On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Traditional Day of the Militia and Self-Defense Forces (March 28, 1935 / March 28, 2025), reporters of the People's Army Newspaper interviewed Lieutenant General Pham Quang Ngan, Director of the Militia and Self-Defense Forces Department (General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army) about the role and important contributions, as well as the direction for building and promoting the effectiveness of the Militia and Self-Defense Forces in the new situation.

Lieutenant General Pham Quang Ngan. Photo: NGOC HAN

Reporter (PV):

Lieutenant General Pham Quang Ngan: The Militia and Self-Defense Forces have a long history closely associated with the resistance wars to defend the Fatherland. After 90 years of building, fighting and growing, the Militia and Self-Defense Forces, from being a mass armed organization built, led and directed by our Party, has become a very important part of the Vietnam People's Armed Forces. During the resistance wars against French colonialism, American imperialism and the war to defend the Fatherland, the Militia and Self-Defense Forces, together with the main force and local troops, created a widespread people's war posture, making the enemy encounter the resistance strength of the entire Vietnamese people wherever they went.

The Militia and Self-Defense Forces are also a large force participating in eliminating traitors, destroying evil, destroying the enemy's rear bases. On all battle fronts, the Militia and Self-Defense Forces enthusiastically participate in serving the army; closely and effectively coordinate and coordinate with other forces, acting as the core to launch the movement of the entire people to fight the enemy in localities and bases, supporting the people in the fight against the enemy, and at the same time, being a large reserve force to supplement the main army when necessary.

On the production front, the militia and self-defense forces carry out the tasks of “one hand plowing, one hand gunning”, “one hand hammering, one hand gunning”, both producing and being ready to fight; being exemplary and pioneering in production labor and production protection; together with the police force maintaining order and security in localities and bases; protecting the rear, protecting the Party, the government, State assets and the lives and assets of the people.

The Standing Militia Squadron of Kien Giang province briefed on their tasks before setting out on a mission at sea. Photo: PHUONG VU

PV:

Lieutenant General Pham Quang Ngan: In the process of national renewal, the Militia and Self-Defense Forces continue to promote revolutionary heroism, solidarity, proactiveness, overcoming all difficulties, actively working, studying, working, being creative, completing tasks well, many of which are completed excellently, leaving outstanding marks, being recognized and highly appreciated by Party committees, authorities at all levels and the people.

The Militia and Self-Defense Force Department has presided over and coordinated with agencies, advised the General Staff, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Central Military Commission to report to the Party and the State to review and promulgate resolutions, directives, and a system of legal documents on military and local defense work in general, and Militia and Self-Defense Force work in particular, to be increasingly synchronous, unified, and suitable to the actual situation; directed, guided, inspected, and urged agencies, units, and localities to take care of building an increasingly "strong and widespread" Militia and Self-Defense Force with a reasonable structure and composition; increasingly high political quality and reliability, always ready to fight, and effective operations.

Up to now, the whole country has nearly 1.4 million militiamen (about 1.38% of the population); 77.6% of the commanders and deputy commanders of the military command at the commune level nationwide have been trained, including more than 40,000 cadres with college and university degrees in basic military; 100% of communes have military party cells, the percentage of party members in the militia force is over 28%, contributing to strengthening the Party's leadership in military and defense work of localities. Hundreds of permanent militia posts on land borders associated with residential areas have been built and initially put into effective operation.

Models and new models, such as: "Exemplary, typical" comprehensively strong militia units; militia squadrons participating in protecting sea and island sovereignty in the new situation; militia units, maritime militia, mobile militia, artillery, air defense; border militia posts on land; supplementing and building militia forces for information warfare, cyber warfare, sniper teams, UAV suppression; self-defense units in various types of enterprises... are built close to the requirements of actual tasks.

The militia and self-defense fleets closely coordinate with functional forces to organize patrols and guards, both to maintain security and order at sea and to exploit marine resources, serving as a fulcrum to help fishermen go offshore, stick to the sea, and maintain traditional fishing grounds.

The Militia and Self-Defense Forces have coordinated with local forces to patrol, guard, and protect the safety of targets, ensure security and order during holidays, Tet, and important political events, and are the core force on the spot, pioneering in preventing, combating, and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters and epidemics, searching and rescuing, protecting and preventing forest fires; actively propagating and mobilizing people to implement the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws; participating in the work of gratitude, building new rural areas...

The Militia and Self-Defense Force also thoroughly grasps and seriously and effectively implements defense diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy with countries that come to study and exchange information on Militia and Self-Defense Force work, local defense work and defense education in Vietnam, especially with Laos, Cambodia, China, Venezuela... contributing to strengthening the relationship of solidarity and friendship, enhancing Vietnam's position in the international arena.

The effectiveness of the activities and outstanding achievements of the Militia and Self-Defense Force have been recognized by the Party and the State, and awarded the Gold Star Order (in 2015); 370 collectives and 284 Militia and Self-Defense Force officers and soldiers throughout the periods have been awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces. On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of its tradition, the Militia and Self-Defense Force was honored to receive the Ho Chi Minh Order.

PV:

Lieutenant General Pham Quang Ngan: In order for the Militia and Self-Defense Forces to become increasingly strong, to fulfill their assigned functions and tasks well, and to be worthy of the trust of the Party, State and people, it is necessary to focus on implementing well the following key contents:

Firstly, continue to thoroughly grasp and seriously implement the Party's directives and resolutions, and the State's legal documents on national defense and security; especially Conclusion No. 41-KL/TW dated March 31, 2009 of the Secretariat on continuing to implement Directive No. 16-CT/TW of the Central Party Secretariat (9th tenure) on strengthening the Party's leadership over the militia and reserve forces in the new situation; the 2019 Militia and Reserve Law and documents guiding its implementation.

Second, strengthen the leadership of Party committees, the direction, management and operation of local authorities, heads of agencies and organizations, and the participation of departments, branches and unions in the work of militia and self-defense forces. Focus on leading and directing the effective implementation of the Project on organizing forces, training, operations, ensuring regimes and policies for militia and self-defense forces in the period of 2021-2025 and the following years.

Authorities at all levels from the central to local levels and at the grassroots level need to strengthen state management of militia and self-defense forces; mobilize the participation of departments, branches, unions, political organizations, and socio-political organizations, and work together to build a truly strong militia and self-defense force in all aspects, in line with the Party and State's guidelines and policies. Build a contingent of cadres working in militia and self-defense forces with steadfast political will, comprehensive qualifications and capacity, meeting the requirements of tasks in the new situation.

Third, regularly consolidate and improve the organization and staff; constantly innovate and improve the quality of military training and political and legal education for the militia; organize training for militia subjects and components in line with mission requirements, organize staff, equipment, and activities in accordance with the actual conditions of each locality; improve the quality and effectiveness of pilot models of militia and militia units in key areas of national defense and security.

Fourth, focus on improving the quality and effectiveness of the coordination activities of the MiQTV with other forces. Strictly implement the coordination regulations; proactively grasp the situation, closely coordinate in protecting borders, seas, and islands; protect political security, order, and social safety at the grassroots level; promote the core role with the entire population in participating in socio-economic development and preventing, combating, and overcoming the consequences of natural disasters, rescue, and relief; propagate and mobilize people to strictly comply with the Party's guidelines, the State's policies and laws, actively participate in hunger eradication, poverty reduction, and building cultural life at the grassroots level.

Fifth, building the Militia and Self-Defense Forces must be associated with building a strong and comprehensive locality and grassroots. Linking the building of the Militia and Self-Defense Forces with the building of the political system, aiming to strengthen and improve the quality of Party organizations, authorities, socio-political organizations, and mass organizations at the local and grassroots levels; linking the building of national defense and the all-people national defense posture with the people's security posture, building an increasingly solid "people's hearts posture" in each locality. Thereby, continuing to affirm and maintain the position of the Militia and Self-Defense Forces in the cause of building and defending the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the new period.

PV:

NGOC HAN (performed)

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/xay-dung-quan-doi/luc-luong-dan-quan-tu-ve-xung-dang-voi-niem-tin-cua-dang-nha-nuoc-va-nhan-dan-821423