Division 355 is an infantry division under Military Region 2, being tasked with training and combat readiness, managing reserve forces, and other ad hoc duties.

Although its units are scattered, and their facilities and barracks are still poor condition, the Party Committee and Command of the Division have focused on leading, directing and implementing many solutions to improve the training quality and combat readiness of agencies and units. With the drastic participation of Party committees and commanders at all levels, much progress has been seen in the work of managing, commanding, and operating training, exercises, and combat readiness. This is coupled with the renewals in the content and methods of training, as well as improvements in combat readiness, which better meet the requirements of assigned tasks, etc. The following are some lessons that the Division has drawn from the practice of its task performance:

The Division receives the flag awarded by the Ministry of National Defence in the Determine to Win Emulation movement of 2024

Firstly, strengthening the leadership and direction of Party committees and commanders at all levels to improve the quality of training and combat readiness. This is the key solution, deciding the improvement of the quality of training and combat readiness of the Division. Accordingly, the Party Committee and Command of the Division direct agencies and units to thoroughly grasp the resolutions, directives, instructions and orders from senior levels on training and combat readiness, focusing on Resolution No. 1659-NQ/QUTW, dated 20 December 2022 of the Central Military Commission, Resolution No. 05-NQ/DU, dated 21 March 2023 of the Military Region Party Committee and the Combat Training Order of the Military Region Commander. Based on the assigned tasks and the features of the stationed areas, agencies and units determine breakthroughs, goals, targets and solutions for implementation. Strengthening dissemination and education to make officers and soldiers clearly see the meaning, importance and necessity of improving the training quality and combat readiness, strengthening the faith in Vietnamese military art, the tradition and combat strength of the unit, thereby creating a unity in their awareness and enhancing their responsibility in action. In addition, the Division regularly consolidates, improves, and enhances the leadership capacity and fighting strength of Party committees and Party organisations at all levels, especially at grassroots units, taking the results of leadership in training and combat readiness tasks as one of the criteria for annual evaluation and classification of Party organisations and Party members. At the same time, it pays attention to training and improving the qualifications, capacity, methods, and working style of the leading cadres at all levels; promotes the vanguard and exemplary role of cadres and Party members in performing training and combat readiness tasks; strengthens the inspection, supervision, and monitoring of task performance by Party committees, Party organisations, and each Party member, promptly corrects manifestations of subjectivity, lack of responsibility, fear of difficulties, fear of innovation, and fake achievements in training, etc. As a result, since 2023 to date, 100% of officers and soldiers of the Division have developed strong political will, high sense of responsibility, solidarity and unity in performing tasks.

Secondly, making careful preparation prior to training. As conduct training for many subjects, both regular and reserve forces, the supply need for training is great, so the Division directs its agencies and units to focus all resources and proactively make preparation before training. First of all, the Division reviews and consolidates the coaching staff with high-calibre and experienced cadres, with priority being given to units conducting new recruit training and A-framework training. Then, it conducts training and further training according to the training framework, focusing on new and inconsistent contents. At the same time, it proactively develops plans, books, lesson plans, and lectures according to decentralisation; maintains the order and effectiveness of testing lesson plans and trial teaching, especially for company-level and newly graduated cadres. For training of the reserve forces, the Division closely coordinates with localities to allocate resources, conduct re-inspections to grasp the quality of B-framed cadres and soldiers as a basis for perfecting the contingent of cadres directly conducting training to suit each subject. Up to date, 100% of the Division's cadres are able to conduct training according to the hierarchy, in which over 90% of A-framed cadres, and 80% of B-framed cadres have been rated good and excellent in training.

Along with that, the Division proactively prepares teaching aids and facilities for training in a sufficient and appropriate manner. The training grounds have been built and renovated in accordance with standards, fitting the terrain of the stationed area. In particular, every year, the Division launches annual training preparing competition from battalion to division levels, to avoid the lack of teaching aids and facilities in training. In addition, the Division directs its logistics and technical department to coordinate with the units to supply all necessities and provide good health care for soldiers to maintain a high rate of active troops in training; supply adequate weapons, equipment, and vehicles with technical coefficients in accordance with regulations for training and combat readiness tasks.

Leader of the Division meets and encourage new recruits

Thirdly, innovating the content and methods in training and drill. To improve the quality of training and drills, the Division directs its agencies and units to closely follow the training programmes and plans, thereby determining the training contents and methods suitable for each subject, promptly updating and supplementing new content according to the instructions of the senior.

During the course of training, the Division commands and operates in the direction of "concentration, unity, synchronisation, efficiency, and non-overlapping", focusing on units stationed far away; flexibly applies training forms and methods; promotes the application of simulation softwares and digital lectures to increase pedagogical level. Moreover, it also runs pilot unit in training, thereby drawing lessons, choosing the good models and creative ways to popularise and replicate. Besides training, the Division has seen many innovations in exercises, notably directing the construction of command posts at all levels to improve the effectiveness of command and operation of exercises; conducting training for exercises according to positions and responsibilities; holding live-firing flexibly according to situations, focusing on safety assurance. In addition, it closely combines training and exercises with disciplining; promotes the implementation of the emulation movement "Good training, high combat readiness", the models of "Good training union cells", "Three-good squads"; regularly summarises, reviews, promptly commends and rewards collectives and individuals with high achievements in training and exercises, creating a motivated and competitive atmosphere throughout the Division. By means of those scientific and appropriate solutions, in 2024, the Division was awarded the Flag by the Ministry of National Defense in the Determine to Win Emulation movement as an Excellent Training Unit with 100% of training content meeting requirements, 83.5% of tested results being good and excellent); its exercises at all levels were rated excellent in technique and good in tactics with absolute safety in all aspects.

Finally, maintaining combat readiness order seriously, not to be made passive or surprised in any situation. To improve the level of combat readiness, the Division directs its agencies and units to fully grasp the directives, regulations and instructions from higher echelons on combat readiness work; regularly reviews, adjusts and supplements combat readiness plans, mobilisation plans in accordance with combat determination, suitable to the features of the area and assigned tasks. Strictly maintains command, duty and combat readiness regimes from the Division to the companies; ensures sufficient troops, weapons, equipment, materials and means for the staff on duty shifts, especially on holidays, break time, important political events of the country, the Army and the unit, not to be made passive or surprised in any situation. Along with that, it directs agencies and units to strengthen the practice of combat readiness plans, thereby improving mobility and situation handling skills; closely coordinates with local military agencies to grasp the quantity, quality, professionalism, and technical means of the reserve force ready for mobilisation when required. Besides, the Division also directs its agencies and units to make thorough preparation in all aspects, ready to perform the tasks of preventing, countering, and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, searching and rescuing when ordered.

The results gained in the past time are an important basis, a great motivation to encourage officers and soldiers of Division 355 to continue to perform well in training and combat readiness, improve its overall quality and combat strength, and contribute to firmly protecting the strategic area in ​​the Northwestern region of the country.

Senior Colonel VU NGOC HAI, Division Commander