Faced with the need to protect the Fatherland in the new context, building the Vietnam People's Army in general and the Air Force in particular in the direction of being lean, compact, strong and modern has become an important factor to enhance national defense strength.
Reporter of Nhan Dan Newspaper talked with Colonel Nguyen Van Thien, Commander of Air Division 371, Air Defense - Air Force Service about strategic solutions to help air force units move straight to modernity, besides focusing on developing a team of officers and soldiers with strong political will, ready to firmly protect the Fatherland's sky in all situations.
Colonel Nguyen Van Thien, Commander of Air Division 371, Air Defense - Air Force
PV: Could you please tell us how the division has implemented the policy of building a lean, strong, and modern army in recent times?
Colonel Nguyen Van Thien: It can be affirmed that building a strong, compact, and modern army is the consistent policy of the Party and an inevitable and objective task in the new situation to ensure that the army is constantly strong, contributing to maintaining stability to build and develop a prosperous and happy country.
Over the years, the 371st Air Division has seriously grasped and strictly implemented the above policy with very fundamental, cautious and solid measures. It focuses on a number of contents such as:
First of all, it is necessary to focus on strengtheningeducation and raising awareness among officers and soldiers about the policy of building a strong, lean, and modern army, thereby determining the awareness, responsibility, and determination of each officer and soldier towards the Party's policy on building the army in the new situation.
Resolute in implementing streamlining of organization and staffing: In 2023, the division implemented the merger of the Logistics Department and the Technical Department into the Logistics-Technical Department.
Actively review and transfer to overcome the imbalance in military numbers between units; between division agencies and units. Mobilize and rotate to ensure enough military numbers for training missions, combat readiness...
Actively apply e-Government and administrative reform in the military field , including the digitalization of some contents such as document and document management; data for managing cadre records; data for managing the military sector; health insurance;...
PV: Practice has proven that in order to advance straight to modernity, it is necessary to build a truly elite political force, focusing on Party building. Due to the characteristics of the mission, protection objectives and wide scope of the division's operations, the units are stationed scattered, far from the command center, so they are significantly affected by the negative aspects of social life. In the past, what solutions has the division focused on to build a truly elite political force as mentioned above?
Colonel Nguyen Van Thien: Building a politically strong force is the most important task to ensure that the division always strengthens its working class nature, has clear political goals and directions, acts in a correct and scientific way, and is absolutely loyal to the Party, the State and the people. Therefore, in recent years, Division 371 has focused on closely implementing a number of solutions such as:
Implement closely, effectively and synchronously solutions to improve the quality of political and ideological education and legal dissemination.
Promote the role of organizations in conducting education, training and practice to build cadres and soldiers with steadfast political will; pure motivation, determination, high responsibility, morality and healthy lifestyle.
Closely combine organizational and staff improvement with training, fostering, maintaining inspection and supervision, improving the comprehensive capacity and fighting strength of Party committees and Party organizations at all levels, especially at the grassroots level; strengthen measures to build Party organizations that are strong in politics, ideology, ethics, organization and cadres.
Promote the emulation movement to win; strengthen information and propaganda work on military and national defense tasks; national, local, military and unit traditions...
Always proactively fight against erroneous and hostile viewpoints, maintain political orientation; the Party's ideological battlefield in each agency and unit.
PV: Could you please outline some strategic solutions of the division in the coming time to contribute to the process of building a "revolutionary, disciplined, elite, modern" army?
Colonel Nguyen Van Thien: The Air Defense - Air Force is one of the forces identified by the Party and State to build straight towards modernization. Air Division 371 is one of the main units of the Air Defense - Air Force. Therefore, the process of building Air Division 371 is an important factor contributing to the process of building a "revolutionary, disciplined, elite, modern" force.
Realizing that, the Party Committee and the Division Command have synchronous solutions to focus on leading and directing agencies and units in the division to promote the heroic tradition of the air defense and air force to excellently complete their tasks in the new period, focusing on a number of strategic solutions, namely:
First of all, we must take care to build a division that is strong politically, ideologically and organizationally, on par with the requirements of the mission. This is the decisive factor to improve the overall quality of the division.
The Party Committee and Division Commander closely lead and direct the continued rectification of organization, staffing and force building associated with consolidating, perfecting and building a clean and strong Party organization, linking the building of Party committees with the building of a contingent of leading cadres at all levels.
Focus on building a team of officers, pilots, engineers, and technicians to become “Elite Air Defense-Air Force Soldiers”. The team building must ensure comprehensiveness, respect political courage, sense of responsibility, working capacity, professional ethics, expertise, high fighting spirit, regular working style, and strict discipline.
Improving the quality of technical assurance work, the ability to exploit and use new and modern weapons and equipment; promoting initiatives and technical improvements are among the important requirements to advance the division towards modernization.
PV: With the development of the scientific and technological revolution, the method of air combat has also developed significantly with the appearance of many types of advanced and modern weapons and technical equipment. How does the division organize training in high-tech combat conditions?
Colonel Nguyen Van Thien: Our military policy always determines “people first, guns later” ; no matter how modern the technology is, people are still the decisive factor in the success or failure of the war. Therefore, for the organization of training in high-tech combat conditions, for Division 371, in recent years, very specific policies and measures have been clearly identified, such as:
First, focus on political and ideological education, building the mettle, fighting spirit, and high determination of the cadres and soldiers as well as the soldiers' confidence in their ability to win the war against the enemy using high-tech weapons, confidence in the fighting style, Vietnamese military art, and existing weapons and equipment...; new developments in warfare, especially high-tech weapons and equipment; focus on clarifying the characteristics, features, effects, strengths, limitations, methods, and opportunities for use of each type of high-tech weapons and equipment.
Pay attention to educating the lessons learned in the resistance war against the US to save the country of our army and people on using existing weapons and equipment to defeat the enemy's modern weapons and equipment. On that basis, apply and develop in the new conditions of the war to protect the Fatherland.
Second, proactively promote training work; effectively implement Resolution No. 1659 of the Central Military Commission, Resolution No. 877 of the Party Committee of the Service and Resolution No. 556 of the Party Committee of the Division "On improving the quality of training in the period 2023-2030 and the following years"; create breakthroughs in training and education to improve qualifications and combat readiness.
Organize training for troops to be proficient in using existing weapons and equipment, understand enemy weapons, equipment, and vehicles to have appropriate combat plans. Regularly organize drills, coordinate combat operations, and participate in joint military and service exercises with full-strength infantry divisions, defense area drills with the Hanoi Capital Command, with military regions, army corps, etc. Strengthen night flight training in meteorological conditions on land and at sea.
Third, along with flight training, ground training is maintained closely and systematically, ensuring a balance between ground training and air training, ensuring 100% completion of the plan and quality.
PV: In recent years, in the process of building a “revolutionary, disciplined, elite, modern” military branch, the division has been equipped with a number of new, modern weapons and technical equipment. How has the division achieved mastery of weapons and equipment to meet the increasingly high requirements of the task of protecting the Fatherland’s sky, comrade?
Colonel Nguyen Van Thien: In order to master weapons and equipment to meet the increasingly high requirements of the task of protecting the Fatherland's sky, in recent years, the division has focused on implementing a number of policies and measures such as:
First of all, we must take care to build a politically, ideologically and organizationally strong unit that is on par with the mission requirements. The focus is on educating soldiers to clearly realize that the unit being given priority to equip with some new and modern weapons and technical equipment is a great honor, and at the same time a heavy but glorious responsibility so that each officer and soldier in the unit can determine their determination to strive to improve their qualifications in all aspects, and master modern weapons and equipment.
Second, closely lead and direct the continued rectification of organizational structure and force building associated with consolidating and perfecting the building of a clean and strong Party organization, linking the building of Party committees with the building of a contingent of leading cadres at all levels.
Third, focus on building a team of cadres, pilots, engineers, technicians, and technical staff with political courage, sense of responsibility, working capacity, fighting spirit, good health, and strict discipline. Particularly for the cadre team, they must have "heart-vision-mind", be decisive, dare to think, dare to do, dare to take responsibility, and have the ability to handle problems sensitively.
Fourth, proactively overcome difficulties, perform well the work of ensuring logistics and technology, focusing on organizing technical work in a good order; organizing research, repair, maintenance, and replacement of damaged parts in accordance with procedures and regulations on aviation safety; combating all manifestations of simplicity, subjectivity, lack of caution, and cutting back on content and procedures in technical work; promoting the emulation movement to promote initiatives and technical improvements. In addition, focus on developing livestock production; continue to build a green, clean, and beautiful barracks landscape. Build a good living and working environment so that officers and soldiers always consider "the unit as home, officers and soldiers are all brothers" and always determine their tasks well and feel secure in their work.
Air Division 371, under the Air Defense - Air Force, has a history of formation and development associated with legendary feats of arms in the resistance war against America and in defending the Fatherland.
Division 371 was established on March 24, 1967 (formerly the Air Force Command of the Air Defense - Air Force Service), assigned to manage 7 airports including Noi Bai, Gia Lam, Kep, Hoa Lac, Kien An, Tho Xuan, Vinh. The division's area of responsibility is from the 18th parallel to the northern part of the country, with equipment organized as a mixed air force division including Su-30MK2, Su-22 aircraft, helicopters and modern weapons.During the resistance war against the US, the 371st Division was the main unit in confronting the US Air Force. Under the leadership of talented commanders, the Division participated in many outstanding battles, shooting down hundreds of US aircraft, including great feats such as shooting down a B-52 in the "Dien Bien Phu in the air" campaign. The pilots of the Division have become heroic icons such as Pham Tuan, Vu Xuan Thieu, Nguyen Van Bay, contributing to the glory of the Vietnam People's Air Force.
After peace was restored, the 371st Division was modernized, improved in equipment and training to meet the task of protecting the Fatherland's skies in peacetime. The Division continued to play a role in protecting the airspace, training pilots and participating in important missions such as search and rescue, disaster prevention and control and special aircraft missions.
With many outstanding achievements, the division was honored by the Party and State with the title of Heroic Unit of the People's Armed Forces.
The entire division had 19 collectives and 64 individuals awarded and posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces. The division was awarded: One First Class Independence Medal; one comrade was declared a Hero of Labor; 934 Military Exploit and Feat Orders of various types, 248 Uncle Ho badges. Many officers and pilots of the division developed into generals and senior officials of the Party, State, army and military branches.
Inheriting tradition with modern combat training
PV: Currently, the 4.0 industrial revolution places increasingly high demands on the military branches and services of the Vietnam People's Army. In addition, many good initiatives and typical models have also been "born", bringing practical results to training work. Could you please introduce and provide more information about some of the above models and good practices?
Colonel Nguyen Van Thien: In recent years, the scientific research movement to carry out new topics and technical innovation initiatives in the division has been promoted, especially the technical innovation initiatives of comrades working in aviation technical assurance. The division has a team of highly qualified technical staff who have actively promoted their abilities and capacities, researched many quality topics and technical innovation initiatives, and usefully served the unit's technical assurance tasks.
The topics and initiatives are rich in content across disciplines and have high practical applicability, aiming to improve the quality of preservation, maintenance, and repair of weapons and equipment, meeting the requirements of training and combat readiness. Many topics and technical innovation initiatives have won high prizes in competitions organized by ministries and military branches, for example, the topics and initiatives of Air Force Regiments 923, 921, 916.
Typical individuals: Comrade Major Dong Van Duc - radio electronics assistant, Technical Department - e923 is an aviation engineering officer who has had many topics and technical innovation initiatives applied in practice at the unit, participating in the Youth Innovation contests of the whole army and winning high prizes such as: "Manufacture of equipment to check ballistic characteristics parameters installed in the Ш101ВЭП weapon control complex on the Су-30МК2 aircraft" - Certificate of Merit for winning the Third Prize of the "Creative Youth in the Army" award in 2023, "Manufacture of equipment to automatically read the self-test results of the air-to-air weapon control complex on the Su-30MK2 aircraft" - Certificate of Merit for winning the Second Prize of the "Creative Youth in the Army" award in 2024.
Major Dong Van Duc - radio electronics assistant, Technical Department - e923. (Photo: Air Defense - Air Force Newspaper)
Comrade Major Le Van Thu, professional military officer, aircraft engine repairman of Squadron 2, Regiment 923, with the initiative "Su30-MK2 main wheel lift-lowering vehicle" applied, effectively reducing manpower and operating time in performing aviation technical assurance work for missions, was awarded a certificate of merit by the military service. In addition, many other individuals and groups in the division have also had many achievements in scientific research.
In the coming time and the following years, the division leaders and commanders will continue to pay more attention to scientific research work, create favorable conditions in terms of funding and procedures for implementing innovative technical solutions, good and effective training models, and promptly encourage and reward collectives and individuals with many achievements.
PV: Moving straight to modernity, in addition to modern technical equipment and modern people, an equally important issue is to have modern fighting methods. So, how has the inheritance of traditional fighting methods and training in new combat plans been implemented, comrade?
Colonel Nguyen Van Thien: In the context of modern warfare, new methods and ways of fighting are required to respond to the practical development of technology. However, we cannot ignore the experiences accumulated in the previous resistance war. Therefore, in recent years, the division has combined the inheritance of traditional fighting methods and training in new combat plans that have been deployed, specifically as follows:
Regularly train officers and commanders at all levels to grasp the Party's military guidelines, combat targets, Vietnamese military art, combat experience and fighting methods of air defense and air force troops; regularly innovate content and methods, and improve training quality.
Organize training to exploit and effectively use technical equipment in the establishment, master new and improved weapons and equipment; master combat forms and methods.
At the same time, through command-staff exercises according to new combat plans, the division has tested and compared theory and combat practice in the war to protect the Fatherland in the new situation.
PV: In the context of the 4.0 Industrial Revolution, digital transformation is becoming a mandatory requirement in all fields. Could you please share the achievements in applying digital transformation in management, command and combat activities... at the unit in recent times?
Colonel Nguyen Van Thien: In recent years, Division 371 has been proactive and active in applying digital transformation in management, command and combat activities, specifically: Revolution 4.0 has profoundly and comprehensively changed all aspects of social life. Therefore, promoting digital transformation in the military field is a mandatory requirement for all levels and sectors.
The Division has resolutely promoted the reform of military administrative procedures, promoted the settlement of administrative procedures and digital signatures in the electronic environment; gradually formed the habit of processing information in the network environment for officers and soldiers, contributing to the construction of e-Government in the army.
Promote the exploitation and use of automated command and control systems at automated command centers at all levels in management, direction, and combat operations. At the same time, promote the exploitation and use of simulation systems for training flight crews and cockpits of Su-30 aircraft, contributing to improving combat readiness and mission performance of the forces.
PV: Flight training is a complex and specific activity, using modern technical equipment and high speed, so it requires high precision and close coordination between departments. How has the division implemented the joint combat training, comrade?
Colonel Nguyen Van Thien: As you know, flight operations are complex and require smooth coordination from flight commanders, pilots, flight crews, and ground support components.
Therefore, in organizing flight practice, the unit has correctly and fully implemented the procedures in 3 flight phases, 4 phases in technical preparation work; prepared for flight from the previous day; coordinated forecasting and flight notification with airspace management forces before implementing the flight plan.
When performing a flight mission, the flight commander directly commands the entire force of pilots and flight crew to perform flight missions from simple to complex through the consultation and assistance of ground components.
PV: Thank you very much for this conversation.
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