Infantry Division 312 is a main unit with sufficient troops of Corps 12, with strong firepower, and the central political task of training, combat readiness, and building an all-strong, "exemplary and typical" unit, ready to undertake and complete all assigned tasks. In recent years, there have been several changes in the Division's cadres at all levels due to the restructuring of agencies and units. The Division’s infrastructure, especially barracks, weapons, equipment and vehicles, is not yet synchronised. Besides, weather, epidemics, and environmental pollution have negative impacts on the lives and task performance of its troops, etc. Despite facing such difficulties, the Division's Party Committee and Command have always proactively implemented synchronous policies and solutions to lead and improve the quality of all aspects of work, especially the positive achievements in training and combat readiness.        

Deputy Minister of National Defence checks the training work of the Division

Most notably, the awareness of officers and soldiers about the task of training and combat readiness has been raised; the leadership, direction, management and operation of training have become strict, synchronous, in-depth, close to task requirements and combat reality. The content, programmes, training methods, drills, competitions and sports have been constantly innovated, promptly updated with the development of fighting art, in line with the requirements of building the Army and safeguarding the Fatherland. The combat readiness regime has been maintained closely and systematically, ensuring the safety of the assigned targets, being ready to manoeuvre and perform tasks in all situations, etc. As a result, the Division has always successfully completed all assigned tasks. From 2019 to 2023, it was recognised as an Excellent Training Unit, and highly appreciated by the Ministry of National Defence, the 12th Corps Command, and local Party committees and authorities. From the practical implementation of the task, it has drawn experiences and solutions that have been implemented as follow:

First of all, strengthening the leadership and direction of Party committees and commanders at all levels for training and combat readiness tasks. The Division’s Party Committee and Commander focus on leading and directing agencies and units to thoroughly grasp and effectively implement superiors’ resolutions, directives and plans on training and combat readiness, focusing on Resolution No. 1659-NQ/QUTW, dated 20 December 2022 of the Central Military Commission, Resolution No. 463-NQ/DU, dated 30 March 2023 of the Party Committee of the 1st Corps on "Improving the quality of training in the period 2023 - 2030 and the following years". On that basis, the Division Party Committee promptly issued a specialised Resolution on leadership of training work until 2030 in line with its own characteristics and tasks; identifying the content, solutions for comprehensive leadership and direction, including focuses and key points, with specific, appropriate goals, targets and tasks and drastic, synchronous measures, focusing on thoroughly overcoming weaknesses, making the breakthrough in difficult and new tasks. Focusing on directing agencies and units to concretise them into combat training and political education programmes and plans to unanimously implement them throughout the Division.

To raise the awareness and responsibility of soldiers in performing this important task, especially in newly merged and acquired units, the Division directs its Party committees and commanders at all levels to actively innovate the forms and methods of political education associated with implementing the Project "Innovation of political education work at units in the new period"; at the same time, take the emulation movement as a driving force to improve training quality and combat readiness. Agencies and units promote emulation activities in training and combat readiness with numerous creative and practical models and methods; effectively propagate the emulations’ content, targets, breakthroughs and key units; build up a vibrant atmosphere that creates positive and voluntary action movements in the unit. Thanks to that, the thinking and awareness of Party committees, commanders at all levels and officers and soldiers are significantly improved, training is considered as a central and regular political task in peacetime which is a decisive condition to improve overall quality, strength, level and combat readiness capability.

Troops of Regiment 209 conduct live firing

To effectively implement the Central Military Commission's policy of building an "elite, compact, strong" Army, advancing towards modernisation, the Division focuses on innovating and improving the quality of training and the level of combat readiness. With the awareness that "cadres are the root of all work", the Division directs its agencies and units to focus on improving the quality of cadres who directly participate in training, focusing on the innovation of cadre training content and methods, especially on weaknesses, new and important ones along with strictly ensuring the quality of curricula and training cadres at all levels, especially in newly acquired firepower units. Along with that, it has comprehensively innovated and gradually standardised the content, programmes, forms, and training methods according to the motto "Basic, practical, solid", attached importance to synchronous and specialised training with the focus on practice which is close to the mission and combat objects. Infantry combat technical training is considered as the foundation, tactical training as the key; practical training, mastering existing weapons, equipment and newly assigned weapons and equipment as the focus. Combining education with physical training to improve soldiers’ endurance, flexibility, long-distance mobility at high intensity in all terrains and weather. Paying attention to situational training, from simple to complex, or basic to advanced, to train the agility of both commanders and squads with specific training topics, in order to meet the requirements of modern combat. Thanks to that, the quality of training has been increasingly improved, annual training inspections for cadres are 100% qualified, with 81.8% being good and excellent; for squads, 100% of contents and subjects are qualified, with 82.3% being good and excellent.

Regarding combat readiness tasks, the Division directs its agencies and units to focus on thoroughly grasping and strictly implementing documents, directives and regulations of the Ministry of National Defence, the General Staff and the Corps Command on combat readiness work; concretising them into regulations and rules which are appropriate to the tasks, military structure, weapons and equipment, especially in newly merged and acquired units. On that basis, ensuring full and synchronous shifts, command shifts, on-duty shifts, combat squads in the air and on the ground; maintaining patrolling, guarding, military control, etc. Directing agencies and units to proactively develop and perfect the system of plans, documents, and combat schemes; organise tight and effective training, ready to mobilise to carry out tasks in all situations. Therefore, inspections by the Ministry and the Corps show that, for many consecutive years, it has always been assessed as a unit with good combat readiness and has successfully completed its assigned tasks. Despite being stationed in dispersed areas, near large industrial zones with complicated political security and social situations, the Division has strengthened its combat strength and solid stability by improving the quality of training in association with regularity building and discipline management. The Division has also attached importance to strictly implementing the regulations, rules, resolutions and directives of the Ministry and the Corps on regularity building and discipline management, focusing on Directive No. 79/CT-BQP, dated 22 July 2022 of the Minister of National Defence on building a comprehensively strong unit that is "exemplary and typical"; Directive No. 103/CT-BQP, dated 28 November 2019 of the Minister of National Defence on "Continuing to strengthen management, education on discipline and ensuring safety in the Vietnam People's Army". On that basis, the Division regularly and effectively maintains daily and weekly regimes, performs work according to duties, acts according to orders, all soldiers voluntarily comply with regulations with a civilised military lifestyle, discipline, self-awareness and strictness. Thoroughly grasping the Regulations on the management of military ideology, grasping and orienting public opinion in the Vietnam People's Army, the Division strictly maintains the management of soldiers inside and outside the barracks, on days off and during breaks, especially in independent units, newly merged and acquired units. It has also effectively prevented serious violations of discipline, violations of State law and military discipline. It continues to carry out scheduled and unscheduled inspections of the implementation of regimes, promptly rectify and overcome shortcomings and limitations, resolutely eliminate all manifestations of laxity in discipline management and training; combining regularity building and discipline training with building a healthy environment, creating "regular, green, clean, beautiful" barracks for soldiers to work enthusiastically and commit to the unit. At the same time, it effectively implements the construction of a model of command training, regularity building and discipline management at the 209th Infantry Regiment as a basis for widespread replication. As a result, in recent years, agencies and units have always ensured that the annual rate of common discipline violations is below 0.2% with no serious discipline violations or unsafe training.

Along with that, the Division has attached importance to ensuring appropriate logistics and technical work, especially adequate supply of electricity and water for soldiers, fuel and vehicles for training missions, combat readiness, and mobile capability. Increasing investment and upgrading the shooting ranges and training grounds for infantry units and arms. Promoting self-production activities, encouraging the emulation movement "The Army Logistics Sector follows Uncle Ho's teachings", contributing to improving the living standard and health of soldiers, ensuring that over 98.5% of the soldiers participate in studying and working, the Unit is always ready to undertake and excellently complete all assigned tasks.

As a main division with strong firepower, its technical assurance work has always been closely led and directed by Party committees and commanders at all levels, so that it has made remarkable achievements. Accordingly, the Division has focused on ensuring adequate, timely and synchronous weapons, equipment, and vehicles for training and combat readiness tasks; effectively implemented the Campaign "Ensure quality, durability, safety, economy, and traffic safety of weapons and technical equipment during management and exploitation". Receice the materiel from artillery, air defence, and tank firepower units in a serious manner based on safety procedures and proper principles; Conduct maintenance and repair tasks strictly according to hierarchy and safety regulations.

The above experiences and achievements are the basis and solid foundation for officers and soldiers of Division 312 to continue to strive to overcome all difficulties and challenges, continuously improve the quality of training, combat readiness, undertake and complete all assigned tasks, and continue to enrich the tradition of "Solidarity - Heroism - Victory" of the Heroic Victory Division.

Senior Colonel DO TRUNG DUNG, Division Commander