Building “exemplarily, typically” comprehensively strong units is both an objective and a vital driving force for enhancing the overall quality and combat strength of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), thereby meeting the requirements of safeguarding the Fatherland in all situations.

Over the years, Tank and Armoured Brigade 416 under Military Region 9 has thoroughly grasped and strictly implemented resolutions and directives from higher echelons through synchronous and appropriate leadership measures tailored to its specific characteristics. As a result, the Brigade has achieved comprehensive progress in all aspects of work, clearly affirming its role as a “powerful raiding force” of the Military Region, maintaining readiness to undertake and successfully accomplish all assigned tasks.

Troops of the Brigade during a live fire exercise

Building a politically strong Brigade - the foremost and decisive factor in overall quality and combat strength

To that end, the Brigade’s Party Committee and Command have focused on leading and directing Party committees and commands of affiliated agencies and units to intensify political and ideological education, legal dissemination and education, and enhance the effectiveness of Party and political work in performing all assigned tasks. Particular emphasis has been placed on thoroughly executing Directive 2423-CT/QUTW, dated 9 November 2023, by the Central Military Commission Standing Board on “renovating and improving political education in the new period”. Priority has been given to thoroughly grasping the assigned tasks and strengthening education on national traditions, the traditions of the VPA and Military Region 9, as well as the heroic Tank and Armoured Force’s tradition of “winning the battle once deployed”. Consideration has been given to educating troops on the Brigade’s 50-year tradition of construction and development, hostile forces’ plots and tactics of “peaceful evolution”, as well as the security and social order situation in the area. Key objectives, requirements, content, and measures for building an “exemplarily, typically” comprehensively strong unit have also been included.

To ensure effectiveness, the Brigade has flexibly and creatively applied diverse forms and methods of education suited to the awareness levels and characteristics of each group of personnel, closely combining regular education with thematic education to bring about firm changes in both awareness and action. It has consistently directed its agencies and units to promote grass-roots democracy, opportunely provide information and ideological orientation regarding complex issues, and closely manage the ideological situation and social relations of servicemen. Emerging concerns and difficulties have been thoroughly addressed, thus enabling cadres and soldiers to remain steadfast, devoted, and committed to building the Brigade.

In parallel, the Brigade has attached special importance to enhancing the leadership capacity and combativeness of Party committees, Party cells, and Party organisations at all levels, in close association with building a contingent of cadres possessing comprehensive qualities and capabilities, particularly those working at grass-roots units, performing independent tasks, or operating in difficult and strenuous conditions. The quality and effectiveness of the Determined to Win Emulation Movement have been continuously improved; the study and following of Ho Chi Minh’s thought, ethics, and lifestyle and the Campaign on “promoting tradition, devoting talent, deserving to be Uncle Ho’s Soldiers in the new era” have been stepped up. As a result, the entire Brigade has maintained unity in will and action. Annually, 100% of Party committees and Party organisations, and over 90% of cadres and Party members fulfil their tasks successfully or excellently. All cadres and Party members demonstrate their political steadfastness, without any manifestations of ideological, moral, or lifestyle degradation, remaining ready to undertake and successfully accomplish all assigned missions.

Proactively renewing and improving training and combat readiness

Thoroughly grasping and carrying out resolutions, directives, and guidance on training and combat readiness, particularly Resolution 797-NQ/ĐU, dated 29 March 2023, by Military Region 9’s Party Committee on improving the quality of training for the 2023 - 2030 period and beyond, the Brigade has proactively renewed its training content, organisation, and methods in close alignment with practical developments and its assigned tasks. Breakthrough efforts have been made in conducting fundamental, synchronous, specialised training in a modern direction, closely tailored to operational tasks, potential adversaries, the riverine terrain, and actual combat conditions, with high intensity and practical training as the core.

To realise those objectives, the Brigade has directed its agencies and units to thoroughly review training content and programmes for each speciality in order to recommend adjustments and supplementation to higher echelons in line with actual requirements, particularly the developments of weaponry, the art of armoured warfare, and lessons drawn from recent armed conflicts worldwide. At the same time, due regard has been paid to comprehensive training preparations, from directive documents, plans, schedules, and lesson plans to training grounds, ranges, models, and aids, ensuring uniformity, regularity, and modernity suitable to each speciality. The Brigade has regularly promoted initiatives and technical improvements, while actively applying scientific and technological advances to research and develop training models and aids. Emphasis has been placed on holding refresher courses for cadres at all levels, especially those directly responsible for training and newly appointed cadres. Those refresher courses have embraced all military, political, logistics, and technical fields, with special focus on new, weak, or insufficient areas, such as training organisation and methods, conduct of exercises, and techniques for directing drills and competitions at all levels.

Practising crossing the river

In practical training, the Brigade has concretised the motto of “basics, practicality, solidity” for each group of personnel, including vehicle commanders, gunners, drivers, signal personnel, logistics and technical staff. Efforts have been concentrated on making troops proficient in infantry combat techniques and tactics, highly competent in specialised armoured tactics and techniques, and capable of mastering and effectively operating all assigned weapons and technical equipment. For commands and staff agencies, emphasis has been placed on improving command and staff capabilities in combat command and training advisory work. For grass-roots cadres, emphasis is placed on improving training organisation and methods, and raising their professional and tactical expertise. At grass-roots units, great weight has been added to training troops in driving, firing, and effective employment of weapon systems on tanks and armoured vehicles, as well as in handling common technical malfunctions. Attention has been paid to enhancing combat coordination of tank crews and synergy within combined-arms formations, alongside increased field training, night drills, and manoeuvres across complex terrains.

Furthermore, the Brigade has regularly reviewed, supplemented, and adjusted its combat documents, strictly maintaining duty and readiness regimes, intensifying drills and exercises for combat readiness plans. Close cooperation has been maintained with other forces to firmly grasp local socio-political security situation in assigned areas and effectively deal with emerging contingencies. Thanks to these proactive and effective measures, the Brigade’s training quality and combat readiness have been steadily improved. 100% of its training subjects have met the required standards, with over 75% rated good or excellent. Its specialised armoured training has been rated excellent, and it has been awarded the title of “Excellent Training Unit” for many consecutive years.

Promoting regularity building, discipline management, cultural environment development

Due to its dispersed deployment across various areas and the fact that its cadre strength remains below authorised staffing levels, the Brigade has identified the improved quality of regularity building, discipline management, and cultural environment development as a key breakthrough. In the process, alongside thoroughly disseminating directives and regulations on regularity building and discipline management to all troops, it has intensified legal education and dissemination, effectively maintaining models, such as “One legal situation per day, one article of law per week” and the “Psychological and legal counselling team”. Strict observance of daily routines and working regimes has been ensured, while personnel strength and weaponry, particularly in small detachments operating during off-duty hours, have been closely managed. The Brigade has vigorously upheld the principle of working according to assigned functions and acting in accordance with military regulations. Cadres of its agencies have been required to practise “speaking briefly, writing concisely, listening and acting more”; cadres at its grass-roots units have been asked to set good examples for soldiers to follow.

Simultaneously, regularity building and discipline training have been closely combined with the development of a healthy cultural environment and the construction of “regular, bright, green, clean, beautiful” barracks. Proactive measures have been taken to prevent social evils within the Brigade. As a result, working regimes from agencies to units have become increasingly standardised; compliance with discipline and law among cadres, professional servicemen, and soldiers has been improved considerably. For many consecutive years, the Brigade has ensured absolute safety, with no serious violations requiring disciplinary action.

Crop husbandry by soldiers

Ensuring logistics and technical support for all tasks

As a combat-technical arm unit, the Brigade manages and operates a large quantity of vehicles, weapons, and equipment, most of which have been in service for many years, leading to degradation, limited synchronisation, and shortages of replacement technical supplies. Therefore, to ensure immediate manoeuvrability upon receiving orders, the Brigade has always attached importance to strengthening technical support work. Accordingly, it has strictly implemented resolutions and directives on technical work in the new period, with a focus on effectively carrying out the Campaign on “Managing and using weapons and technical equipment safely, durably, economically and ensuring traffic safety”. Established technical regimes have been strictly maintained; the quality of grass-roots-level maintenance, preservation, and repair of weapons and equipment has been enhanced; maintenance activities have been closely integrated with technical training. Moreover, the Brigade has organised systematic tracking, classification, and management of equipment. Periodic inspections of weapon management and operation have been conducted to detect and rectify shortcomings. As a result, technical coefficients of weapons and equipment have been always maintained to meet the Brigade’s task requirements.

Regarding logistics work, the Brigade has always paid close attention to directing and inspecting the strict implementation of regimes and standards, particularly in accommodation, meals, and healthcare for troops. Its units have stepped up agricultural production, diversifying crops and livestock, actively applying scientific and technological advances to improve productivity and product quality. The Brigade has effectively carried out the Emulation Movement entitled “The Military Logistics Sector follows Uncle Ho’s teachings”. Annually, the Brigade fulfils or surpasses logistics targets in all aspects; 100% of its affiliates are recognised as “Good mess halls, good military supply management units”; the rate of healthy troops is consistently maintained at 99.5%; troops’ living standards are steadily improved.

Building upon the achievements and experiences, Tank and Armoured Brigade 416 will continue to synchronously implement comprehensive measures to build an “exemplarily, typically” comprehensively strong unit capable of excellently accomplishing all assigned tasks.

Col. DUONG DINH CAN

Commander of the Brigade