New thinking creates change

Having worked at the Logistics Academy for a while, my impression of comrade Phan Tung Son is always very clear. He is a teacher who is devoted to the career of "growing people", decisive in action but sociable and close to colleagues and subordinates. Many days, I saw him spend the whole session just to talk to a student who was wondering about the graduation topic, or a young lecturer who had just entered the profession and was passionate about scientific research. I still remember, at the 2021 Son La province defense area exercise, while watching the exercise framework, he immediately turned to the accompanying officer and said: "It is necessary for students to graduate well in theory, but when they return to their units, they must really master their work. The training quality of the Academy must be affirmed by students through their work efficiency in their units!" Perhaps from that straightforward and responsible way of thinking, comrade Phan Tung Son has "ignited" the journey of innovation, standardization and modernization of education and training (GD-DT) for officials in the HC-KT sector.

Leaders of the Ministry of National Defense awarded Certificates of Merit from the Minister of National Defense to Lieutenant General Phan Tung Son (far left) and teachers recognized as meeting the standards for the title of Professor in 2024. Photo: THANH TUYEN

Comrade Phan Tung Son once shared that, although he was born in Thai Nguyen province, he inherited the tradition of studiousness and the spirit of overcoming difficulties from his father's revolutionary homeland, Duc Tho commune, Ha Tinh province. Perhaps it was this combination that created his straightforward and resolute demeanor from the days when he was a student at the Logistics Academy, until he directly served on the Vi Xuyen battlefield and held many positions in Military Region 1, Military Region 2, and Army Corps 34.

In March 2023, Lieutenant General Phan Tung Son took on the role of Director of the Logistics Academy, a pivotal year with many challenges. The organization and forces in the entire army are being adjusted in the direction of "refined, compact, strong", the requirement to merge logistics and engineering poses new problems in terms of training programs, curriculum, staffing and facilities. Digital transformation and standardization of the teaching staff require the Academy to change completely from thinking, organizational management model, training methods and operation methods. As the "captain", Lieutenant General Phan Tung Son wondered: "How to innovate while still maintaining its identity, so that each graduate is not only good at theory but also has the ability to practice right at the unit?". From that thought, he and the Party Committee and Board of Directors of the Academy closely followed the resolutions, projects and directives of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense on innovation in education and training, especially the motto "The quality of training of the school is the combat readiness (SSCD) of the unit", focusing on leadership, direction, and drastic, breakthrough innovation in comprehensive education and training and scientific research.

In many speeches, Lieutenant General Phan Tung Son emphasized: Education in the Army cannot stop at imparting knowledge, but must directly build and perfect the capacity to organize, guarantee, command, and coordinate operations, that is, create real combat strength. Indeed, in the face of the urgent need to train Chiefs of HC-KT for the entire army, in the urgent time conditions, with the role of "chief architect", he and the Party Committee Standing Committee resolutely led, directed the adjustment, supplementation, and construction of new training programs for Chiefs of HC-KT at the middle and brigade levels, and at the same time organized timely training. Thanks to that, the entire training process system of the Academy was operated effectively, meeting the requirements of tasks, organization, staffing, and practice of building cadres in the HC-KT and finance sectors in the new period.

Lieutenant General Phan Tung Son paid special attention to directing comprehensive innovation in thinking, methods, and organization of exercises in the direction of combining traditional training methods with the application of information technology and digital transformation. The Logistics Academy is a pioneer in organizing exercises of infantry divisions with strong firepower, with artillery regiments, close to the new organizational practice of the Army.

The Director's training ideology associated with combat readiness was clearly demonstrated through the active and strong connection between the lecture hall and the unit. The Academy has organized many delegations of cadres, lecturers, and students to conduct practical research at key units throughout the army. The journey to Truong Sa, DK1 platform, to the army corps and divisions became "open study hours" in the middle of the training ground. In particular, students majoring in barracks were interned and participated in residential stabilization projects in Cao Bang and Thai Nguyen - difficult areas of Military Region 1; thereby, they were trained and accumulated valuable experience for their future work. Fortunately, through the survey, the vast majority of young cadres who had just graduated met the practical requirements of the unit well, and their quality was improved; this is proof of new and effective steps in creating a transition in training cadres in the military's HC-KT and finance in the new period.

Promote research linked to application

For Lieutenant General Phan Tung Son, scientific research is not the sole responsibility of the team of experts, but is a direct requirement from training and combat practice. A scientific work is only truly valuable when it solves the practical problems that the unit needs. From that perspective, in response to the requirements for developing the theory and practice of military finance and HC-KT, Lieutenant General Phan Tung Son has directly presided over many scientific topics and closely directed the research work. Thanks to that, the progress and quality of the topics, initiatives, textbooks, and specialized documents of the Academy have all made a breakthrough development.

Lieutenant General Phan Tung Son (second from right) inspects and encourages the forces during the welcoming ceremony for students in 2025. Photo: THANH TUYEN

Many projects and scientific research products of the Academy have been transferred technology and applied in practice. A typical example is the project "Improving the method of logistics support for infantry divisions with strong firepower in the war to protect the Fatherland", chaired by Lieutenant General Phan Tung Son, which was excellently accepted and transferred to Division 10 (Corps 34). This is a typical project for the closed research-application-training method from the Academy's lecture hall to the training ground. Upon receiving it, the commander of Division 10 assessed that this is a theoretical-practical framework that helps the unit organize logistics support more effectively, shorten combat preparation time, increase mobility and sustainable assurance capability.

Along with the series of topics chaired and participated by comrade Phan Tung Son: "Developing the theory of ensuring logistics for strategic offensive operations" (2023), "Developing the theory of ensuring logistics for defensive campaigns" (2024), "Research on building the HC-KT posture for defensive operations in military regions" (2025)... have contributed to supplementing and perfecting the system of campaign and strategic logistics theories of the Army in the current period. Under the direction of Lieutenant General Phan Tung Son, in just 3 years (2023-2025), the Academy has researched, completed and accepted hundreds of topics at all levels, far exceeding the targets set by the 22nd Academy Party Congress. Many scientific research results of the Academy have been transferred to units, typically: Processes for fermenting leftover food, processing long-term preserved food, producing canned meat, ensuring picnic rations have been transferred to the 189th Submarine Brigade, Army Corps 34, Military Region 5, Hanoi Capital Command, Coast Guard Command, Army Corps 15, serving effectively in training, combat readiness and relief for people in storm and flood areas.

The Academy's scientific potential has been constantly improved. Over the years, under the direction of the Director, the Academy has organized many scientific seminars at all levels, which have been assessed by the Ministry of National Defense's Science Council as "meeting theoretical standards and high practicality". The Academy's team of teachers and scientists has developed remarkably. Lieutenant General Phan Tung Son was appointed to the title of Professor in 2024.

The contributions of Lieutenant General Phan Tung Son have significantly contributed to the outstanding results and achievements of the Logistics Academy. From 2023 to present, the Academy has always been the leading flag in the Emulation Movement for Victory of the entire army, and has been awarded the Emulation Flag of the Ministry of National Defense and the Government for 3 consecutive years. Notably, in August 2025, the Logistics Academy was honored by the Party and State with the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces for the second time. The Academy Director was personally honored as a National Outstanding Teacher, and was met and commended by the General Secretary and the Prime Minister.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/cuoc-thi-nhung-tam-guong-binh-di-ma-cao-quy-lan-thu-17/nguoi-truyen-lua-doi-moi-dao-tao-can-bo-hau-can-ky-thuat-quan-doi-1012651