To meet the increasingly high requirements of Party and political work within the cyberspace operations force, the Corps 86 Party Committee and Command have consistently paid close attention to leadership and direction in developing the contingent of political cadres at all levels commensurate with their tasks, thereby contributing to the firm defence of the Fatherland in cyberspace during the digital era.

Political cadres in the Vietnam People’s Army bear direct responsibility for leading, guiding, inspecting, and implementing all aspects of Party and political work in accordance with their assigned duties. They also participate in the formulation and execution of general operational plans of their units. Within the complex and distinctive operational environment of the cyberforce, the role of political cadres becomes even more crucial. In addition to conducting political education and ideological management, they serve as the ideological compass - orienting goals and ideals of struggle, building and consolidating the soldiers’ faith, and contributing to the steadfastness of political stance, resilience, and unity throughout the force.

Fully aware of this, in recent years, Party committees and organisations at all levels within the cyberspace operations force have focused on developing and consolidating the contingent of political cadres, ensuring both quantity and quality to gradually meet the demands of their mission. The capacity to conduct Party and political work has been constantly enhanced; methods have been flexibly renewed, skilfully combining traditional approaches with modern applications suited to the unique characteristics of the cyberspace operational environment.

Digital platforms, social networks, and modern technical means have been effectively exploited to improve the quality and efficiency of Party and political work - particularly under difficult, complex, and high-pressure conditions - thereby fostering solidarity and unity across agencies and units.

However, amid the rapid development of cyberspace and the emergence of new, highly dynamic and specialised forms of warfare, the experience and organisational capacity of some political cadres in directing and implementing Party and political work have revealed certain limitations. Meanwhile, under the newly established organisational structure of the cyberspace operations force, there are no political cadres assigned at the team level; consequently, the planning of grassroots political cadres and the implementation of Party and political activities face considerable challenges.

Maj. Gen. Nguyen Minh Thang briefs the new graduates deployed to Command 86

At present, as digital transformation accelerates and cyberspace becomes a new strategic domain, the mission of safeguarding the Fatherland in cyberspace imposes increasingly demanding requirements. It necessitates the development of a cyberspace operations force that is revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern - ready to fight and prevail against any adversary conducting information or cyber warfare. In this context, the cultivation of a cadre contingent - particularly political cadres - who are steadfast in political will, sharp in intellect, and proficient in capability, stands as a pivotal and decisive requirement. To realise this objective, a number of key, synchronous measures must be implemented as follows:

Firstly, to focus on the planning and effective implementation of cadre development in close conjunction with the training and fostering of political cadres at all levels to enhance their quality. This is a strategic solution with direct and decisive significance for building a corps of political cadres within the cyberspace operations force commensurate with its tasks. Accordingly, based on the initial cadre planning at the beginning of each term, and in line with the standards, requirements, and political missions, Party committees and organisations of agencies and units must review and accurately assess the current state of their personnel; thereby perfecting the planning of political officers in an open, flexible manner linked to the overall planning of commanding and managerial cadres at all levels. Proactive selection and cultivation of political cadre candidates should be carried out from among the corps of technical and professional specialists, forming a foundation for developing dual-qualified political officers - those who possess both competence in conducting Party and political work and proficiency in information technology, foreign languages, and related skills.

In recent years, the training and professional development of political cadres have received attention from relevant agencies and units. However, such efforts have yet to be intensive, and there remains no specialised programme designed specifically for this corps - particularly in terms of foreign languages, the ability to utilise and apply information technology, digital platforms, and modern communication tools to improve the quality and effectiveness of Party and political work. To overcome these shortcomings, Party committees and organisations at all levels must further integrate personnel planning with the training, development, and utilisation of political cadres. It is essential to design training content and curricula tailored to the specific characteristics of cyber operations, ensuring comprehensive coverage while focusing on developing analytical, predictive, and problem-solving skills regarding political and ideological situations in cyberspace. Political cadres must be capable of mastering information technology, applying digital platforms effectively, and possessing sound knowledge of cybersecurity, strategic communication, leadership, and management. They should also demonstrate strong advisory and organisational capacities in conducting Party and political work under the conditions of information warfare. Simultaneously, forms and methods of training and professional development should be modernised - enhancing interactivity and the integration of technological applications. Short-term training courses should be regularly organised to strengthen knowledge and skills related to cyberspace operations and information technology assurance, thereby providing a practical foundation for improving the quality and effectiveness of Party and political work in agencies and units.

Secondly, to strengthen education and training to enhance political steadfastness, revolutionary ethics, and professional methods and style among political cadres. In the face of the increasingly sophisticated and hostile subversive activities of adversarial forces in cyberspace, fulfilling their entrusted responsibilities requires political cadres - particularly political commissars and political instructors at all levels - to possess firm political resolve, sharp analytical thinking, and the ability to assess and interpret situations accurately, thereby safeguarding the ideological battlefield of the armed forces. Accordingly, agencies and units must intensify the education and comprehensive training of political cadres in all aspects - political steadfastness, moral integrity, lifestyle, working methods, and professional conduct. They should be deeply imbued with Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh’s Thought, and the Party’s guidelines, policies, and principles, as well as the State’s laws. Political cadres must remain steadfast in revolutionary ideals and objectives, demonstrating absolute loyalty to the Fatherland, the Party, the State, and the People. They should embody moral purity, an upright lifestyle, and a scientific, meticulous, and flexible working style suited to the specific characteristics of cyberspace operations. At the same time, they must resolutely combat all manifestations of political, ideological, and moral degradation, as well as tendencies of “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” internally.

An interview of Command 86 with candidate applying for job in Command 86

Emphasis should also be placed on promoting the proactivity, self-discipline, and self-cultivation of political officers, particularly in developing exemplary conduct and a leadership style grounded in integrity - ensuring consistency between words and actions, voluntarily and continuously, at all times and in all social contexts. Every political cadre must uphold a strong sense of political determination and responsibility, adopting specific, practical, and effective measures; demonstrating persistence and dedication in performing their duties; and striving to meet and surpass assigned goals and targets in the spirit of daring to think, daring to speak, daring to act, daring to take responsibility, daring to innovate, daring to face challenges, and daring to act for the common good. Simultaneously, attention should be given to fostering a healthy cultural environment and a strong sense of moral example, enabling political cadres within the cyberspace operations force to develop and refine a modern, democratic, scientific, and effective working style.

Thirdly, to regularly conduct effective evaluation of the quality of political cadres. This is a measure of exceptional significance, enabling Party committees at all levels to accurately grasp the quality of political officers within the force, thereby formulating appropriate plans for their training, development, and utilisation. Accordingly, agencies and units must carry out comprehensive assessments of political cadres at all levels - covering their political ideology, moral character, professional qualifications, competence in conducting Party and political work, sense of responsibility, and effectiveness in fulfilling assigned duties. Particular attention should be paid to criteria specific to this field, such as the ability to apply technology, innovative thinking, and the methods of conducting Party and political work within a cyberspace operations environment. The evaluation process must be truly objective, impartial, and grounded in practical results, avoiding all forms of formalism and superficiality.

Party committees and commanding officers at all levels should establish evaluation criteria tailored to the specific characteristics of cyber operations. They must strengthen inspection and supervision work, focusing on regular inspections combined with ad hoc and thematic reviews regarding political ideology, ethics, professional conduct, and work performance. It is essential to apply diverse, flexible, and synchronised assessment methods - combining evaluations and feedback from superiors with comments, trust ratings, and collective appraisals from subordinates and peers. Digital technology should be increasingly utilised in managing and monitoring work performance. The inspection, supervision, and evaluation of cadres must be closely linked with personnel planning, appointment, and rotation of political cadres. Those found to have committed violations or demonstrated shortcomings should be promptly identified and dealt with, while exemplary officers must be commended, rewarded, and encouraged - creating motivation for political officers across the force to strive, improve, and devote themselves to their duties.

Finally, to continue to improve and effectively implement preferential policies and incentive mechanisms to motivate political officers to fully utilise their capabilities and remain committed to building strong agencies and units. Party committees, Party organisations, and political agencies at all levels must proactively review, supplement, and refine the system of relevant regulations and documents. They should study and develop a framework for special preferential policies, to be submitted to higher authorities for approval and uniformly applied across the entire force. Regular surveys and adjustments to policies must be conducted to ensure alignment with practical realities and the legitimate aspirations of cadres and their families. Priority should be given to expanding learning and training opportunities both domestically and internationally in fields such as leadership, management, technology, communication, information security, and cybersecurity. Additionally, investments should be increased in infrastructure and facilities to create a modern, convenient, and professional working environment.

At the same time, Party committees and commanding officers of agencies and units must continue to effectively implement existing welfare and preferential regimes for political cadres, while establishing mechanisms for fair and reasonable recruitment, planning, and rotation, thereby fostering an environment for comprehensive professional growth. Attention should be paid to developing special policies on responsibility allowances, technology-related expertise, and extended working hours - ensuring they are commensurate with the nature of the tasks and the high professional standards required. Through these measures, strong motivation will be created for political officers within the cyberspace operations force to develop a genuine passion for their profession, maintain dedication to their duties, and remain steadfastly attached to their units. This, in turn, will enable them to maximise their competence and intellect, continuously improving the quality and effectiveness of Party and political work - meeting the requirements of building a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern cyberspace operations force capable of accomplishing all assigned missions with excellence.

Major General, Dr. NGUYEN MINH THANG, Commissar of Command 86