II. The culture of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” and the building of a politically strong VPA: practice and emerging issues

Throughout more than 80 years of foundation, combat, victory, and maturation of the VPA, the noble qualities of the revolutionary soldiers have been forged, challenged, and promoted, gradually crystallising into the culture of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers”. It is precisely this value system that has contributed to generating the immense strength enabling our military to overcome all hardships and sacrifices and to successfully accomplish every mission.

Since its very inception, our Military has possessed a decisive foundation for its unique political and spiritual strength, i.e. its the goal and ideal of fighting for national independence and socialism. Ho Chi Minh thought and the Party’s guidelines regarding a new-style military, characterised by the absolute loyalty to the Party, a blood and fresh bond with the People have laid the direct foundation for the value system of the revolutionary soldier, making it the guiding compass for thought and action, influencing the entire political and spiritual life of officers and soldiers alike.

Troops of Corps 15 participate in building new rural areas (Photo: qdnd.vn)

The Vietnam Propaganda Unit for National Liberation, the forerunner of the Vietnam People's Army, was established amidst extremely difficult and arduous circumstances. Nevertheless, the first 34 soldiers united in loudly swearing the “Ten Oaths of Honour”, establishing standards in combat goals and ideals, loyalty to the Party and the revolution, discipline, military-civilian solidarity, and the honour of the revolutionary soldier. Those sacred oaths laid the foundation for successive generations of officers and soldiers to ceaselessly practice, nurture, and crystallise into the core values ​​of the culture of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers”. On this foundation, when President Ho Chi Minh delivered the Call for National Resistance, the spirit of “We would rather sacrifice everything than lose our country and become slaves again” became a sacred mandate, stimulating the entire troops to determine to fight and determine to win as encapsulated in the motto “Sacrifice for the survival of the Fatherland”, further affirming the values of the “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” in combat condition. The unwavering faith in the revolutionary victory, a determination to overcome all hardships, and the profound, blood and fresh relationship between the Army and the People were all brought to the full play, making the unity of purpose between the Party’s will and the People’s aspirations, between the home front and the battlefront, and between political resolve and combat action, turning the seemingly impossible into reality, culminating in the historic “world-renowned and earth-shattering” Dien Bien Phu victory. This stands as a prime example of how the values ​​of the “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” culture were transformed into the fighting power and victories of our Army.

In the resistance war against the US for national salvation, amidst fierce warfare conditions and facing an enemy with world's leading economic and military might, the culture of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” was further tested, cultivated, and vigorously developed through combat realities, bringing about an immense political and spiritual strength, enabling our Army and People to overcome every sacrifice and hardship to achieve final victory. The statement that “Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom” became a shared aspiration, a guiding banner, and a focal point uniting the will and actions of the entire military and populace. Spirits of “Cleaving through the Truong Son Range for national salvation” and “All for the beloved South” reflected the vibrant vitality of a cultural value system that has been deeply ingrained in the mindset and actions of the troops, empowering them to surmount the brutal trials of war, maintain unwavering faith in victory, and relentlessly press the offensive. The Great Spring Victory of 1975 stood as a brilliant crystallisation and a testament to the advanced development of the “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” culture, a crucial factor that enabled our Army and people to completely liberate the South and reunify the country.

During the war to defend the borders and fulfill noble internationalist duties, the Vietnam People's Army once again demonstrated steadfast political mettle, a pure internationalist spirit, and an unwavering resolve to safeguard the Fatherland's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Amidst the urgent and complex conditions of war, its officers and soldiers consistently upheld the noble qualities of revolutionary servicemen, ready to fight and sacrifice for the Fatherland and for a pure and noble internationalist cause. That reality continues to affirm the enduring vitality of the “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” culture while enriching the value system of the Army in the new era, thereby strengthening political and moral fortitude and ensuring the Army’s successful completion of all assigned tasks.

When the country entered the era of national construction and defence, the “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” culture continued to be inherited, developed, and exemplified across all military activities. In training, combat readiness, and the firm protection of sovereignty over borders, seas, and islands, it is manifested through steadfast political mettle, unwavering determination, and a high sense of responsibility toward the Party, the Fatherland, and the People. Its flesh and blood bond with the People and the dedication to serving them are continually reaffirmed through the contributions of officers and soldiers to socio-economic development, new-style countryside construction, poverty alleviation, disaster and disease prevention, and search and rescue operations. On the ideological front, the “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” culture serves as a vital anchor pegging the political mettle of troops and making them resolutely defeat all plots and tactics aimed at “peaceful evolution” and the “military depoliticisation”. In the process of international integration and participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations, the noble values ​​of this culture continue to be spread to the international community, projecting the image of the Vietnam People's Army soldier as steadfast, responsible, humane, and professional.

Those facts demonstrate that the “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” culture is constantly nurtured and developed alongside the maturation of the Military, becoming a solid spiritual foundation and a crucial source of endogenous strength, safeguarding the Military’s revolutionary nature, political strength, and successful accomplishment of all missions under any circumstances.

Military servicemen in disaster relief (Photo: qdnd.vn)

However, amidst a rapidly evolving, complex, and unpredictable global landscape, the practice of building a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern Military imposes increasingly high demands while the factors influencing the mindset, ethics, and lifestyles of officers and soldiers are becoming increasingly complex. This presents new issues that need to be effectively addressed to continue nurturing and upholding the cultural values ​​of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” in the new era.

First, ensuring the guiding role of the “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” cultural values ​​in the new information environment. The rapid advancement of digital technology, cyberspace, and modern media provides military officers and soldiers with numerous opportunities for learning, accessing information, and broadening their knowledge. However, the influx of multifaceted and unverified information coupled with the escalating tactics of distortion and subversion employed by hostile forces have a direct impact on the perceptions and mindsets of military personnel. Meanwhile, efforts to guide awareness and disseminate these noble cultural values ​​have at times failed to keep pace with the rapid evolution of the new media landscape. This necessitates a greater emphasis on the promotion of the cultural values ​​of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” to shape perceptions, strengthen conviction, bolster steadfastness, safeguard the ideological front, and build the Military strong in politics.

Second, upholding the revolutionary nature during the processes of Military building and international integration. The cause of building the Military revolutionary, regular, elite, modern, and the increasingly extensive international integration are creating favourable conditions for enhancing the Military's overall quality and combat strength. At the same time, this process places increasingly high demands on building the Military in politics, particularly its combat goals and ideals, working-class nature, and its fine traditions. In the new context, if we focus solely on modernising the Military structure, and weaponry without paying due attention to its political and cultural foundation, the Military's sustainable development will be difficult to be achieved. Therefore, upholding the cultural values ​​of the “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” has become a requirement of strategic significance, ensuring that Military modernisation is closely linked to the goal of making it politically steadfast and absolutely loyal to the Fatherland, the Party, the State, and the People.

Third, upholding the ethical values ​​and lifestyles of revolutionary servicemen in the face of multifaceted influences. Significant changes have been seen in social life as a result of the development of a socialist-oriented market economy and extensive international integration. Besides positive aspects, there emerge risks to the military's cultural environment caused by manifestations of pragmatism, individualism, a tendency toward hedonism, and the impact of unhealthy cultural products. In some instances, certain officers and soldiers show inconsistency in self-cultivation and training, weak will and low performance at work. This necessitates the continued reinforcement and promotion of the core values ​​of the “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” culture, as well as the upholding of the qualities, ethics, and lifestyle of revolutionary servicemen, thereby building a solid political foundation in each officer and soldier.

Fourth, strengthening internal unity and the military - civilian bond, while vigorously promoting the cultural values ​​of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” in the new era. Currently, hostile forces are intensifying “peaceful evolution” tactics, exploiting sensitive issues to sow skepticism, undermine internal and civil-military unity, and distort the good image of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers”. This requires Party committees, commanders at all levels, and all servicemen to maintain high revolutionary vigilance and regularly consolidate internal and civil-military unity. Furthermore, they should conduct continuous learning and self-training to enhance their qualifications, moral character, and capabilities to meet mission requirements.

These factors demonstrate that upholding the cultural values ​​of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” in building a politically strong military now entails new and more demanding efforts. Therefore, it is an urgent necessity to research, define, and synchronously implement solutions to ensure that the culture of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers” is preserved, cultivated, and effectively promoted in the new era, thereby contributing to building a politically strong Vietnam People's Army.

PHAM TUAN - MINH DUC - DINH BANG - GIA DONG

(Next issue: III. Harnessing the cultural strength of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers”, consistently build the Military politically strong in the new situation)