Lessons learned from the pilot exercise.

The combat exercise in the Tan Tien commune defense zone, Dong Nai city, was a great success, leaving a strong impression of the smooth coordination between forces and the flexible application of various combat plans.

Báo Đồng Nai•24/06/2026

Representatives from the Dong Nai City Military Command presented gifts to encourage the forces participating in the exercise.

This is not only a combat readiness test but also a valuable "field learning" session, shaping standards for local defense work. At the same time, it provides valuable experience for commune-level units to practice and draw lessons from, applying them effectively in their implementation.

Flexible in handling situations

Drawing quick lessons from the exercise, Lieutenant Colonel Pham Minh Tri, Deputy Commander of the Dong Nai City Military Command, stated that Tan Tien commune had focused on mobilizing the combined strength of the entire political system, prioritizing the operation of the mechanism of Party leadership, government administration, and the advisory role of various departments, agencies, and mass organizations in handling situations flexibly and effectively.

The initial phase of the exercise focused on transitioning to combat readiness and organizing defensive combat preparations. Here, local Party committees and authorities thoroughly grasped the principles and procedures for handling documents and holding meetings, and deeply understood the resolutions and directives from higher levels. The simulated scenarios closely reflected the local reality, requiring participants to make quick, accurate decisions, ensuring compliance with regulations while avoiding dogmatism and rigid adherence to rules.

As the live-fire phase began, the atmosphere at the training ground was extremely tense. Despite the harsh weather conditions, the militia, border guards, and commune police maintained disciplined formations, strictly implementing plans to protect key targets, disperse unruly crowds, and mitigate the consequences of natural disasters and fires, all in line with national defense duties.

A notable highlight was the coordination between local forces and support units, ensuring seamless communication in all situations. Technical and tactical operations in handling large gatherings or rescue operations were carried out decisively and safely. Maintaining information confidentiality throughout the exercise was given special attention, ensuring the absolute safety of equipment and key operational plans of the locality.

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Nguyen Thi Hoai Thanh, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairwoman of the People's Council of Tan Tien commune, acknowledged: When selected as a pilot site, the commune's Party Committee required all participating forces to proactively adhere to the plan, be flexible in handling situations, and ensure the exercise was successful and absolutely safe in all aspects. In particular, proactively and flexibly responding to all hypothetical situations was the "key" to ensuring absolute safety and determining the success of this defense exercise.

Valuable experience

According to Lieutenant Colonel Pham Minh Tri, the success of the exercise in Tan Tien commune yielded many important practical lessons. These included the lesson of proactiveness. The units realized that the exercise was not a mere performance but an opportunity to identify weaknesses in coordination.

The role of mass mobilization in civil defense was effectively demonstrated in the exercise. Arousing the awareness of the entire population to participate in protecting the Fatherland, starting from each household in Tan Tien commune, served as a "steel shield." In the true spirit, when the people understand and support, all plans for mobilizing local resources become smooth and effective.

The city's Steering Committee for the exercise will organize in-depth debriefing and detailed analysis of the situations in Tan Tien commune so that other units can learn from it. In particular, training for leading officials at the commune level will be intensified, ensuring that each leader possesses sharp thinking, the ability to quickly analyze situations, and make decisive decisions… as experience to help units and localities successfully organize the 2026 exercise.

Mr. Nguyen Van Binh (from Tan Dinh hamlet, Tan Tien commune), a resident who participated in the exercise as a supporter of the revolution, shared: “Mobilizing the strength of the people to participate in protecting the Fatherland is a very important task. Thanks to the specific guidance from agencies and units, the people of Tan Tien commune actively participated in the exercise, closely following the scenarios according to the plan. The consensus and support of the people is a solid foundation, contributing significantly to the success of the exercise.”

A valuable lesson learned is the meticulous application of information technology in territorial management and communication during the exercise. This minimized reliance on electronic equipment in simulated jamming situations, ensuring that all tasks were carried out according to plan and requirements during the actual exercise. Therefore, following the pilot exercise in Tan Tien commune, localities should proactively build a database of real-world video data based on their specific geographical characteristics. This could include simulated scenarios related to flood and storm prevention, search and rescue, or target protection plans tailored to their unique geographical features. Early preparation of scenarios helps make the exercise more realistic and relevant to the specific locality or unit.

The exercise also helps cadres, Party members, and the people to better understand the two strategic tasks: building and firmly defending the Fatherland. With clear thinking and ready resources, commune-level units will become true "fortresses," capable of coping with all challenges, from natural disasters and epidemics to the peaceful subversive schemes of hostile forces.

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The success of the exercise in Tan Tien commune further affirms the pivotal role of the people's defense in protecting the Fatherland from early on and from afar. In the context of unpredictable changes in global and regional security, strengthening the commune-level defense zone is not only aimed at dealing with armed conflicts but also serves as a tool to protect political stability and sustainable socio-economic development at the local level.

Nguyet Ha

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/chinh-polit/luc-luong-vu-trang/202606/kinh-nghiem-tu-dien-tap-diem-ec332a2/