From formulating the document system, coordination, and task assignment to preparing logistics, equipment, and weapons, all efforts are being deployed synchronously and methodically with the determination to successfully organize this drill, which holds particularly important significance for local defense and security tasks.

A Defensive Zone Exercise is the highest form of training within a local defensive zone, playing a crucial role in comprehensively inspecting and evaluating the leadership capacity of Party committees, the management and administration of governments at all levels, the advisory capabilities of agencies, departments, and sectors, and the combat readiness of the armed forces. This is also an opportunity to test the correctness and effectiveness of the mechanism where “the Party leads, the government administers, departments and sectors advise, and the armed forces act as the core” in practice.

Senior Colonel Nguyễn Văn Hoạt, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the provincial Military Command, stated that through the drill, party committees and administrations at all levels will enhance their capacity to analyze, evaluate, and forecast situations, promptly putting forward appropriate guidelines and decisions to handle defense and security scenarios. Concurrently, the drill helps the locality improve its ability to organize and direct the transition from peacetime to wartime, leverage the combined strength of the entire political system in building and operating the defensive zone, and proactively prevent and combat sabotage plots and tactics by hostile forces, thereby maintaining political stability and creating a favorable environment for socio-economic development.

Clearly identifying the importance of the task, the leadership, direction, and preparation for the drill have been deployed early, strictly, and synchronously. Acting as the standing agency, the provincial Military Command has proactively advised the provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee to issue leading and directing documents, while establishing the Steering Board, the Organizing Panel, and assisting teams to serve the drill. Tasks have been assigned to each member of the Steering Board and every agency and unit under the motto of being specific: Clear individuals, clear tasks, and clear progress.

Within this framework, the military force plays a core role in advising on combat tactics and organizing the execution of drill contents, while the public security force ensures political security and social order and safety. The Border Guard remains in charge of contents related to border areas, and various departments, offices, and sectors participate in building plans to guarantee logistics, technical support, economics, and social fields when the locality transitions into a defense state.

One of the core tasks receiving focused implementation is formulating the drill document system. Up to now, the standing agency of the provincial Defensive Zone Exercise Steering Board has completed core documents, including directing documents from the Organizing Panel, the combat document system of the provincial armed forces, and operational guidance documents. Concurrently, it has issued guidelines and dispatched specialized cadres to directly coach and support participating departments, offices, sectors, and localities in building plans to ensure national defense needs for the first year of war, strictly adhering to the set requirements and contents.

Logistics preparation to ensure the best conditions for the drill is also being urgently carried out. The provincial Military Command has mobilized personnel and equipment to construct systems of trenches and fortifications at the mock combat base, while preparing stands, sand tables, signage systems, and communications at drill sites. Concurrently, units are reviewing, inspecting, and maintaining all weapons, technical equipment, and vehicles serving the drill, while proactively budgeting materials and means to guarantee practical combat and live-fire contents.

This year’s provincial Defensive Zone Exercise features various new points in both organization and content. According to the plan, the drill is organized in a one-side, two-level format, closely tied to the currently deployed two-level local government model. The drill contents are tightly integrated with a large-scale civil defense drill, incorporating several scenarios related to non-traditional security, alongside the application of information technology and digital data in command, administration, and situation handling. Notably, the hypothetical scenarios are constructed close to the realities of border areas and match the terrain characteristics of Điện Biên province, thereby testing the leadership, command, and administration capacities as well as the rapid response capabilities of the forces in all situations.

Alongside the requirement to successfully complete specialized contents, ensuring safety is defined as a continuous task. Agencies and units are strengthening political and ideological education, raising awareness and responsibility for officers, soldiers, and forces participating in the drill. The management of personnel, weapons, and technical equipment is strictly executed, while plans for traffic safety, fire and explosion prevention, healthcare, and food safety and hygiene are fully and tightly formulated. Concurrently, emulation movements pointing toward the drill have been widely launched across the entire force to create an enthusiastic atmosphere, encouraging officers and soldiers to overcome difficulties and excellently complete their assigned tasks.

Under the close leadership and direction of the provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee, the proactivity of the armed forces, and the responsible coordination of departments, sectors, and localities, the preparation work for the 2026 provincial Defensive Zone Exercise is being deployed on schedule, ensuring the designated quality and progress.

Thorough and comprehensive preparation across all aspects of work will serve as a vital prerequisite for a successful drill, contributing to enhancing the leadership, direction, and administration capacities of the political system, while consolidating the potentials and stances of the all-people national defense linked with a solid people’s security posture to meet the requirements of safeguarding the Fatherland in the new situation.