The maturity and development of the Vietnam People’s Navy over the past seventy years resulted from a confluence of various factors. Among these, the spiritual and political element holds a particularly vital role; it forms the foundation for the naval forces to overcome all hardships and challenges, successfully fulfilling every task assigned. Therefore, fostering and reinforcing political fortitude among the Navy is a critical and ongoing duty - especially pressing in the present context.

Political fortitude stands as one of the foremost determinants shaping the identity of the “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers.” For naval troops, this fortitude is first and foremost manifested through steadfast political conviction and unwavering loyalty to the Party, the Fatherland, and the People. It is further reflected in their resolute fighting spirit, their resilience in the face of difficulties and adversity, and their readiness to sacrifice in order to firmly safeguard the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland’s seas and islands.

As the core force in safeguarding the sovereignty of Fatherland’s seas and islands, naval units primarily operate in maritime and island environments, often under harsh climatic and weather conditions. Many units carry out their duties in remote areas such as islands, offshore platforms, patrolling vessels, and distant radar outposts. Therefore, building firm political fortitude among naval troops takes on heightened significance. At present, given the increasingly demanding nature of the mission to protect the sovereignty of Fatherland’s seas and islands and the overarching task of building a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern Navy, the Naval Party Committee and High Command have identified the enhancement of political fortitude among officers and soldiers as a foundational factor. This is deemed essential for continuously improving overall quality and combat strength, ensuring the effective fulfillment of assigned duties amid the evolving situation.

First and foremost, the Naval Party Committee and High Command have focused their leadership and direction on improving the quality of political education and ideological leadership. Political fortitude and loyalty are fundamental elements that enable our soldiers to overcome all hardships and successfully carry out their duties. For naval troops, this issue holds even greater weight, as officers and soldiers are constantly confronted with harsh and intense challenges at sea and on islands - locations at the “frontlines of the waves and winds” - where the climate is unforgiving, living conditions are arduous, and personal sacrifice is often required. Moreover, hostile forces persistently seek to undermine political ideology through increasingly sophisticated and insidious methods. In response, the Navy has directed agencies, schools, and units to actively renew the forms and methods of political and ideological education, with the aim of enhancing service members’ understanding of Marxism - Leninism, Ho Chi Minh Thought, and the Party’s goals and ideals. Efforts have been made to strengthen the political-theoretical foundation and revolutionary ethics of officers at all levels, with particular emphasis on those serving in specialised and high-demand units. At the same time, the Navy actively promotes its proud tradition of “heroic combat, resourceful creativity, mastery of maritime domains, and resolute victory.” It has also effectively implemented the campaign “Promoting tradition, dedicating talent, and being worthy of the title of Uncle Ho’s Soldiers - Naval Soldiers of the new era” through diverse and practical, meaningful actions. These efforts have nurtured and strengthened patriotism, love for the sea and islands, and national pride and dignity, thereby forging the Navy with unwavering political fortitude, profound awareness of their mission, and strong determination to fight and triumph.

Lt. Gen Nguyen Van Bong and leaders of Ho Chi Minh city meet and encourage naval troops on An Bang Island

In parallel, the Navy has prioritised enhancing the leadership capacity and combat strength of Party committees, Party organisations, and the contingent of cadres and Party members across all levels. This is regarded as a decisive, core solution in building a Party organisation within the Navy that is politically, ideologically, ethically, organisationally, and personnel-wise robust - an essential foundation for cultivating strong political fortitude among naval forces. Accordingly, the Navy continues to thoroughly grasp and rigorously implement resolutions, conclusions, directives, and guidance issued by the superiors, particularly the Central Committee’s Resolution No.4 (12^th and 13^th Tenures) on building and rectifying the Party and the political system; Resolution No.21-NQ/TW dated 16 June 2022 of the 13^th Central Committee on strengthening grassroots Party organisations and improving the quality of Party membership in the new era; and Resolution No.5863-NQ/ĐU dated 8 July 2008 of the Naval Party Committee on enhancing the leadership capacity and combat strength of grassroots Party organisations and the quality of cadres and Party members. The Navy has directed the reorganisation of Party committees and organisations in accordance with new organisational structures, ensuring consistency and compliance with regulations. It has proactively consolidated the Naval Party Committee and its subordinate Party committees; reviewed, amended, and strictly implemented systems of leadership regulations and working statutes as prescribed for Party cells and committees. Efforts have also been stepped up to implement Conclusion No.01-KL/TW dated 18 May 2021 of the 13^th Politburo, which continues the implementation of Directive No.05-CT/TW dated 15 May 2016 (12^th Politburo) on “Promoting the learning and following of Ho Chi Minh’s thought, ethics, and style.” Party committees and organisations at all levels have intensified the education, management, and moral training of cadres and Party members, fostering upright lifestyles and highlighting the exemplary conduct and pioneering role of key leaders. Simultaneously, inspection of Party members and Party organisations showing signs of violations has been strengthened, alongside improvements in the quality of oversight at the cell level. Proactive inspection and supervision of compliance with principles, rules, and regulations - particularly in areas prone to misconduct - have been carried out with seriousness and rigour. Violations are addressed strictly, promptly, and definitively. Through these measures, the leadership capacity and combat strength of Party committees and organisations at all levels are being continuously enhanced, ensuring they are clean, strong, exemplary, and capable of leading their units to fulfil all assigned tasks with excellence.

The Navy continues to place strong emphasis on fostering political fortitude among its personnel through training and practical operational activities. Political resilience and fighting spirit are, to a significant extent, shaped by service members’ mastery of weapons and equipment, as well as their proficiency in executing combat scenarios. Therefore, the Navy actively cultivates a contingent of officers who demonstrate independent and creative thinking, possess a firm grasp of military strategy, and are highly competent in operational planning within the maritime and island environment. These officers are expected to effectively perform their advisory role to the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence in resolving defence and security situations at sea early and from afar. In parallel, efforts are made to enhance personnel’s IT and foreign language competencies, foster military professionalism, and promote a scientific and effective working methodology. Units have intensified efforts to innovate and improve training quality, with a focus on delivering training that is “fundamental, proficient, and specialised” in operating weapons and technical equipment, observing safety regulations, and improving officer training standards. The overarching training objective remains the defence of maritime sovereignty and the building of a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern Navy. Special attention is given to increasing training exercises in distant maritime zones and under complex weather conditions. Surface vessels, submarines, naval aviation, coastal artillery and missile forces, amphibious and commando naval units serve as key training centres. Realistic live-fire drills, adversarial combat simulations, and joint-service exercises are prioritised to hone the resilience, technical and tactical acumen of soldiers, and to enhance the planning, command, and combat advisory capabilities of officers. At the same time, robust political and Party work is integrated into training and operational activities, enabling service members to better understand the hardships, unpredictability, and dangers they may face. This, in turn, fosters enduring political fortitude among naval officers and soldiers - instilling in them the will to embrace hardship and danger, steadfastly overcome all difficulties and challenges, and fulfils every duty and responsibility with excellence.

Simultaneously, the Navy places strong emphasis on enhancing the political fortitude of officers and soldiers through real-life activities, particularly through direct mission execution in maritime and island territories. Constant combat readiness forces are maintained in key maritime areas, upholding a high sense of vigilance and preparedness to promptly address emerging situations, especially in cases of foreign vessels violating national sovereignty. Regular patrols, reconnaissance missions, and drills are conducted to ensure situational awareness and the effective organisation of forces, enabling persistent, resolute, yet flexible and strategic responses - always in line with appropriate policies - to firmly defend the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland’s seas and islands. Through such practices, officers and soldiers are trained in the spirit of unwavering resolve in the face of adversity, hardship, and danger, nurturing a readiness to make personal sacrifices in order to safeguard national maritime sovereignty. Given the widespread deployment of units across vast territories, and the predominance of operations in maritime and island environments - including some stationed far from the mainland, where the families of many service members face material hardship - the Navy recognises the need to prioritise ideological, organisational, and policy-related work. Special attention continues to be devoted to rear-area policies for military personnel. Each year, the Navy coordinates with military agencies and local authorities to visit and present gifts to the families of those serving in particularly challenging locations such as Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands and DK1 platforms. These gestures strengthen the emotional bond between those on the mainland and those stationed on remote islands, providing motivation and encouragement for officers and soldiers to remain steadfast on the frontlines and complete all assigned tasks with excellence. In addition, the Navy is committed to building a rich and wholesome cultural environment within its units. This is seen as a crucial condition for service members to cultivate, train, and strive toward the values of truth, goodness, and beauty. Such efforts contribute to the moral development of revolutionary soldiers, promote the noble qualities of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers - Naval Soldiers,” and serve as a powerful spiritual engine for each officer and soldier to overcome difficulties and accomplish their missions. The Navy strictly enforces grassroots-level democratic regulations and regulations on ideological management, linking these with the cultivation of a “culture of conduct” within agencies and units. Every officer and Party member - particularly those in key leadership roles - is required to act as a role model in moral behaviour and cultural lifestyle, becoming a guiding example for their subordinates to follow. Simultaneously, units are urged to improve the physical environment by building “green, clean, beautiful, and standardised” military barracks and enhancing the effectiveness of cultural infrastructure, thereby ensuring a high quality of cultural and spiritual life for service members.

With focused leadership and direction through practical and effective measures, the political fortitude of naval troops will continue to be solidified and strengthened - forming a vital foundation for the Navy to fulfil all assigned missions and firmly defend the sacred maritime sovereignty of the Fatherland.

Lieutenant General NGUYEN VAN BONG, Secretary of the Party Committee and Political Commissar of the Navy