Training in general and that of Water Commando Brigade 5 in particular is a central and regular task. It is the foundation to enhance the level and capacity of combat readiness and combat power of a special force. Thus, the Brigade’s Party Committee and Commanders have paid great attention to renovating and enhancing the quality of combat training to meet the requirements of safeguarding the sovereignty over the seas and islands of the Fatherland in the current context.

Water Commando Brigade 5, a mobile force of the Ministry of National Defence and the Commando Corps, is tasked with training, combat readiness, combat at seas and on islands, A2 mission, counter-terrorism, and other unscheduled tasks. Due to the complex situation at sea and on islands which leads to increasingly demanding tasks, to accomplish all signed tasks, the Brigade’s Party Committee and Command have synchronously implemented multiple guidelines and measures to lead and direct the renovation and improvement of training quality. This constitutes the integral content as well as a pivotal measure that directly contributes to enhancing the level and combat capability of the Brigade. The spotlights of this task include management and administration work, innovative and creative organisational methods and combat training, which meet the practical requirements. Inspection and re-examination have been thoroughly grasped and seriously implemented so that all shortcomings in training can be surmounted. Preparatory work and assurance of training have been paid due attention to, especially fostering cadres which has been regularly implemented with high quality. As a result, the competencies in training cadres at all levels as well as the training quality of the Brigade have been heightened. It can be affirmed that in terms of combat capability, the Brigade is capable of accomplishing tasks at group and inter-group levels when conducting A2 missions; accomplishing tasks at group level in counter-terrorism; accomplishing tasks at group levels when conducting operations at seas and on islands; accomplishing tasks at group and inter-group levels and reinforcement in operations at seas, on islands, etc.

According to the requirements and tasks of safeguarding the Fatherland’s sovereignty over seas and islands in the current situation, Water Commando Brigade 5 has determined to implement the guidelines and measures for the building transparent, strong, and typical Party Committee and an all-strong, “exemplary and typical” Unit. In particular, enhancing the quality of combat training is a central and regular task. First and foremost, the pivotal and decisive issue that determines the quality of training and combat capability of the Brigade is intensifying the leadership and direction of party committees, commanders, and political commissar at all levels. Thoroughly grasping and implementing the directives and orders of higher echelons on training and combat readiness, the Brigade’s Party Committee and party committees at all levels, and party cells must place emphasis on enhancing specialised resolutions to lead the implementation of guidelines and measures for leadership and direction to fit the characteristics, requirements, tasks, and fields of operation to lay a foundation for commanders at all levels, agencies, and units to map out implementation plans. At the same time, inspection and after-action reviews have been intensified to formulate effective guidelines and measures for leadership.

Training of water commandos

Due to the peculiarities of commando training, the Brigade has to engage in intense and prolonged operations at sea and on islands, and experience various weather and climate conditions; therefore, each content requires a high endurance of both psychologically and physically. Without preparation, soldiers are prone to hesitation of difficulty and hardship. Having grasped the issue, the Brigade has always attached importance to political and ideological education, generated motivation and attitudes toward training in the appropriate manner; fostered willpower, courage, ingenuity, boldness, and flexibility; encouraged virtues of patience, meticulousness, spirit of unity, cooperation, and mutual assistance in every content. In addition, the Brigade has concentrated on deeply grasping the Order on combat training of the High Command of the Corps, the task, and plans for combat training of the Brigade; the viewpoints, objectives, and targets of training all cadres and soldiers, especially party committees, commanders, political commissars, presiding cadres at all levels, and trainers. Accordingly, it is apparent that heightening awareness is an integral and regular working aspect to enhance the levels and capability of combat readiness and combat power, thereby cementing confidence in weapons, equipment, military arts, and the distinctive traditional combat style of commandos in general and water commando and frog soldiers, in particular. Simultaneously, it is necessary to keep abreast of soldiers’ thoughts to promptly orientate and address possible ideological issues. The contingent of cadres and party members have been required to hold up their examples in association with the accomplishment of the tasks of training; bring into play democracy and collective minds to discuss the measures for the improvement of combat training; intensify emulation movements through specific and feasible contents; regularly renovate and improve the effectiveness of placards to motivate soldiers during training.

Preparatory work for training is of paramount importance; therefore, in parallel with the investment in repairing and renewing teaching models, and upgrading and developing training fields, the Brigade has directed its agencies and units to proactively formulate full and scientific training plans and schedules. Regarding difficulties during the preparatory work of materials for offshore training, training at seas and islands, and night training, the Brigade has directed its affiliates to bring into play their spirit, creativity, and self-motivation to surmount all difficulties; closely coordinate with involving units to complete the preparatory work before training. In addition, the Brigade has paid attention to inspecting, correcting, and strictly maintaining the regimes through the process of ratifying and enhancing the quality of lesson plans before training.

The linchpin of enhancing the training quality is the preparation of human resources. Accordingly, the Brigade has concentrated on consolidating and stabilising the organisation and structure; prioritising combat units to perform operations at sea, on islands and counter-terrorism. The emphasis has been put on training qualified combat forces to replace overage combatants. Importance has been attached to training and fostering cadres at all levels, especially cadres at group level and those participating in training; in particular, the focus has been placed on addressing shortcomings and difficulties in training contents as well as assigning new tasks in accordance with the peculiarities of each trainee, tasks, combat targets, and fields of operation. In addition to the participation in training courses held by the Corps, the Brigade has organised training courses in accordance with tasks and implemented the classification of cadres by their competencies. Concurrently, the Brigade has also directed its agencies and units to make the maximal use of their time to foster cadres throughout the training process and bring into play their learning autonomy, creativity, and self-motivation.

The Brigade has actively renovated the mechanism in directing, commanding, and administering the training; and designed and managed training programmes closely aligned with trainees. Strictly observing the combat orders and plans of higher echelons, the Brigade’s Party Committee and Command have concentrated on leading and directing the renovation of cohesive and effective training management and administration without being over-lapped. Accordingly, the Brigade has directed the combat training through orders and directives; the management through regulations and the administration through the ratification of plans for inspecting and supervising all levels. For great effectiveness, the Brigade has attached importance to promoting the application of information technology to the process of training management, administration and practice; intensifying the decentralisation in inspecting and supervising all levels.

Throughout the building and management of training programmes, the Brigade has strictly adhered to the Order for combat training of the Corps Commander and the Training Programmes for Commando units to determine appropriate plans and schedules in accordance with the characteristics of each trainee, task requirements, specific situations of each agency and unit; achieved unanimity before reporting for the ratification of higher echelons.

During the training, the Brigade’s Party Committee and Command have concentrated on leading and directing the training across the board and with focused points. There has been a combination of comprehensive and basic training for trainees with in-depth training in association with the combat requirements of each unit and synchronisation of allocated weapons and technical equipment. The agencies and units have adhered to the principle of being “fundamental, practical, and effective” and applied “3 viewpoints, 8 principles, and 6 combinations”. They also have actively renovated training contents, organisation, and methods and valued practice. Emphasis has been put on the proper execution of training advisory work, the rotation of exercises, the combination of learning new knowledge and reviewing the previous, and training progress from basic to comprehensive that covers infantry combat techniques, combat techniques of the corps and specialised techniques. With the principle of using the battlefield as the training ground, the Brigade has intensified night training, high-intensity outdoor exercises in various terrains, and mobility training in accordance with scenarios and tasks. Technical and tactical training is integrated with physical training; swimming and floating exercises in complex weather, climate, hydrological conditions, as well as hazardous marine life have been organised and exceeded the targets. This enhances the mobility and real-life survival capabilities of the soldiers, especially those engaging in A2 and A3 missions, and counter-terrorism operations.

To satisfy the increasingly demanding task requirements, the Brigade has promoted the cohesive organisation of training for cadres and detachments with higher intensity, flexibility, and agility. The contents of intensive specialised training have been supplemented. Importance has also been attached to combat training and exercises, parachute training so that soldiers can achieve proficiency in the use of weapons and equipment, martial arts, and close combat. This also includes camouflage, guerrilla tactics, and continuously enhancing the overall quality and combat capabilities to meet the task requirements in the current situation.

Senior Colonel NGUYEN CONG LONG, Commander of Water Commando Brigade 5