In response to the evolving demands and tasks, Military Region 3 Party Committee and Command have been concentrating on improving the quality of training in line with Resolution No.1659-NQ/QUTW. This initiative forms the foundation for enhancing the overall quality and combat strength, ensuring that the Region’s armed forces are truly the core force in fulfiling military and national defence tasks, safeguarding the Fatherland.

Located in a strategically vital area of the country, with over 118 km of land border with China, more than 500 km of coastline, and nearly 2,500 islands, Military Region 3 (MR3) has been working relentlessly to meet the national defence and Fatherland protection requirements. Along with implementing decisive measures to streamline its organisation and structure towards “lean, compact, and strong,” MR3 Party Committee and Command have focused on the dissemination and implementation of the training objectives and guiding principles outlined in Resolution No.1659-NQ/QUTW, dated 22 December 2022, by the Central Military Commission, through a series of synchronised, suitable measures. This has resulted in clear progress and significant transformations.

The awareness of the Party committees, commanders, cadres, and soldiers across various units and localities regarding the training mission has been elevated. The direction, management, and organisation of training at all levels have been carried out in a strict, unified, and scientific manner. The content, structure, and methods of training, drills, competitions, and contests have been significantly renewed, promptly updating the developments in science, technology, and operational tactics, while being tailored to the characteristics and mission of the Region’s armed forces. In training, the units have adhered closely to the principle of “fundamental, practical, and solid,” emphasising the mastery of weapons and equipment, particularly modern and advanced weaponry. They have also combined training with building discipline and improving soldiers’ skills, as well as integrating training with readiness for combat, disaster prevention, search and rescue, etc. Notably, the Military Region successfully directed and organised the PT-23 Defensive Combat Exercise, which involved coordinated operations with different military branches and arms across various terrains and operational environments, including land, sea, and air. This exercise demonstrated the combat readiness, operational capabilities, and combat effectiveness of the Region’s armed forces, which has been acknowledged and highly evaluated by the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defence, and local Party committees and governments.

Leader of MR3 encourages troops of Brigade 242 participating in the 2024 Exercise

Despite the achievements, there remain certain limitations and shortcomings in leadership, direction, management, and the execution of training at some agencies, units, and localities. The direction and management of training have lacked consistency and coordination across various levels. While training methods have seen some innovation, they have not been comprehensive. The application of science and technology in training has yet to yield high effectiveness. The quality of training has not been uniformly solid, particularly in mastering new-generation weapons and equipment, as well as in the training of militia, self-defence forces, and reserve forces.

In the coming years, the global and regional situation is expected to continue to evolve with complexity, and the task of building the Army and protecting the Fatherland will impose higher demands on the Region’s armed forces. To meet the requirements of the new phase, alongside intensifying leadership and directing the implementation of synchronised measures, the Standing Committee of MR3 Party Committee and Command have set the goal of continuing to make breakthroughs in enhancing combat training quality. This will serve as the foundation for building “lean, compact, and strong” armed forces with high combat strength, ensuring their core role in fulfiling military and national defence tasks and safeguarding the Fatherland.

To achieve this goal, MR3 will strengthen the education, raising awareness and responsibility among cadres and soldiers, particularly Party Committees and commanders at all levels, regarding the importance of training. This will ensure unified understanding and action throughout the Military Region in carrying out this critical task. The educational content will focus on familiarising everyone with the Party’s military and national defence viewpoints, along with the resolutions and directives from the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence, particularly Resolution No.1659-NQ/QUTW of the Central Military Commission, and Resolution No.396-NQ/ĐU of MR3 Party Committee regarding the enhancement of training quality from 2023 to 2030 and beyond. To ensure effectiveness, MR3 requires that the dissemination and education by Party Committees and commanders at all levels be thorough, targeting the correct audiences as stipulated, with a focus on key areas. This should align with the specific characteristics and tasks of the locality and unit, ensuring that all cadres and soldiers fully understand the importance of the combat training mission, and are aware of the content, objectives, training requirements, and the difficulties and challenges ahead. Simultaneously, agencies, units, and localities should promote reforms to enhance the quality of Party and political work in training. They must resolutely overcome any signs of leadership neglect, complacency, outsourcing or reducing content and time, lowering standards, and the “achievement disease” in training. Regularly educating and guiding the troops on the global and regional situation, border and maritime issues, as well as the tactics and schemes of adversarial forces, will be key. In doing so, the Military Region will improve soldiers’ awareness of potential threats, the tasks at hand, and the mission of each individual and unit, while fostering vigilance, determination, and resilience. They will be motivated to face challenges head-on in their training and work to meet the set targets and requirements with a high level of commitment.

In the near future, the provinces and cities within MR3 will continue to undergo significant changes in their organisational structures (such as the abolition of district-level governments, merging of communes, merging of provinces, etc.), which will present considerable challenges to both military and national defence efforts in general and combat training in particular. To meet the required tasks, alongside effectively carrying out dissemination and education work, the Military Region will intensify the reform of thinking in leadership and directing training efforts. In the short term, the responsible agencies, directly the Staff, will closely follow the instructions from the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence on the adjustment of local military authority structures. They will proactively advise MR3 Party Committee and Command and coordinate with the newly merged provinces and cities to streamline organisational structures, stabilise workplaces for the Commune Military Command, Regional Defence Command, and Provincial Military Command; review plans, content, and training programmes for different groups; supplement and improve management mechanisms, training direction, and operational command to ensure that mergers and dissolutions do not disrupt or negatively impact the combat readiness and training outcomes of the Region’s armed forces.

Alongside this, Party committees and commanders at all levels, across agencies, units, and localities, will proactively review and supplement the objectives and measures within the implementation plan of Resolution No.396-NQ/ĐU by the Party Committee of the Military Region to enhance the quality of training from 2023 to 2030 and beyond. Emphasis will be placed on thoroughly grasping the situation, particularly the tactics and strategies of adversaries, as well as new weapons and equipment, while considering the local terrain, organisation, and armament to adjust and perfect the training content, scenarios, and plans for different groups. The goal is to thwart all schemes of “peaceful evolution,” “colour revolutions,” “self-evolution,” and “self-transformation” by hostile forces; to wear down and destroy enemies in the air, at sea, and on land, ensuring the success of training the troops. Accordingly, in operational training, focus will be placed on enhancing knowledge and skills for commanders and staff regarding enemy tactics, strategies, and new combat methods; the regulations on operational staff work, combat training, and methods for preparing and executing defence exercises, regional defence, and civil defence, etc. In combat training, adherence to the principle of “fundamental, practical, solid” will be prioritised, with an emphasis on synchronised and in-depth training, closely aligned with actual tasks, scenarios, and combat environments, especially defensive operations and border, sea, and island protection. Proficiency in combat using the weapons in the military’s inventory and enhanced technical weapons will be emphasised. For the reserve forces, training will focus on mastering infantry techniques, specialised skills, and the ability to coordinate effectively during combat, ensuring readiness for mobilisation in any situation. For the militia and self-defence forces, training will focus on proficiently using weapons and equipment according to their assigned role, as well as supporting tools and self-made weapons. This will enhance their readiness for independent action and coordination with other forces in dealing with various situations, ensuring stability in the local area and contributing to disaster prevention, rescue, and relief operations within the community.

During the training process, the units focus on ensuring solid technical skills, tactics, and professional expertise, improving the effectiveness of utilising new weapons and equipment. They closely integrate military training with political education, physical training, and thoroughly address the mindset of disregarding the matter, ensuring alignment with the demands of modern warfare. Additionally, the Military Region will increase the frequency of exercises at all levels, combining operational and tactical exercises with defence area drills to ensure defence readiness of various departments and sectors, and civil defence exercises. The region will also intensify integrated exercises, combat drills, and joint operations exercises involving various forces, services, and arms under modern combat conditions, across diverse terrains and during rapid combat preparation. This approach allows for timely adjustments and improvements in operational plans, enhancing command capabilities, coordination, and combat management for commanders, cadres, and units at all levels, ensuring proficiency in independent operations as well as joint operations across all terrains.

To contribute to enhancing the quality and achieving a comprehensive, solid transformation in training, the Military Region places great emphasis on preparation, with a focus on training and fostering the development of officers as a key factor. Experience has shown that the competence and skills of cadres are the primary determinant in the quality of a unit’s training. Therefore, alongside actively mobilising resources to build and optimise training fields, ranges, models, teaching aids, and equipment to support training, the Military Region strengthens the training and development of officers at all levels, both before and during the training process, especially those directly involved in conducting the training. To achieve high effectiveness, agencies, units, and localities are encouraged to implement the work according to the division of responsibilities, carefully selecting content and training schedules suited to each target group. Rigorous checks are carried out on the quality of each training class and batch at all levels. The goal is for 100% of training cadres to be qualified according to their responsibilities, with over 75% rated as competent or excellent, including at least 35% rated as excellent. These cadres should possess comprehensive knowledge and skills, understand their combat tasks, and be proficient in the military art of Vietnam, political, socio-economic, scientific, technological, and legal knowledge. They should excel in staff work, advising on local military and national defence matters, be skilled in operational planning and combat training, as well as in leading, managing, and training subordinate units. Furthermore, they should possess foreign language and information technology skills that meet mission requirements.

Alongside these tasks and solutions, the Military Region will continue to accelerate the digital transformation and actively apply information technology in training management, direction, and operations. It will innovate the organisation and methods for tests, competitions, and contest events, while increasing surprise inspections, especially in combat-ready units, units located far from headquarters, dispersed units, and those stationed at borders and on islands. Regular reviews and updates will be conducted to improve civil defence plans and disaster response plans in accordance with Government Decree No.02/2019/NĐ-CP, dated 2 January 2019. Strict, regulated exercises will be conducted to maintain and enhance defence readiness, effectively addressing national defence, security, and non-traditional security challenges, ensuring that the military is always prepared to respond effectively to emerging situations, contributing to the building of the Army, strengthening national defence, and safeguarding the Fatherland in the new context.

Major General NGUYEN DUC DUNG, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Military Region