The General Political Department inspects combat readiness work and extends New Year greetings to the armed forces of Nghe An province.

(Baonghean.vn) -On January 16, 2013, Lieutenant General Mai Quang Phan - Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Member of the Central Military Commission, Deputy Head of the General Political Department, and a delegation from the General Political Department visited and extended New Year greetings to the Command of Military Region 4, Division 324, Infantry Regiment 1, and the Border Guard Command of Nghe An province.

At the Headquarters of Military Region 4, Lieutenant General Nguyen Huu Cuong, Commander of Military Region 4, and other members of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and the Military Region Command received and worked with the delegation.

After listening to Lieutenant General Nguyen Huu Cuong, Commander of Military Region 4, report on the results of task implementation in 2013, the direction and tasks for 2014, and the deployment of tasks for welcoming the Lunar New Year and maintaining combat readiness during the Tet holiday of the Year of the Horse 2014, Lieutenant General Mai Quang Phan highly appreciated the results of task implementation of Military Region 4 and wished the officers and soldiers of the Military Region's armed forces a joyful Lunar New Year 2014 with the spirit of: "Joyful, enthusiastic, united, safe, economical, and highly ready for combat."

Following this, a delegation from the Ministry of National Defence, led by Lieutenant General Mai Quang Phan - Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Deputy Head of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army, inspected the combat readiness and extended New Year greetings to the officers and soldiers of the 324th Division. Accompanying them was Major General Vo Van Viet - Secretary of the Party Committee and Political Commissar of Military Region 4.

Before the working session with the Division, the delegation offered incense and flowers at the Memorial House of the heroic martyrs of the Division.

Lieutenant General Mai Quang Phan chaired the working session at the 324th Division.

During the meeting, Colonel Le Tat Thang, Deputy Division Commander and Chief of Staff, reported to the delegation on some key aspects of the 2013 mission results and the implementation of tasks in 2014. Over the past year, the division has successfully completed its objectives and targets. Officers and soldiers are committed to their units, and the division's combat readiness and mobility have been significantly improved, meeting all immediate mission requirements should a situation arise.

In 2013, the Division's Party Committee achieved the title of "Excellent Party Committee," and the Division achieved the title of "Excellent Military Unit," including the 1st Infantry Regiment, which was awarded a commendation flag by the Ministry of National Defense. One regiment, five battalions, and 24 companies were awarded the title of "Excellent Training Unit," and 173 collectives and 2,408 individuals received various forms of commendation. In preparation for the Lunar New Year, the Division directed its units to develop plans to ensure combat readiness, preparing the troops to celebrate the New Year with the spirit of "Joyful, healthy, safe, economical, and combat-ready."

The division plans to spend 1.3 to 1.4 billion VND from its unit's capital fund to visit and present gifts to collectives, individuals, and families entitled to preferential policies in the area where it is stationed. This will ensure that each officer and non-commissioned officer receives a Tet (Lunar New Year) gift of 300,000 to 500,000 VND.

At the meeting, on behalf of the Ministry of National Defense delegation, Lieutenant General Mai Quang Phan commended the achievements of the officers and soldiers of the 324th Division in the past period. He noted that the Division's leadership and commanders should organize the Lunar New Year celebrations for the troops with the spirit of "Joyful, healthy, safe, economical, and combat-ready," coordinating with local Party committees and authorities to contribute to maintaining political stability in the area.

In the afternoon, a delegation from the General Political Department visited the Nghe An Border Guard Command to inspect training, combat readiness, and preparations for the Lunar New Year, and to extend New Year greetings.

Lieutenant General Mai Quang Phan presents Tet gifts to officers and soldiers of the Nghe An Border Guard Command.

At the Nghe An Provincial Border Guard Command, on behalf of the Party Committee and the Command, Colonel Dinh Ngoc Van, the Commander, gave a general report on the political security situation and social order in the area, as well as some achievements in the 2013 "Determined to Win" emulation movement and the preparations for Tet (Lunar New Year) by the officers and soldiers of the Nghe An Border Guard and the ethnic people in the border areas. To date, the plan for preparing and being ready for combat to protect the border before, during, and after Tet has been implemented by Border Guard officers and soldiers in all areas where units are stationed. According to the plan, units ensure 70% of their personnel are on duty, and proactively allow soldiers to celebrate Tet early to fulfill their duty of protecting border sovereignty and security, ensuring a safe and joyful Tet for the people. Tet preparations for officers and soldiers at the units have also been implemented to ensure that those on duty during Tet have a happy holiday and maintain high combat readiness.

Lieutenant General Mai Quang Phan highly appreciated and commended the achievements of the officers and soldiers of the Nghe An Border Guard in the past period. Especially in 2013, the unit proactively advised the local Party committee and government on building and consolidating the political foundation in border areas, building a strong all-people border defense system, effectively mobilizing the masses in the areas where it is stationed, implementing the Party's policies and the State's laws, and effectively combating various types of crimes, especially drug trafficking, explosives trafficking, and trafficking of women across the border… They effectively participated in the development of the economy, culture, and society, and strengthened national defense and security in border areas; and performed well in border defense diplomacy. They maintained and ensured the command duty and combat readiness duty… contributing to maintaining border sovereignty and security in the area. The Deputy Head also reminded the leaders and commanders of the Border Guard to do a good job in political and ideological education, further improve the quality of training and combat readiness, especially before, during, and after the Lunar New Year. They should organize a truly joyful, safe, and economical Tet celebration for the troops, coordinate with local Party committees and authorities to support the Tet celebrations for families of martyrs, policy beneficiaries, meritorious individuals, poor households, and ethnic minorities, ensuring that Tet reaches everyone and every home.

Ho Viet - Huu Tan - Hai Thuong