Introducing some typical initiatives that help improve the quality of professional implementation of the unit, the Deputy Chief of Technical Brigade led us to visit the Repair and Maintenance Station (Technical Department). In the space of thousands of square meters, there are many initiatives and technical improvements of the unit being applied to the process of preservation, maintenance as well as repair and troubleshooting of technical equipment and weapons (VKTBKT), typically: Initiative "Tool to support unjamming of 57mm anti-aircraft artillery shells"; "Device to calculate the reloading time of 5-57mm anti-aircraft artillery gunners" and initiative "Price of generator testing equipment after maintenance and repair on cars".

Officers and staff of the Repair and Maintenance Station of the Technical Department of the 214th Air Defense Brigade apply innovations to carry out professional tasks.

Having just checked the quality of the generator on a ZIL 130 car after repair, Major Doan Van Toan, an auto repair and maintenance employee (Repair and Maintenance Station) shared: “For generators on cars when they are broken, the mechanic will remove them for repair and maintenance. After repairing and replacing, the mechanic will have to reinstall them on the car, then start the engine and test them on the car. If they are not successful, they will have to remove them and continue to repair them. Therefore, it takes a lot of time and effort. When applying the initiative "Generator testing equipment price...", it will be faster, the mechanic will put the generator for testing directly on the price, when the generator is working well and technically guaranteed, then install it on the car. In general, this initiative is feasible, highly practical, effective, and the cost of manufacturing the equipment is also simple and easy to do."

Soldiers of Battalion 3, Air Defense Brigade 214 practice observing aerial targets.

Major Bui Duy Dien said: “To ensure good technical work, the Brigade regularly organizes training to improve the level of exploitation, use, and mastery of weapons, equipment, and military equipment for the staff, employees, and soldiers in the spirit of superiors training subordinates, experienced officers with deep expertise training young officers with little experience, with the aim of improving the quality of preservation and maintenance; maintaining a disciplined and effective “technical day” and a periodic inventory and inspection regime.”

Carrying out the task of training and combat readiness for air defense, with a system of technical equipment and weapons (VKTBKT) that has been used for many years, degraded and lacking in uniformity, ensuring good technical work for the tasks has been given great attention and focus by the Party Committee and the command of the 214th Air Defense Brigade. Accordingly, the Brigade seriously implemented the Campaign "Managing and exploiting good, durable, safe, economical and traffic-safe VKTBKT", maintaining the daily and weekly preservation regime, strictly managing the quantity and quality of VKTBKT, ensuring safety, no damage, loss, fire or explosion. At the same time, closely combining training to improve the qualifications and capacity of the team of technical and professional staff with promoting research, applying initiatives and technical improvements to meet requirements and tasks. To date, the Brigade has nearly 100 initiatives and technical improvements, of which 3 initiatives have won the Army's Creative Youth Award, and 11 initiatives have been recognized by the Military Region.

Battery crews of Company 7, Battalion 3, Air Defense Brigade 214 practice plans to fight enemy air infiltration.
Practical training on target observation for soldiers of Battalion 3, Air Defense Brigade 214.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hung, Deputy Brigade Commander of the 214th Air Defense Brigade, said: “Most of the military equipment and technical equipment are both training and continuously ready for combat and deployed on the battlefield. Many of them are old, so they quickly deteriorate. To ensure the technical coefficient Kt = 1.0 for combat readiness, rescue and search and rescue tasks and to achieve Kt = 0.95-1.0 for units performing training tasks and other regular activities, the Brigade Party Committee has issued a specialized resolution on technical leadership, focusing on promoting the passion and creativity of officers and employees in researching innovations and improving techniques to improve the quality of performing professional tasks. In 2022 alone, the Brigade had 1 initiative winning the Second Prize and 2 initiatives winning the Encouragement Prize of "Creative Youth of the Whole Army". In 2023, officers and employees of the Brigade researched and launched dozens of initiatives. The unit has assessed and selected a number of typical initiatives with high feasibility and practical applicability to participate at the Military Region and army levels.

Thanks to the synchronous implementation of many solutions to ensure good technical work, contributing to improving the quality of training and combat readiness of the unit; for many consecutive years, Air Defense Brigade 214 has been recognized by the Ministry of National Defense as an "Excellent Training Unit".

Article and photos: NGUYEN THANH