They remain ready to undertake missions in border regions, on islands, and in remote areas; lead disaster prevention, epidemic control, and rescue operations; and stand guard in dangerous locations to protect the lives and property of the people. Their dedication continues to highlight the noble qualities of “Uncle Ho’s soldiers” in the new era. With enthusiasm and the desire to contribute, young soldiers are ready and confident in accompanying the nation as it enters the era of rise.
    |
 |
|
GDP’s leader tours the exhibition on outstanding youth initiatives at the 11th Congress of the Military Youth Union. |
Under the leadership of the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defense, the General Department of Political Affairs, party committees, political commissars and officers, political organs at all levels, and the guidance of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, youth work and youth movements in the military in the 2020-2025 have been comprehensively implemented with clearly defined priorities. These efforts have met the goals set by the 10th Military Youth Union Congress, contributing to building healthy and exemplary Party organizations and model, comprehensively strong units, and supporting military building, defense consolidation, and Fatherland protection.
Political, ideological, moral, lifestyle, cultural, legal, and disciplinary education has been carried out extensively and effectively. The content and methods of education have been renewed with creative, diverse approaches that combine regular education with practical activities such as field trips to historical sites, meetings with witnesses, and traditional exchanges. Competitions conducted in both in-person and online formats have helped cadres and youth deepen their understanding of political and ideological content.
The movement to study and follow President Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality, and lifestyle, together with the campaign “Promote traditions, dedicate talent, be worthy of the title of Uncle Ho’s soldiers,” continues to expand. Monitoring ideological trends and orienting public opinion among youth have been conducted effectively. Young soldiers actively counter hostile and distorted arguments, especially online, helping safeguard the Party’s ideological foundation. These efforts have directly contributed to shaping a generation of young soldiers with firm political stance, good ethics, professional competence, strong discipline, and readiness to undertake all assigned tasks.
Revolutionary action movements have been led consistently by party committees and chains-of-command. They have been implemented flexibly and creatively to match each unit’s missions and align with the “Determined-to-Win” Emulation Movement in the whole military.
Young soldiers consistently lead in training, combat readiness, discipline maintenance, and building a healthy cultural environment. They organize and participate in activities celebrating national, Party, and military anniversaries. They also form the core force in border and maritime patrols, crime prevention, bomb and mine clearance, search and repatriation of fallen soldiers’ remains, environmental protection, climate change response, and search and rescue operations. In every mission, no matter how demanding or dangerous, young soldiers are always present and willing to sacrifice for the people.
The “Youth Innovation” movement and the Creative Youth Awards have expanded significantly, with growth in both quantity and quality. Some youth innovations have been applied across the military and recognized internationally. At the same time, Youth unions at all levels have implemented the “Each youth with one creative idea” campaign and guided their members to participate in the “Digital Literacy for all” and “AI Popularization” programs. These initiatives have encouraged scientific research and technological engagement among young soldiers, contributing to national construction and defense.
Youth organizations across the military have been strengthened in political orientation, ideology, organization, ethics, and action. Agencies and units actively identify, cultivate, and utilize young talents. Training for youth cadres is a constant priority, focusing on professional competence, ethics, and youth mobilization skills. Youth activities are maintained rigorously, with renewed content aligned with unit missions and youth needs. Management of youth is adapted to each unit’s circumstances, especially during rest periods or difficult tasks. Evaluation, classification, and commendation work is conducted objectively and promptly. Over the past three years, more than 36,000 exemplary Youth Union members have been admitted to the Party, and more than 86% of youth organizations, cadres, and members have successfully completed their tasks.
Agencies and units have also provided effective communication, counseling, career orientation, and job introduction for all young soldiers completing military service. Youths receive education in cultural lifestyles, aesthetics, and art, and participate actively in sports and physical training to improve health and meet mission requirements.
Coordination with local youth organizations, affiliated units, and defense diplomacy activities has been strengthened. These efforts have contributed to the military’s role as a “working army” and support the Party’s international integration guideline. Many initiatives, models, and programs have been expanded and widely implemented. Exchanges with young officers and youth organizations from partner countries are held regularly. Young officers and soldiers participating in U.N. peacekeeping operations or studying abroad have consistently achieved outstanding results.
Youth work and movements over the past three years have reaffirmed the military’s leading role in national youth affairs. With many collective and individual achievements, youth organizations, cadres, and members have been honored by the Party, the State, the military, and local authorities.
In the coming period, global and regional developments will remain complex. Global challenges will continue to affect all countries. Domestically, national renewal, industrialization - modernization, and international integration are advancing to a new stage marked by strong aspirations for development. Building a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modernized military imposes increasingly high demands on young soldiers, especially in political will, capability, intellect, and effectiveness. Inspiring pioneering spirit, innovation, creativity, and dedication is both a long-term strategic issue and an urgent requirement.
To meet new demands, party committees, chains-of-command, political organs, youth organizations, and young soldiers across the military must focus on thoroughly grasping the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and law on youth work; strictly implementing the Resolutions of the 14th National Party Congress and the 12th Military Party Congress; translating goals and policies related to youth work into practical programs suitable for each unit, ensuring strong momentum for continued development.
|
|
 |
|
GDP’s leader and military youth in a “return to the roots” activity at the Tan Trao Special National Relic Site in Tuyen Quang province in August 2025 |
In addition, military youth should enhance the quality of education and communication; strengthen revolutionary ideals, political stance, dedication, responsibility, ethics, and lifestyle among youth; organize the political education campaign, titled “Military youth confidently advancing into the nation’s era of rise;” promote the values of “Uncle Ho’s soldiers” in connection with studying and following President Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts, morality, lifestyle and carrying the “Promote traditions, dedicate talents, be worthy of the title of Uncle Ho’s soldiers” movement; expand legal education and build youth’s respect for law and discipline; flexibly use educational methods and digital technology; closely monitor ideological trends; pro-actively combat hostile viewpoints, especially attempts to “depoliticize” the military; improve material and spiritual welfare for youth, particularly in remote, border, and island areas.
Next, youth in the military should launch and implement the “Military youth - Three pioneers to win victory” movement, in combination with major campaigns launched by the Party, State, military, and Youth Union Central Committee; build the model of the new-era military youth which is professionally competent, politically steadfast, creative in thinking, exemplary in ethics, pioneering in training and combat readiness, and capable of advancing science-technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
Furthermore, they must focus on building strong youth organizations, expanding effective models; strengthening youth involvement in building exemplary Party organizations and comprehensively strong units; cultivating outstanding youth union members for Party admission; implementing policies supporting talented young soldiers.
The last one is leveraging the combined strength of organizations and forces inside and outside the military; enhancing the effectiveness of coordination with ministries, localities, affiliated units, organizations, and individuals to create favorable conditions for youth development; enhancing defense diplomacy and exchanges with young officers from partner countries, reinforcing friendship, trust, and Vietnam’s international military standing.
Under the leadership of the CMC, MND, and GDP, and building on past achievements, youth work in the military is poised for new development. With the spirit of “Courageous, Pioneering, Innovative, and Progressive,” military youth nationwide are determined to successfully implement Party and military resolutions and contribute to building a revolutionary, regular elite, and modernized VPA, confidently advancing into a new era.
By Senior Lieutenant General Le Quang Minh, Deputy Chief of the General Department of Political Affairs
Translated by Tran Hoai