Spreading the image of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" in the new situation.

Nghe An Newspaper had an interview with Colonel Phan Dai Nghia - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Commander of the Nghe An Provincial Military Command, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army.

PV: We understand that the Armed Forces of Nghe An province have achieved many glorious victories, making a significant contribution to the national liberation and reunification of the country. Could you elaborate on these achievements?

Colonel Phan Dai Nghia:Provincial Armed ForcesNghe AnEstablished on August 21, 1945. On this day, under the direct leadership of the Nghe Tinh Uprising Committee, the Vinh town self-defense fighting force attacked the Governor's residence and the French secret police headquarters. Joining the core armed forces were tens of thousands of civilians who armed themselves with rudimentary weapons. In just one day, the uprising to seize power in Vinh was victorious, and revolutionary power belonged to the people.

During the nine years of resistance against the French, tens of thousands of cadres and soldiers from Nghe An went to the front lines, contributing to the building of the first main army units of our army. Thousands of militiamen, guerrillas, and tens of thousands of civilian laborers coordinated with the main army units, fighting and supporting combat on various battlefields... together with the army and people of the whole country, achieving glorious victories, including the Dien Bien Phu Victory. Also during this time, the provincial armed forces were the core vanguard on the fronts of eradicating hunger and illiteracy.

Following the Geneva Accords, Nghe An became a frontline for the North, and also a direct rear support for the major frontline in the South and the fraternal Lao revolution. More than 300,000 cadres, soldiers, and militia members from Nghe An served in combat on various battlefields. In the rear, the army and people fought side by side. The Soviet flame continued to shine, giving strength to the army and people of Nghe An to fight and defeat the enemy.

The army and people of Nghe An, in coordination with other units, shot down 553 aircraft of all types; sank or destroyed 36 warships and commando boats of the US and South Vietnamese forces; and captured 28 commando and reconnaissance teams. Notably, the Nghe An militia was the first to shoot down a modern US imperialist aircraft using infantry weapons, initiating the movement to shoot down US aircraft with infantry weapons in the North. The army and people of Nghe An also mobilized over 40 million man-days of labor to build transportation routes to support the fighting.

Fulfilling a glorious international mission, from 1959 to 1973, the armed forces of Nghe An participated in 250 battles on the Laotian battlefield, killing and wounding over 2,500 enemy soldiers, contributing to the expansion of liberated areas in Laos.

The heroic deeds of the army and people of Nghe An contributed to forcing the US imperialists to sign the Paris Agreement on the unconditional end of the war in Vietnam... When border wars broke out in the North, Southwest, and on the islands, nearly 200,000 young people from Nghe An went to fight on battlefields in the country and in neighboring Laos and Cambodia. During the 1985-1986 Dry Season Campaign, the provincial armed forces, together with units of Military Region 4, coordinated with neighboring Laos to crush the stronghold of Vang Pao's rebel forces in Phu Bia and Loong Cheng.

For their exceptionally outstanding achievements, on December 19, 1979, the President of Vietnam signed a decision awarding the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces to the people and armed forces of Nghe Tinh province.

PV: During the period of reform, how have the armed forces of Nghe An province upheld the Soviet spirit and heroic traditions to build and protect the Fatherland?

Colonel Phan Dai Nghia:During the period of reform, the Provincial Military Command proactively advised the Party Committee and the government on effectively performing the function of State management of national defense; building national defense potential in the defense zone. This included focusing on constructing defense structures and national defense facilities along the coastal, island, and inland border areas, contributing to the formation of a comprehensive and solid defense posture.

Specifically, the Provincial Military Command has advised on the planning and investment in a defense system with 117 points, totaling over 2,434 hectares, for military facilities, shooting ranges, combat bases, and training centers. Nghe An is the first province in the country to implement these projects and has been selected by the Ministry of National Defense as a model for many localities to learn from.

The provincial armed forces have consistently built a strong foundation in politics, ideology, organization, and ethics; prioritized the development of cadres and personnel; emphasized the selection and recruitment of citizens for military service; built a militia force that is sufficient in quantity and high in quality; ensured the reserve mobilization force is strictly managed; continuously innovated and improved the quality of training for all personnel; and prioritized comprehensive, in-depth training that is relevant to the situation and mission requirements.

The armed forces have coordinated patrols and controls to protect the sovereignty and security of borders, seas, islands, and inland areas, maintaining stability in the region; participating in disaster prevention, control, and mitigation, as well as search and rescue operations, contributing to promoting and spreading the image of "Ho Chi Minh's soldiers"in the new situation."

The task of conducting regional defense exercises at all levels has always been given attention and innovated in a practical, effective direction, closely reflecting the actual combat situation. Over the past 10 years, the provincial armed forces have successfully organized two large-scale regional defense exercises and one large-scale civil defense exercise, involving coordinated participation from various branches of the military, and receiving high praise from the Ministry of National Defense. In addition, the province has organized 966 combat exercises at the commune level and 36 defense exercises at the district level.

Defense diplomacy has always been a priority. The provincial armed forces have advised the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee, and directly implemented many projects effectively to contribute to promoting and maintaining the special friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Laos; organized 16 training courses for officers and cadres from Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan, and Bolikhamsai provinces; and invested tens of billions of dong to build several facilities and purchase equipment and infrastructure for the neighboring provinces.

With a profound political responsibility and sacred feelings towards the heroic martyrs, for the past 40 years, officers and soldiers of the Provincial Military Command have closely coordinated with the Party committees, government, and armed forces of Laos to actively propagate and mobilize the people of Lao ethnic groups to survey, search for, and collect 12,628 sets of remains of martyrs in Laos and 472 sets of remains of martyrs within Vietnam.

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With outstanding achievements, the armed forces of Nghe An province have received many prestigious awards from the Party, State, Government, Ministry of National Defense, the 4th Military Region Command, and the Provincial People's Committee. In particular, on October 10, 2024, the armed forces of Nghe An province were honored for the second time by the Party and State with the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces. This is a prestigious award, a source of pride, and a great encouragement for the armed forces of Nghe An province to continue striving to successfully fulfill the two strategic tasks of building and defending the Fatherland.

Colonel Phan Dai Nghia - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Commander of the Nghe An Provincial Military Command

PV: In recent years, the provincial armed forces have made many contributions to the cause.Nghe An province is working to eradicate hunger and poverty and build new rural areas. Could you elaborate on these activities?

Colonel Phan Dai Nghia:Over the past 10 years, the armed forces of Nghe An province have made significant contributions to poverty alleviation and rural development; leaving many bright spots and leaving a deep impression on the people; and receiving high praise from all levels. Annually, the provincial armed forces have organized numerous field training exercises, coordinated with local authorities to build transportation systems, canals, cultural and medical facilities, etc., according to the criteria of the new rural development program; and actively implemented poverty alleviation policies in 240 communes across 20 districts, towns, and cities.

The Provincial Military Command mobilized 134,000 man-days of labor; dredged 765 km of canals; repaired and built 2,340 km of inter-village and inter-commune roads (276 km of which were concreted); provided localities with 4,650 tons of cement and 3.245 billion VND; leveled land and carried out general environmental sanitation on 32,500 m².²; built 60,200 m²The project included building boundary walls; planting 27,500 trees; collecting and processing 154,500 kg of waste; and donating over 36,500 national flags to fishermen.

The Provincial Military Command has helped the impoverished Nam Giai commune (Que Phong district) build a strong political foundation and cultural institutions in each village; organized numerous medical examinations, treatments, and provided medicine to 2,500 people; and helped the commune dredge 167 km of irrigation canals and level 123,500 m² of land.²The project included leveling the ground and constructing 42,000 meters of perimeter walls for village cultural centers; repairing and renovating 287 kilometers of inter-village roads; collecting 124,500 kg of waste; planting 17,500 trees; and providing 2,000 tons of cement.

Upholding the noble qualities of "Uncle Ho's soldiers," the provincial armed forces actively participate in emulation movements, most notably the "Nationwide campaign to help the poor – leaving no one behind" movement. In this campaign, the Provincial Military Command, in coordination with various departments and forces, has created budget resources to build and donate 137 houses of gratitude, 94 houses for comrades, 12 houses of compassion, 5 union-sponsored homes, and over 10,250 gifts, 250 tons of rice, 153 bicycles, and 460 breeding cows... to assist policy beneficiary families, poor families, and military families facing difficulties; and has sponsored 100 underprivileged students, providing each with 350,000 VND per month.

In addition, the Provincial Military Command also organized house repairs for 87 poor households, built 35 public works projects; provided seeds and production capital to more than 100 households to escape poverty with a total amount of over 900 million VND... Organized 6 literacy classes for 371 people in highland communes such as Na Ngoi (Ky Son) and Tri Le (Que Phong).

PV: In the new situation, what tasks and solutions will the provincial armed forces focus on to better fulfill the two strategic tasks of building and defending the Fatherland?

Colonel Phan Dai Nghia:In response to the demands and tasks of the new situation, the provincial armed forces continue to uphold the tradition of being twice awarded the title of "Hero of the People's Armed Forces"; effectively fulfilling their advisory role to Party committees and authorities at all levels in leading, directing, and comprehensively implementing military and national defense tasks; focusing on building a clean and strong Party organization; and building a comprehensively strong, exemplary, and outstanding force.

Focus on innovating and improving the quality of training for all personnel; prioritize and further enhance the quality of education and training in national defense and security knowledge; implement regular procedures, cultivate discipline, and build strong and comprehensive agencies and units; actively participate in the "Army joins hands in building new rural areas" emulation movement; promote the "Determined to Win" emulation movement in conjunction with other patriotic emulation movements; and promptly address issues related to military welfare policies.

Focus on preparing well for the Party Congresses at all levels for the 2025-2030 term; closely coordinate with forces to maintain stability in the area and create a favorable environment for local development. Closely integrate the tasks of consolidating national defense and security with economic and social development; build a national defense system and a national defense posture linked to a people's security posture; build increasingly solid provincial defense zones... contributing to the successful implementation of the two strategic tasks; together with the entire Party and army, successfully achieve the goal of bringing the country into a new era, an era of national progress.

PV: Thank you, comrade!