The special Party members in border villages have made significant contributions to helping the Party committees and authorities build a strong political system; creating strong changes in Party building work at the grassroots level; consolidating and strengthening solidarity and close ties between the military and the people; ensuring political security, social order and safety, and economic development in border areas, and firmly protecting the nation's borders.

In the border villages of Son La province, there is a presence of Party members who are also border guards.

Passing the torch to border-region Party branches.

The nearly 10km long journey with its hairpin turns and muddy roads to reach Ban Den village, Phieng Pan commune, Mai Son district, Son La province... did not deter Major Nguyen Van Duoc, a member of the Drug and Crime Prevention Team of Phieng Pan Border Post.

Every house and every field of the families in the village was no longer unfamiliar to Major Duoc, because ever since he was assigned to participate in activities with the Party branch of Den village, he had always considered himself a son of the village.

The party members in the border village are familiar with every road leading back to their village.

“During my time working with the village Party branch, I was able to promptly grasp the situation of the Party branch, the situation of Party members, and the people. Through this, I was able to promptly advise the Party committee and unit commanders, and coordinate closely with the local government. Especially since Den village borders the border area, in addition to disseminating guidelines and policies, we had to mobilize the people to prevent encroachment, illegal settlement, and illegal exploitation of forest and land resources across the border…” – Mr. Duoc shared.

Since its establishment in 2006, the Den village Party branch has had only 6 members. The presence of border guard officers has further strengthened the village Party branch in advising and directing leadership in various fields.

In particular, this border guard party member has instilled a sense of responsibility in cadres, party members, and over 300 people in the Black Village; creating unity and solidarity, preventing illegal border crossings, illegal exploitation of forest and land resources, and the emergence of pressing issues in recent years.

Border guard party members instill a sense of responsibility in border officials and party members.

Mr. Lu A Cang, Party branch secretary and head of Den village, said: "My Party branch has officers from the border guard station living with us. They have advised the Party committee and the village management board to issue resolutions and some measures to help the people develop economically and socially. Furthermore, in complex issues related to political security and border security, when border guards are present, they also offer suggestions to resolve difficulties and obstacles."

Not only in the four border villages like Den village, but in Phieng Pan commune, 100% of the village Party branches have Party members from the operational teams of Phieng Pan Border Guard Station, Son La Border Guard Command, participating in activities.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Lo Van Dien, Secretary of the Party Committee and Political Commissar of Phieng Pan Border Guard Station, the unit has realized the general policy of the Party Committee of the Border Guard Force, and the directives of the Party Committee and the Command of the Son La Border Guard Force, in conjunction with the practical situation of the border commune.

“We believe it is necessary to fully deploy Party members from the Border Guard Post to participate in activities at the Party branches of the 17 villages in Phiêng Pằn commune; to understand the situation of the Party branches, Party members, local Party committees and authorities, and to advise the village Party branches on the task of consolidating the grassroots political system; to issue resolutions to lead the village Party branches and strengthen the political foundation, helping the Party branches develop economically, culturally and socially, especially to build a solid people's border defense system in the border area,” said Lieutenant Colonel Lò Văn Diện.

Every house and every field in Phiêng Pằn has the presence of Party members who are border guards.

Adjacent to Xieng Kho district, Hua Phan province (Laos), Phieng Pan is a border commune with a fragmented terrain, mainly high mountains and deep valleys, and a harsh climate; the level of awareness among the Mong and Xinh Mun ethnic groups is still limited... However, Party members in military uniform have overcome difficulties and challenges, contributing to strengthening the political system and accompanying the changes in the locality.

Many models for supporting people's economic development have been established.

Mr. Lu A Dua, Party Secretary and Chairman of the People's Council of Phieng Pan commune, Mai Son district, Son La province, assessed: The quality of Party branch meetings has improved since comrades were sent to the grassroots level to participate in meetings, and the way meetings are conducted, as well as the way leadership resolutions are issued, has become more effective than before. In economic development, comrades and professional teams regularly visit the villages and guide the people on what crops to plant and what livestock to raise... to develop household economies and increase people's income... resulting in many positive changes in recent times.

A pillar of support for the vulnerable.

In addition to assigning Party members to participate in activities with Party branches in border villages, border guard posts also send officers and professional soldiers to directly take charge of and support each family with particularly difficult circumstances...

“If it weren't for the border guards' support, my family wouldn't have a house to shelter us from the sun and rain, and wouldn't be able to focus on production. Besides providing a house, they also supported us with models for growing pear and plum trees... Especially, they are very attentive; they always check on us and help when we're sick; even when they can't come home, they call to ask how we are, how the fruit trees are doing, just like family members...”

Mr. Vi Van Lun, team leader of the community mobilization team at Chieng Tuong Border Guard Station, directly assisted two particularly disadvantaged families.

The person who accompanied the family of Mr. Vi Van Bac, from Na Mua village, Long Phieng commune, Yen Chau district, Son La province, on their journey to overcome poverty is Comrade Vi Van Lun, team leader of the Mass Mobilization Team, Chieng Tuong Border Guard Station.

Many models of family economic development are supported by border guard officers and party members for the local people.

"To provide support, I have to go directly to each household, understand their thoughts and aspirations, such as what crops they want to plant for economic development... For example, if the villagers want to plant pear trees, I support them and guide them on how to care for them," said Mr. Lun.

The rice savings jar is for disadvantaged families of officers and soldiers of Chiềng Tương Border Guard Station.

As scheduled, every month, Major Thào Nguyên Hồ, Deputy Political Officer of Chiềng Tương Border Guard Post, and his comrades personally measure out bags of rice from the unit's savings jar and deliver them to the home of Mr. Phạm Văn Hiếu – a family in particularly difficult circumstances in the commune.

Mr. Hieu said with a choked voice: "My health is poor now. I've been paralyzed for over 10 years, and despite seeking treatment in many places, I haven't recovered. Now I'm confined to my bed at home, unable to do anything. There's no one to be the main breadwinner, my wife is also sickly, and my children are just growing up. My income is unstable and difficult... The border guards have shown great care and support to my family, regularly visiting and providing rice, sweets, and essential supplies..."

Border guards have become a pillar of support for vulnerable people and those in particularly difficult circumstances.

With the desire to become a support system for disadvantaged and vulnerable people, and to prevent hostile elements and border criminals from exploiting and manipulating them, the Chieng Tuong Border Guard Station has assigned 24 officers and professional soldiers to directly assist 62 particularly disadvantaged households in the two communes of Chieng Tuong and Long Phieng under its management.

Major Nguyen Cong Luu, Party Secretary and Political Commissar of Chieng Tuong Border Guard Station, shared: "The people in the border area have low levels of education and difficult economic conditions. Secondly, the border area faces relatively complex issues regarding security, order, and criminal activity. Therefore, assigning border guard officers to be in charge of households serves two purposes: firstly, to help the people; and secondly, as a method to suppress various types of crime in the border area…"

Many effective economic models are gradually taking shape on the hillsides of the border region.

These individuals, shouldering two responsibilities, have fulfilled their special roles and missions, contributing alongside the Party committee and government to transform the face of the border region.

Mr. Pham Van Tien, Party Secretary and Chairman of the People's Council of Long Phieng commune, Yen Chau district, Son La province, affirmed: The Border Guard's policy of assigning officers and soldiers to assist disadvantaged families, especially in border villages, has been very effective, helping households develop their economy and alleviate poverty. In recent years, the lives of the people have improved, and the shift in crop structure has been effective, especially with plum and longan trees...; the number of poor households has decreased by 3-3.5% annually.

Currently, Son La province has 158 Party members who are officers of the Provincial Border Guard participating in Party branch activities in 130 border villages. 215 Party members who are officers and professional soldiers of the Provincial Border Guard are assigned to support and assist 424 disadvantaged and vulnerable families in the border region.

Colonel Ca Van Lap, Political Commissar of the Son La Provincial Border Guard Command, stated: With the motto "The outpost is our home, the border is our homeland, and the ethnic minorities are our brothers and sisters," border guard officers at the grassroots level have done a good job of closely working with the people in the border areas. This has fostered trust and consensus between the Border Guard and the people.

People living in border areas cherish the contributions of the border guard officers and Party members who have been reinforced to the communes and villages in the border region.

Every family is settled, prosperous, free from poverty and hunger, and not lured or exploited by hostile forces; every village is more united, overcoming difficulties and protecting the border... These are the sweet fruits of the efforts of cadres, Party members, officers, and professional soldiers in particular, as well as the correct policy of the Party and the Army regarding the deployment of border guard cadres and Party members to strengthen the grassroots.

However, during their journey to the villages and communities along the border, border guards and Party members also encounter many difficulties. So what motivates these Deputy Secretaries of the Party Committees and Party members in green uniforms to overcome difficulties, remain steadfast, and fulfill their two missions? What have all levels and sectors done, are doing, and need to do to maximize the strength of the border guard officers strengthening the grassroots? This is also the content of Article 3, the final article in the series titled: "The Command from the Heart of a Soldier in Green Uniform."

Reporters/VOV-Northwest