Ia Pnôn Border Guard Station: Securing the border, warming the hearts of the locals

With the motto "The station is home, the border is homeland, and the people of all ethnic groups are blood brothers", each officer and soldier of Ia Pnôn Border Guard Station is always close to the people, understands the people, and wholeheartedly protects the border and cares for the people's lives.

Border Guard Station officers and soldiers

Proactive and steadfast at the forefront

Ia Pnôn Border Guard Station is stationed at the western fence of the province, with the task of managing and protecting nearly 6 km of border adjacent to Ratanakiri province (Cambodia). This is an area with potential complex factors in terms of security and order, therefore, the unit always strictly maintains combat readiness, patrolling, and border control, avoiding being passive or surprised in any situation.

Major Nguyen Thanh Nhon - Political Commissar of Ia Pnôn Border Guard Station - affirmed: "Clearly defining the role in protecting territorial sovereignty and national border security, the unit synchronously deploys border management and protection measures; closely coordinates with local forces and Cambodian border guards to control and promptly handle any arising situations".

Ia Pnôn Border Guard Station always strictly maintains patrol and control work.

Border diplomacy work is effectively maintained by the unit. Regular and ad hoc meetings with the Cambodian border protection force are maintained, two-way information is exchanged promptly, cases are handled according to principles and in accordance with the law, contributing to building a peaceful , friendly and cooperative border area.

The work of checking and controlling people and vehicles passing through the border area has been strengthened. In the past 5 years, the unit has presided over and coordinated the detection, combat and handling of 24 cases/40 subjects violating the law and border regulations. Notably, the GL0422 project, the unit coordinated the arrest of 3 subjects transporting and storing explosives, confiscating 12 kg of TNT explosives, 229 detonators and many related exhibits. All acts of trafficking, transporting drugs, prohibited goods, violating border regulations... have been thoroughly handled, maintaining order in the border area. At the same time, the work of preventing and combating illegal religious propaganda activities, FULRO elements, and illegal border crossings has always been focused on, contributing to protecting domestic political security.

Border Guard Station officers are always close to the people and the grassroots to do a good job of propaganda.

Not only has the Ia Pnôn Border Guard Station successfully completed its task of protecting territorial sovereignty , it is also a solid support for the people in the area. The unit regularly coordinates with local Party committees and authorities to propagate and mobilize the masses to strictly comply with the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws; raise vigilance, actively and proactively participate in protecting the border and boundary markers.

The unit also effectively maintained 4 village security and order self-management teams, 2 border and boundary marker self-management teams with 45 members, assigned 18 party members to be in charge of 80 households and participated in the activities of 4 local party cells. According to Major Nhon, the unit coordinated with local Party committees and authorities to effectively maintain models such as: "Border and boundary marker self-management teams", "Village and village security and order self-management teams". Thereby, the role of people in protecting the border and maintaining village security has been promoted.

Warm military-civilian relationship

Leading us to visit Mr. Ro Lan Tu's new spacious house in Bua village (Ia Pnôn commune), Captain Ro Cham Tuyh - Head of the Mass Mobilization Team - informed: This is one of 3 houses built from the program to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses supported by the Provincial Border Guard Command, with a budget of 70 million VND each. Mr. Tu is a 3/4-class disabled veteran, a policy family, and has many difficulties in life.

Officers and soldiers of the Border Guard Station participate in removing temporary houses for local people.

“Eliminating temporary and dilapidated houses is a social security policy aimed at taking care of the lives of people with many difficulties. When assigned the task, we determined that we had to make every effort and promote the highest sense of responsibility to complete it. In addition to the unit's financial support, Mr. Tu's family, especially his children, contributed an additional 70 million VND. Officers and soldiers of the unit also supported dozens of working days and construction materials, contributing to the completion of the 90 m² house with a design including a living room and 3 bedrooms," said Captain Tuyh.

In addition to supporting house construction, officers and soldiers of Ia Pnôn Border Guard Station also actively participate in mass mobilization activities, join hands in building new rural areas and developing sustainable economy. Many practical models have been implemented such as: "Helping children go to school" - sponsoring 3 students, including 1 child in the Cambodian border area; adopting 1 child under the "Adopted Children of Border Guard Station" program and supporting 2 "Red Addresses" with an amount of 500 thousand VND/person/month.

In addition, officers and soldiers also regularly participate in helping people repair houses, plant forests, renovate gardens... In particular, with the spirit of "the rich help the poor", on every holiday and Tet, the unit allocates funds to increase production to support poor households, policy families and students in difficult circumstances. The program "Border Spring - Warming the hearts of the villagers" Lunar New Year 2025 alone mobilized more than 276 million VND, presented 500 gifts to poor households, 120 gifts to students, organized "Zero-VND booths" and free haircuts...

The unit is adopting a child under the "Border Guard Station Adopted Child" Program.

Referring to the role of the Border Guard Station, Mr. Ro Mah En-old Chan villager said that thanks to the border guards' regular propaganda and mobilization, people have a better understanding of the law, do not illegally cross the border, do not destroy forests for farming. In particular, households living near the border area are aware of not encroaching on land, and maintain the status quo of the border area. People also actively increase production and maintain security and order in the village.

In recognition of its persistent contributions throughout the 50-year journey, Ia Pnôn Border Post has been awarded the 2nd-class Resistance Medal along with many certificates of merit from various levels and is a typical unit in the emulation movement to win of the Gia Lai Border Guard. But perhaps, for the soldiers wearing the "Green Uniform", the most meaningful and sacred reward is the trust, love and attachment of the ethnic people in the border area. "That is the motivation for officers and soldiers to continue to steadfastly hold their positions, keep their guns steady and accompany the people to firmly protect the Fatherland's borders" - Major Nhon shared.