchronously implementing the above measures will essentially improve the quality of training, contributing to improving the overall quality, the level of combat readiness, law enforcement, and making the Vietnam Coast Guard professional and modern for firmly protecting the country's sovereignty sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the seas and continental shelf of the country.

Senior Colonel LE DINH CUONG, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Vietnam Coast Guard