Spreading clever mass mobilization models

In 2023, in Phu Quac 2 village, Na Ngoi commune (Nghe An province), Mr. Ha Chong Lau was one of four households supported by Economic - Defense Group 4 with 150 chickens. After providing the chickens, officers, employees and young volunteers of the unit came to his house to guide him on breeding techniques and support him with food and veterinary medicine. To date, Mr. Lau's flock of chickens has grown to hundreds of chickens, bringing in a stable source of income, helping his family expand farming and raising livestock, becoming a typical household in the movement to escape poverty sustainably.

In Na Chua village, Muong Chanh commune ( Thanh Hoa province), Mr. Luong Van Lun's family received support for a pair of breeding cows from Economic-Defense Group 5. From that "initial capital", Mr. Lun expanded his herd to more than ten cows, had the conditions to build a house, buy amenities, and take care of his children's education. "Without the help of the army, my family would hardly have changed their lives like today," Mr. Lun said emotionally.

Economic - Defense Group 5 supports local pig breeds to help households in the Muong Lat economic - defense project area (Thanh Hoa province). Photo: KHÁNH TRINH

Those two simple stories are just a small slice of hundreds of "Smart Mass Mobilization" models deployed in Military Region 4, spreading widely among ethnic minorities, border areas, religions, and coastal areas. From "Cultural area with strong military-civilian affection" in Ha Tinh , "Clean water with military-civilian affection" in Thanh Hoa, "Bridge of military-civilian affection" in Quang Tri, to "Lighting up the countryside roads" of Division 968..., each model is the crystallization of the close military-civilian affection, a vivid demonstration of the motto "when the people are peaceful, the country is strong, the border is stable".

According to the report of the Steering Committee of Project 2036 of Military Region 4, after more than two years of implementation, agencies and units have built more than 170 "Smart Mass Mobilization" models, with a total budget of more than 23 billion VND (of which the Project's source is more than 5.2 billion VND; agencies and units 4.2 billion VND; local budget and social mobilization 14.3 billion VND), mobilizing tens of thousands of working days of soldiers and socialized resources. The units have closely coordinated with local Party committees and authorities, participating in building strong political bases in more than 1,900 communes in ethnic minority, religious, border and coastal areas; consolidating nearly 1,500 Party cells, 1,800 grassroots political and social organizations, contributing significantly to maintaining political security, social order and safety, especially in key and complicated areas.

Project "Lighting up the countryside roads" of Division 968, Military Region 4. Photo: THANH HAI

Throughout the special areas of Military Region 4, the image of soldiers silently helping people build roads, pull electricity, build houses, examine patients, provide medicine, and demolish temporary houses... is becoming more and more familiar. From 2023 to now, nearly 5,800 officers and soldiers have marched to do mass mobilization work in 62 communes, helping people build and repair more than 330km of roads and 211km of canals in the fields; providing free medical examinations, treatment, and medicine to nearly 6,300 people; and supporting the demolition of 554 temporary, dilapidated houses worth more than 37 billion VND.

In 2025, in Military Region 4, natural disasters, storms on storms, floods on floods, Military Region 4's armed forces mobilized more than 230,000 officers and soldiers with nearly 3,500 vehicles of all kinds to help people prevent and fight natural disasters, overcome floods and rebuild lives after floods, leaving a beautiful image in the hearts of the people.

These numbers not only reflect the scale but also demonstrate the depth of humanity, responsibility and heart of Uncle Ho's soldiers among the people in peacetime.

Political determination in the new period

The implementation of Project 2036 shows that, along with the close leadership and direction of the Party Committee and the Military Region 4 Command, the coordination of local Party committees, authorities, departments, branches and organizations is a decisive factor for the effectiveness of mass mobilization work in special areas. On that basis, all levels, branches, agencies and units have joined hands to build a solid "people's hearts and minds position", creating a stable environment for socio-economic development, strengthening national defense and security in strategic areas of the Fatherland.

The project "Clean water for the people and army" in Cam Thuy commune, Thanh Hoa province. Photo: HAI HOANG

After two years of implementation, many valuable experiences have emerged from the grassroots. These include staying close to the people, understanding the people, and helping the people through concrete actions; closely combining mass mobilization work with implementing national target programs; and harmoniously linking the tasks of socio-economic development and strengthening national defense and security. More importantly, the implementation of Project 2036 has contributed to raising awareness and responsibility of cadres, soldiers, and the political system about the key role of mass mobilization work in building the people's hearts and minds.

Talking to us, Major General Le Van Trung, Deputy Political Commissar of Military Region 4, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Steering Committee of Project 2036 affirmed: “After two years of implementation, Project 2036 has really gone into depth, bringing practical results. From practice, we have drawn a fundamental lesson: Mass mobilization is not only done by words but also by concrete actions, close to the people, taking effectiveness and people's trust as a measure. In the coming time, the Military Region will continue to comprehensively lead and direct, deploy the Project in a more fundamental and sustainable direction; taking building a "people's heart position" as the center, building a strong political foundation, consolidating people's trust in the Party, State and Army".

Officers and soldiers of Regiment 1, Division 324 (Military Region 4) help people in Tuong Duong commune (Nghe An) overcome storm No. 3 (July 2025). Photo: KHÁNH TRINH

The Steering Committee of Project 2036 of Military Region 4 requested agencies and units to continue reviewing, selecting and replicating truly effective "Smart Mass Mobilization" models, suitable to the characteristics of each locality, especially religious areas, ethnic minority areas, border areas and islands. Along with that, promote training and improve capacity, political mettle and mass mobilization skills for officers and soldiers, considering this an important criterion in evaluating the completion of tasks. Military units need to actively advise local Party committees and authorities to develop Party members who are retired soldiers in special areas, gradually forming a strong source of grassroots cadres from the people there.

A clearly defined direction is to strengthen coordination between the armed forces and socio-political organizations, linking the implementation of Project 2036 with national target programs and socio-economic development projects. In addition to state budget resources, it is necessary to strongly mobilize socialized resources, promote the role of businesses, organizations, individuals, and communities so that skillful mass mobilization models can spread, be long-term, and sustainable.

“Implementing Project 2036 is to implement the motto “protecting the people is protecting the country”. Every project and every action of the army today is a brick to build the people’s hearts and minds - a solid foundation to build an increasingly strong defense zone”, Major General Le Van Trung emphasized.

The wet rice model brings high efficiency to people in the Muong Lat economic-defense project area, Thanh Hoa province. Photo: KHÁNH TRINH

After more than two years of implementing Project 2036, it can be affirmed that: The effectiveness is not only measured by numbers, but more importantly, by the profound change in the hearts of the people. Ethnic minorities trust and are attached to the army; Party committees and authorities at all levels consider mass mobilization work as a central and regular task; the image of Uncle Ho's soldiers continues to shine in all regions, especially in areas with difficult and complicated security, religion and borders.

Newly opened roads, newly built houses, herds of livestock, fish ponds, lush vegetable gardens... all vaguely reflect the images of officers and soldiers of the Military Region 4. This is a persistent and steadfast process, crystallized from the intelligence, enthusiasm and affection of officers and soldiers of the Military Region 4 for the people in difficult areas. Project 2036 has been and is continuing to open up a fundamental and methodical direction for the working army of Military Region 4 in the new period. This is also the journey to cultivate trust, strengthen solidarity between the army and the people, so that the "people's heart position" becomes increasingly strong, contributing to building a strong and comprehensive defense zone, firmly protecting the Fatherland from early on and from afar.

HOANG KHANH TRINH

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/nuoi-duong-van-hoa-bo-doi-cu-ho/llvt-quan-khu-4-khang-dinh-doi-quan-cong-tac-trong-thoi-ky-moi-861236