Society

Core force in building and defending the Fatherland

Author: Colonel Phan Dai Nghia - Technician: Diep Thanh • March 28, 2025 06:21

The Militia and Self-Defense Force has always been worthy of Uncle Ho's praise: "The Militia, Self-Defense Force and Guerrillas are the forces of the entire nation, an invincible force, an iron wall of the Fatherland." To recognize the great contributions and honor the fine traditions of the Militia and Self-Defense Force, the Party and State decided to choose March 28, 1935 as the traditional day of the Militia and Self-Defense Force.

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

The Militia and Self-Defense Force has always been worthy of Uncle Ho's praise: "The Militia, Self-Defense Force and Guerrillas are the forces of the entire nation, an invincible force, an iron wall of the Fatherland." To recognize the great contributions and honor the fine traditions of the Militia and Self-Defense Force, the Party and State decided to choose March 28, 1935 as the traditional day of the Militia and Self-Defense Force.

Red Guard Tradition
during the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement

The Nghe An militia and self-defense force was born very early, its predecessor was the Red Guards in the Nghe Tinh Soviet movement. Under the leadership of the Provincial Party Committee, the militia and self-defense force developed rapidly, spreading from the mountains to the plains, coastal areas, from cities to villages. Everywhere, the guerrilla teams were the core of the peasants' struggle against high taxes, heavy taxes, oppression of the colonial and feudal regimes, protecting cadres, preventing the enemy from robbing and killing people. This was also the main force to establish the Nghe An armed force on August 21, 1945, together with the people of the province, rising up to make the August Revolution a success, making Nghe An one of the localities that gained power early in the country.

During the 9 years of long resistance war against French colonialism, the provincial Militia and Self-Defense Force always stood side by side with the main force, fighting the enemy, working, producing, building fighting villages and communes, organizing frontline laborers, transporting and supplying food to the fronts of Dien Bien Phu, central and lower Laos, both serving the fight and fighting. Not letting the enemy stop in Nghe An homeland for more than 24 hours, so that Nghe An became a solid rear base for the revolution of the whole country, that demonstrated the great achievements of the people of Nghe An, in which the Militia and Self-Defense Force was the core.

After peace was restored, the Militia and Self-Defense Force was the core force in the task of land reform, building new rural areas, changing the structure from individual business to the form of work exchange groups, low-level and high-level cooperatives, building factories and enterprises in the process of national construction and socialism. Fighting against social evils and backward feudal customs, building a new lifestyle and new people in the countryside and urban areas of the province, fighting against the enemy's sabotage, with the methods of activities of negative elements of social dissatisfaction and commandos and spies.

In the fight against the destructive war of the American imperialists attacking the North, the Militia and Self-Defense Force was the core force for the people's air defense. With the spirit of guarding the peace of the sky, the sea, and the homeland, the Militia and Self-Defense Force of the province organized hundreds of anti-aircraft teams, dozens of coastal artillery positions on regular duty, and thousands of soldiers and other Militia and Self-Defense Force both produced and served in combat and fought. When the enemy left, they worked and produced in factories, workshops, farms, enterprises, or in the fields, always with guns by their side, when the enemy came, they fought the enemy, even if they were alone, with one gun, they became a battlefield, aimed straight at the enemy and shot.

Many good battles, many good shooters in the Militia and Self-Defense Force have made outstanding achievements, becoming typical battles of the low-altitude air defense force popularized throughout the country. Contributing to enriching the art of people's war, the Militia and Self-Defense Force's fighting style adds more color to the history of the homeland and country's resistance against foreign invaders. In addition, the Militia and Self-Defense Force also participated in millions of working days to open roads, clear mines, torpedoes, and mines of the enemy, fill bomb craters at key points, maintain smooth traffic arteries, and ensure support from the Northern rear for the southern battlefield.

With great achievements in combat, combat service, labor and production, 10 collectives and 3 individuals in the provincial Militia and Self-Defense Force were awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces and other noble awards by the State.

Promoting the role of the Militia and Self-Defense Forces
in the new situation

Thoroughly grasping the two strategic tasks set forth by the Party in the new period: Building and defending the Fatherland, under the leadership of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee, the Militia and Self-Defense Force, together with the people of the province, has actively worked and produced, promoted the cause of industrialization, modernization, transformed the production structure, applied new science and technology, intensively cultivated crops... Many comrades in the Militia and Self-Defense Force are not only brave and intelligent in combat, but also very diligent and creative in labor, production, and economic activities, becoming good workers, talented businessmen, legitimately enriching their families and actively contributing to building their homeland and country.

At the same time, always pay attention to force building, political education, military training, contributing to building a strong and comprehensive foundation, contributing to building a national defense foundation, a national defense posture associated with a solid people's security posture throughout the area. Regularly raise vigilance, be ready to fight, actively fight against social evils, proactively prevent "Peaceful evolution" and the enemy's plots and sabotage tricks on all levels of social activities. Maintain a peaceful and stable environment, creating favorable conditions for the province to develop its economy, culture and society. In particular, since the promulgation of the Militia and Self-Defense Force Ordinance (1996), the Militia and Self-Defense Force Law (2009) and its amendment in 2019, the organization of force building, training, sports, competitions, drills and activities of the Militia and Self-Defense Force has increasingly achieved high quality and efficiency. Through the results of inspection and evaluation, every year 100% of the Militia and Self-Defense units of communes, wards, towns, villages, neighborhoods, agencies, enterprises, and schools have achieved good results, of which many units have achieved excellent results. The Nghe An Militia and Self-Defense Force has won many high prizes in competitions and sports events organized by Military Region 4. Every year, tens of thousands of citizens of Militia and Self-Defense age are registered and strictly managed. The selection work for the core Militia and Self-Defense Force is strictly organized in the spirit of "people's election, people's discussion, people's care". The Militia and Self-Defense Force is organized, built, and trained in accordance with the characteristics of labor, production, and combat requirements, such as militia in mountainous areas, militia at sea, with local forces, mobile forces, militia of various arms, to meet the requirements of modern warfare.

With the attention and care of the Party Committee and the government, and the close direction, management and training of the military agencies, the provincial Militia and Self-Defense Force has always developed in both quantity and quality. It has always been an exemplary force in implementing the Party's guidelines, policies and the State's laws, actively participating in local movements such as "hunger eradication, poverty reduction", "eradicating dilapidated thatched houses", building cultural families and villages, civilized offices, building rural roads and intra-field canals. Being the core force in preventing, minimizing damage, supporting the community in overcoming the consequences of forest fires, floods, rescue and relief in the event of natural disasters and enemy attacks, these are silent heroes, always ready to face all difficulties and challenges to protect the community.

Currently, the world, regional and domestic situation has many unpredictable developments, so now more than ever, the tasks set for the people and armed forces of the province in general and the Militia and Self-Defense Force in particular are extremely heavy. It is necessary to constantly raise vigilance, be ready to fight, actively train to improve qualifications, organize, arrange and build a widespread and reasonable Militia and Self-Defense Force, responding well to all situations that arise. Building, educating, training and motivating the Militia and Self-Defense Force of the province to be capable of completing its tasks well and with high reliability is the responsibility of the entire Party Committee, people and armed forces of Nghe An. Every officer and soldier of the Militia and Self-Defense Force of today's generation is forever proud of their glorious tradition, grateful to previous generations, worthy and determined to excellently complete their tasks according to the specific goals and targets determined in the plans of each sector and each level, contributing to building a strong and comprehensive agency, unit and locality.

Technique: Diep Thanh - Publication date: March 28, 2025