Promoting the heroic tradition of the armed forces in the Soviet homeland

Reporter:The 75th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army and the 30th anniversary of the National Defense Day are extremely important events for the Vietnam People's Army. On this occasion, could you tell us more about the heroic tradition of the Nghe An Province Armed Forces?

Comrade Nguyen Ngoc Ha:Established in August 1945, over the past decades, the Nghe An Provincial Military Command has always been a unit that has excellently completed all assigned tasks. Whether in wartime or peacetime, the unit has always been an important force, accompanying the development of the locality and the nation.

Delegation of the Provincial Military Command paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh. Photo: Trong Kien - Chau Khang

Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Ha - Commander of Nghe An Provincial Military Command directs the work on the map during the Nam Dan district defense area exercise. Photo by Trong Kien

In addition to marching long distances and carrying heavy loads, the provincial military officers and soldiers also have to overcome many different terrains.

Hundreds of village names, mountain names, river names and thousands of people with "golden livers and jade hearts" on Nghe An land have gone down in national history, creating legendary ferries, bridges and traffic routes to fight and defeat the Americans. During this period, Nghe An's armed forces had 158 groups and 73 officers and soldiers who were awarded the title of People's Armed Forces Hero. With outstanding achievements, Nghe An's armed forces were awarded the Ho Chi Minh Medal, the Second Class Independence Medal and the title of People's Armed Forces Hero (in 1978) by the Party and State.

Reporter:Promoting that tradition, in the current period, what specific contributions have the provincial armed forces made, comrade?

Comrade Nguyen Ngoc Ha:Continuing to promote the glorious tradition of the Soviet homeland, after 30 years of resistance war for national liberation, Nghe An Armed Forces have persevered in the national and class struggle, resolutely maintained national independence, maintained the goals and path chosen by the Party, Uncle Ho, and the people, firmly grasped the functions and tasks of advising local Party committees and authorities to promote the comprehensive strength of the entire people to carry out local military and defense tasks in new conditions, and achieved great achievements.

Provincial Military Command forces train for combat readiness. Photo: Trong Kien

This is the period when the Provincial Military Command has created new steps of development for the armed forces and in carrying out the military and local defense tasks of the province, achieving high quality and efficiency. For many years, it has been the leading unit in the emulation movement of the province and of the Military Region 4.

In particular, with the complex terrain, the Party Committee - Provincial Military Command always puts the task of combat readiness at the top, thereby promptly advising the Provincial People's Committee to build and quickly implement the Project "Building permanent militia combat posts of border communes". The project has strengthened the defense capability, combat readiness and combat capability on the western border of Nghe An province, creating real effectiveness for political stability, security, order and social safety in the complex terrain. The implementation of the project is also a prominent development point in the work of building a safe and mastered terrain of the Military Region 4.

One of the highlights is that with the active advice of the Nghe An Provincial Military Command, the Provincial Military Service Council annually conducts military service selection and training with high quality, meeting required targets and close to the practical situation of the province.

In October 2019, heavy rains caused flooding throughout Vinh City. Thousands of officers and soldiers from the Provincial Military Command were present to rescue people's property. Photo: Trong Kien

The Nghe An Provincial Military Command always puts combat readiness at the top of its priority list, avoiding surprises in any situation. By using many measures, the force is organized to coordinate closely and regularly with all levels and functional branches to grasp the key areas in the West, the sea and islands and special areas; organize to grasp, review, analyze the situation, detect and make early and timely forecasts of political security at all times.

The Provincial Military Command has promptly proposed many solutions to Party committees and authorities to direct all levels and sectors to promptly implement preventive plans, maintain political security and social order and safety in the area, with many complicated incidents related to religious and ethnic security.

In foreign affairs, over the past 10 years, the unit has implemented dozens of projects to promote and maintain the special solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Laos in 6 provinces of the neighboring country. The focus is on 3 provinces: Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan, and Bolikhamxay, which share a border with Nghe An, contributing to strengthening and consolidating the solidarity, friendship and cooperation between localities on both sides of the border, building a peaceful, friendly, stable and developed border.

Reporter:During the period of 2008 - 2019, the Party Committee - Provincial Military Command focused on leading, directing, organizing the implementation and excellently completing all tasks; the Party Committee always achieved the title of Strong Party Committee, excellently completing tasks, the unit achieved comprehensive strength, and the mass organizations achieved excellent strength. Today's achievements are a continuation of the 74-year tradition, right, comrade?

Women's cadres of the Provincial Military Command. Photo: Tien Hung

First, be absolutely loyal to the Party, to the socialist regime, to the people, to the SSCD for the country and the people, persistently endure hardships, determined to fight and know how to defeat all enemies.

Second, always be closely attached to the people, truly be the backbone for the entire people to fight the enemy and build a people's war posture in the locality.

Third, together with the whole country, for the whole country to successfully carry out all glorious revolutionary tasks.

Fourth, pure and loyal international solidarity, especially with the Lao people and army.

Reporter: Thank you for this interview!