In response to its more demanding task requirements, the Logistics and Technical Sector of Military Region 7 has actively adopted comprehensive measures across all areas of work, continuously making every effort to ensure adequate and timely logistics and technical support for all tasks, contributing to enabling the Military Region’s armed forces to successfully fulfil all assigned missions.

Over the past period, the Logistics and Technical Sector of Military Region 7 was confronted with numerous difficulties, particularly changes in the organisational structure following the merger of logistics and technical agencies at all levels and the reorganisation of local military agencies due to administrative boundary adjustments and the adoption of a two-tier local government system; more demanding requirements and issues on staff, command, and direction work relating to organisational structure, the development of potential and posture, and the organisation of support work were set out for the Sector.

General Department of Logistics and Technology inspects Depot K75 of the Military Region

Nevertheless, with strong willpower and determination, and a proactive and creative spirit, the Logistics and Technical Sector of Military Region 7 effectively carried out all areas of work, ensuring proper, adequate, timely logistics and technical support for both regular and irregular tasks. All logistics and technical targets and tasks were completed at or above the planned levels, thereby significantly contributing to enhancing the overall quality and combat strength of the Military Region’s armed forces. Notably, leadership and direction over the reorganisation and consolidation of the Sector's force structure and the provision of support for major events held in the area were exercised effectively.

First of all, the Sector proactively kept a close watch on situational developments and promptly gave advice to the Military Region’s Party Committee and Command, as well as party committees and commands at all levels, on quickly consolidating the organisational structure of logistics and technical agencies. Accordingly, the Military Region’s Logistics and Technical Department thoroughly grasped higher-level directives and effectively carried out political and ideological education to render party committees, commands, and all cadres, employees, and soldiers full aware of their tasks, create a consensus about the merger and reorganisation of logistics and technical agencies, and prevent ideological problems from arising. In the process, the Department closely followed the direction of the General Department of Logistics and Technology and the Military Region Command, proactively guiding localities and units in logistics and technical work amid the reorganisation of local military agencies and the adoption of a two-tier local government system, effectively preparing for the recovery, handover, and transfer of logistics materials, barracks, weapons, and technical means under regulations to avoid loss or waste. It directed specialised branches and units to maintain adequate stocks of logistics and technical materials and equipment for combat readiness, proactively review, adjust, and supplement their logistics and technical documents for combat and defensive operations, effectively prepare resources to ensure stable, firm support for regular and irregular tasks, and resolutely prevent merger and dissolution tasks from disrupting or interrupting support activities.

Faced with a large volume of work, tight deadlines, and demanding requirements, the Party Committee and Command of the Department assigned specific tasks to each staff member and required the heads and deputy heads of specialised sections to directly direct and guide units in accordance with the principle of “six clear things in task assignment”. As a result, the rearrangement and consolidation of the barracks system, together with the transfer of thousands of tonnes of logistics and technical materials, weapons, and equipment, were carried out under regulations. The Sector gave advice to the Party Committee Standing Board and Command of Military Region 7 on the content of working sessions with provinces and cities to reach agreement on orientations and measures for resolving difficulties and creating favourable conditions for military agencies at all levels to perform defence, military, and diplomacy tasks. To date, nearly 30 defence land sites have been allocated to provinces and cities for management and use as headquarters of military agencies at various levels, while the remainder has been handed over to subordinate units of the Military Region for management under regulations to avoid deterioration or damage. Due to the policy of merging logistics and technical agencies and adjusting administrative boundaries, many military cadres and employees were deployed far from their families; therefore, the Department maintained coordination in staff work and obtained the agreement of provinces and cities on allocating funds to renovate former district-level military command headquarters into official accommodation for cadres and employees, investing in the consolidation of barracks of regional defence commands and upgrading them when they were reorganised into subordinate infantry regiments. Due attention was paid to building and consolidating border militia and self-defence force posts and providing free medical examination, treatment, and medicine for the people under the “military - civilian medical” model, thereby contributing to building a firm posture of people's hearts and minds.

Petroleum supply system operated by the Logistics and Technical Sector of Military Region 7

For the Logistics and Technical Sector of Military Region 7, providing logistics and technical support for the activities marking the 50^th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification and the 80^th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam was not only of profound political significance but also an opportunity to demonstrate its capabilities. In response to the high demands for ensuring accommodation, daily living, training, and health care for thousands of military personnel from units throughout the Military and from invited foreign countries and for providing large quantities and diverse types of weapons and equipment to serve practice, joint rehearsals, preliminary rehearsals, full rehearsals, and official duties at the two major ceremonies, the Department’s Party Committee and Command grasped and strictly implemented the directives, guidance, and plans for A50 and A80 issued by the Ministry of National Defence and Military Region 7, proactively, closely worked with competent agencies, support forces of the General Department of Logistics and Technology, and units in directing, guiding, and implementing the tasks. Emphasis was placed on developing detailed support plans for each force, each task, and every possible situation. The objective was to ensure adequate, timely logistics and technical support in all areas and achieve thrift, efficiency, and absolute safety, particularly for the international contingents participating in the military parade.

Accordingly, within a short period, the Logistics and Technical Department directly directed the Quartermaster Section to receive and distribute hundreds of tonnes of uniforms and military supplies, including combat boots, canvas boots, K20 uniforms, militia clothing, Ba Ba clothing (Traditional Southern Vietnamese garments), and catering equipment for the Vietnamese contingents, and provide thousands of types of quartermaster materials to support the international contingents. In particular, with a sense of urgency, within just two hours, the Logistics and Technical Sector of Military Region 7 provided nearly 3,000 kg of dry rations and 18,000 bottles of drinking water, mobilised more than 50 military personnel and 14 vehicles of various types to provide timely support for cadres, soldiers, and citizens attending the military parade. The Quartermaster Section provided hundreds of tonnes of fresh, high-quality, and hygienically safe food and maintained effective coordination in giving meals to the participating forces, etc.

Military Hospital 7A, Military Hospital 7B, and the Eastern Military - Civilian Hospital served as the core force in effectively coordinating health care and protection for the participating forces, ranging from disease prevention and measures against sunstroke and heat exhaustion to first aid, medical examination and treatment for thousands of cadres and soldiers. Medical personnel from the hospitals strictly observed professional duty regulations, ensuring that wherever soldiers were present, military medical personnel were on hand and ready to provide support. Agencies in charge of technical support fulfilled a very large volume of work, with more than 260 vehicles of various types transporting more than 30,000 people and nearly 200 tonnes of materials, receiving and transporting thousands of firearms to support training, joint rehearsals, and military parades. After the activities had concluded, these agencies organised the recovery and handover of equipment, maintaining strict management, preventing any damage or loss, ensuring absolute safety.

Ammunition maintenance

Furthermore, the Sector successfully fulfilled the task of providing logistics and technical support for activities within the framework of the 2^nd Vietnam - Cambodia Border Defence Friendship Exchange. Deeply aware of the honour, responsibility, and significance of the Border Defence Friendship Exchange, the Logistics and Technical Department proactively directed thorough, comprehensive preparations, covering accommodation, military medical support, and transport, creating a solid material foundation for the smooth conduct of the series of activities, contributing to strengthening defence cooperation and building enduring friendship between the two countries. To fulfil this demanding responsibility amid a large volume of work, a short timeframe, multiple locations, complex weather conditions, prolonged rainfall, and a high work intensity, the Department closely followed the Military Region's plans and direction and established a Logistics and Technical Support Subcommittee to serve the exchange activities, together with a logistics support team for the joint military medical exercise within the framework of the exchange, while assigning specific tasks to each staff member. Importance was attached to coordinating with the Department for Foreign Relations and competent agencies to develop plans for accommodation, transport, and health care for all participating forces, particularly the Steering Committee, Organising Committee, delegates, and Royal Cambodian Army in the series of exchange activities. At the same time, it directed the deployment of forces to participate in the military medical exercise and coordinated medical examination and treatment for people on both sides of the border. This made an important contribution to the success of the 2^nd Vietnam - Cambodia Border Defence Friendship Exchange.

The accomplishments in logistics and technical work over the past period, particularly in the key tasks, represent a prominent bright spot and provide valuable lessons for the Logistics and Technical Sector of Military Region 7 to continue successfully accomplishing its assigned tasks and contribute to building “revolutionary, regular, elite, modern” armed forces of Military Region 7 with the improved overall quality and combat strength to firmly safeguard the Fatherland in the new situation.

Sr. Col. VU NAM SON

Director of the Logistics and Technical Department of Military Region 7