Article 3, titled "Orders from the Heart of a Green-Uniformed Soldier," shares the story of the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of border guards in strengthening their bases and successfully fulfilling their sacred missions.

The people are at peace – the border is secure.

"Back when the soldiers first arrived here, they faced many difficulties and shortages, and the locals helped them by gathering vegetables and bamboo shoots from the forest. We are very pleased that the border guards are living together with the locals like this, because through propaganda and persuasion, the people are more knowledgeable and don't violate the rules as much anymore..."

Mr. Lu Lau Giang, a respected figure from Den village, Phieng Pan commune, Mai Son district, Son La province, shared this information.

"Having border guards participate in our Party branch activities makes us feel more secure. If there's anything we can't do, the officers can directly guide us to complete it better..."

Mr. Lu A Cang, Party branch secretary and head of Den village, Phieng Pan commune, Mai Son district, Son La province, shared:

"It's a little hard to describe, but the relationship between the local people and the border guards and Party members is very open, like family. Whenever the people have any problems, the soldiers always come to help."

Mr. Phàng Lao Chánh, Party branch secretary and head of Pa Khôm village, Chiềng Tương commune, shared:

Cherishing, loving, sharing joys and sorrows... that is the sentiment that people in border areas have for the border guards who are assigned to the commune Party committees, the border guard Party members who participate in Party branch activities in the villages, and those who are assigned to help individual households in border areas.

Border guards, shouldering dual responsibilities, have become a bridge between the people's hearts and the Party's will, contributing alongside Party committees and authorities to strengthen the political system and enhance the leadership capacity of grassroots Party organizations at all levels in Son La.

The shoulders clad in green military uniforms can be seen throughout the mountainous border region of Son La.

- The team of officers and Party members of the Border Guard Command assigned to grassroots units advised local Party committees and authorities in Son La to implement the policy of unifying the positions of Party branch secretary and village head in 255 out of 262 villages in the border area.

- Directly identified, recruited, and nurtured over 500 Party members in 17 border communes; of which, over 98% of the new Party members are ethnic minorities, contributing to eliminating villages without Party members.

- Participated in strengthening over 50 mass organizations; identified, recruited, and trained 130 cadres in border villages...

Border guards are encouraging local people to abandon outdated customs and build a civilized way of life.

Highly appreciating the coordinated implementation of mass mobilization work by the Border Guard of Son La province, especially through the assignment of Party members of the border guard force to directly participate in grassroots organizations at the village, commune, and district levels, Mr. Luu Minh Quan, Standing Committee member and Head of the Mass Mobilization Department of the Son La Provincial Party Committee, said: This approach has created favorable conditions for understanding the people, grasping the people's situation, effectively implementing propaganda and mobilization to eliminate backward customs; ensuring social security at the grassroots level; and consolidating the people's trust in the Party committee, government, and armed forces... In particular, it contributes to the effective implementation of Resolution 02 of the Son La Provincial Party Committee on "Improving the leadership capacity and fighting strength of grassroots Party organizations in communes, wards, and towns associated with consolidating the political system at the grassroots level."

Commands from the heart

Overcoming difficulties and obstacles, with enthusiasm, responsibility, and hearts devoted to the border region, the border guards who have been assigned to the communes, villages, and people have painted a vibrant picture of the border areas.

Major Nguyen Van Duoc, from Phieng Pan Border Guard Station, shared: "I have made efforts to learn the ethnic languages ​​and understand the customs and traditions of the people in the border area; to promptly grasp the situation of the Party branch, Party members, and the people... And I always consider the people as family members, because no matter how difficult the task, we border guards always rely on the people."

Border guard party members strive to learn ethnic languages ​​and understand local customs and traditions in order to be closer to the people.

“I always focus more on the local people, thinking about how to help them develop production and improve their households. Because sometimes, even after supporting a model, the people don't know how to maintain it, so the officers have to directly step in and help. I also hope that all levels will create conditions for people in border areas to have more opportunities to develop and expand more models,” shared Major Vi Van Lun, of the Chieng Tuong Border Guard Post.

Driven by his sacred mission, for nearly 20 years, Major Nguyen Cong Luu, Political Officer of the Chieng Tuong Border Guard Post, has left his hometown in Nghe An province to dedicate himself to the mountainous border region of Son La province, including 5 years working in the border communes of Long Phieng and Chieng Tuong in Yen Chau district. And it is this second home that has given him further motivation.

The affection of the local people is the driving force that keeps border guards committed to the border region.

“Not only the officers and soldiers of Chieng Tuong border guard post, but almost all border guard forces nationwide have to live far from their families. But the motivation for border guards in border areas is the affection that the people have for the soldiers; the care and assistance of the local Party committee and government in carrying out our duties... we always feel secure and work together with the people to protect the border,” – Mr. Luu expressed.

Leveraging the strength of border guard officers to reinforce grassroots levels.

Over the years, the policy of deploying border guard officers to strengthen grassroots units has been given special attention by the Son La Border Guard Command, especially in the selection, assignment, training, and provision of benefits and policies for the personnel performing their duties.

The policy of strengthening the presence of border guards at the grassroots level is of particular interest to the Son La Border Guard Command.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Dao Manh Tuong, Deputy Head of Political Affairs of the Son La Provincial Border Guard, for comrades who are assigned to reinforce local areas or are scheduled to be assigned to reinforce local areas in the near future, they will participate in training and professional development courses to enhance their knowledge and skills as commune-level reinforcement officers; they will be provided with opportunities to study and improve their political theory and knowledge to meet the requirements of their duties.

“We regularly send working groups directly to localities to assess the situation, quality, and effectiveness of the work of officers assigned to reinforce communes; based on that, we propose to the head of the Provincial Border Guard Command and other levels to promptly reward and encourage them. Along with that, we implement policies and regulations regarding promotions and advancements in rank. And those comrades who have performed well can be assigned to higher positions or other roles upon returning to their units to suit the requirements of their duties, thus motivating them to perform their assigned tasks well.”

The Political Commissar of the Son La Provincial Border Guard Command presents gifts to the people living in the border area.

The Political Commissar of the Son La Provincial Border Guard Command, Colonel Ca Van Lap, stated: The Party Committee and the Command have directed and instructed the entire Border Guard force, especially the trusted officers assigned to grassroots units, to focus on strengthening and consolidating the grassroots political system and promoting economic, cultural, and social development in border areas. At the same time, it is necessary to continuously build a strong and comprehensive specialized border guard force and border armed forces capable of meeting the requirements and tasks of border protection in the new situation.

Border guards implement the "three close ties, four together" principle, working hand in hand with the people in border areas.

The policy of deploying border guard officers and Party members to strengthen grassroots units, a policy of the Party and the Army, is given special attention by the Party Committee and the Command of the Border Guard Force, and is considered an important mission of the Vietnam Border Guard Force.

Lieutenant General Nguyen Anh Tuan, Secretary of the Party Committee and Political Commissar of the Vietnam Border Guard, affirmed: “These units have very effectively implemented the policy of focusing on the grassroots, with the motto that the outpost is their home, the border is their homeland, and the ethnic people are their brothers and sisters. They have very effectively fulfilled their functions and duties, the tasks assigned by the Command and the Commands of the units in the provinces and cities. They have very effectively implemented the three principles of clinging: clinging to the unit, clinging to the locality, and clinging to the policies and guidelines; and the four principles of 'togetherness': eating together, living together, working together, and speaking the language of the ethnic people... From there, they truly respect the people, are close to the people, understand the people, learn from the people, and are responsible to the people; speaking so that the people understand, listening to what the people say, and acting so that the people trust... and all of this has demonstrated the effective work of the comrades in mass mobilization at the grassroots level.”

Officers and soldiers of the Son La Border Guard firmly hold their weapons to protect the border.

The strength of the entire political system, from a solid rear base to the strong bond between the military and the people, will surely further ignite the spirit of the soldiers in green uniforms. From here, the "green steel ramparts," the "fortress walls" in the high border regions, will continue to be built firmly, contributing to maintaining peaceful lives for the people throughout the borderlands of the Fatherland.

Reporters/VOV - Northwest