Under the forest canopy of the border communes of Hoanh Mo and Luc Hon (Binh Lieu district), the footsteps of the soldiers of Forestry Unit 156 have become familiar to the local people. Every year, the unit organizes two field trips to do mass mobilization work lasting 15 days each. During that journey, the officers and soldiers not only propagate and mobilize the people to comply with border policies and regulations, but also help people repair roads, build houses, rebuild classrooms, and support production development.

Young volunteers and intellectuals from Forestry 156 guide people to grow Tam Hoa plums in Trinh Tuong Residential Area.

“When we go to the people’s house, we don’t just do propaganda, but also have to join hands with the people to do the smallest things. In some villages, the roads are muddy when it rains, we have to walk for an hour to get there; we level the land, repair the roads, rebuild the leaky roofs, and sit around the fire to talk at night. There are houses that I have visited 5-6 times, not to do anything profound, but just to explain to them why we have to protect the forest, why the land cannot be burned indiscriminately, and then show them how to grow more vegetables, raise chickens, so they have more food and clothes. Whatever we can do to help, we do it right away, regardless of the time” - Lieutenant Colonel Dang Xuan Dinh, Head of Production Team No. 1, Forestry Farm 156 shared.

Forestry 156 coordinated with local departments, branches and organizations to give bicycles to students in Pac Cuong village, Hoanh Mo commune in 2024.

Accompanying the local Party Committee and government, Forestry 156 actively participated in the movements "Army joins hands to build new countryside", "Helping children go to school"; the program "Spring in the border - Tet full of military-civilian affection"; effectively implemented the Project " Socio-economic development, army model associated with ethnic minority and mountainous areas, period 2021-2025"; Project 174 - Young intellectual volunteers with 11 team members regularly staying in the area, propagating and mobilizing people to develop the economy, protect forests, and maintain security and order. The skillful mass mobilization models not only help people access scientific and technical knowledge, change their thinking and working methods, but also contribute significantly to helping the two communes of Hoanh Mo and Luc Hon reach the new rural finish line.

Young volunteer officials and intellectuals from Forestry Farm 156 guide people in Trinh Tuong residential area to take care of cows according to National Target Program 1719.

Implementing the motto "Four together" (eating together, living together, working together, speaking the people's language together), in the past 5 years, officers and soldiers of Forestry 156 have helped people spend more than 3,000 working days planting and caring for Tam Hoa plum trees, Duong oranges, red-fleshed dragon fruit, cleaning up village roads and alleys; building 28 civil works, 20 livestock barns; dredging and repairing 7km of intra-field canals. Maintaining the effective operation of 9 medicine cabinets in border villages and hamlets; examining and treating more than 14,400 people; coordinating with Military Hospital 7 to examine and provide free medicine to 150 policy beneficiaries with a total amount of more than 530 million VND; supporting the construction of 1 gratitude house; supporting the "Fund for the Poor" with a total amount of 160 million VND. Coordinating to present bicycles to 5 students in difficult circumstances; Giving backpacks, winter coats and school supplies to 81 students... Implementing the National Target Program, the unit provided 85 cows, 60 goats, and 2,000 Tam Hoa plum trees to beneficiaries with a total amount of more than 1.5 billion VND.

Officers and staff of Forestry 156 help people build roads.

Mr. Chieu Dao Van (Pac Cuong village, Hoanh Mo commune, Binh Lieu district) emotionally shared: “Our villagers really appreciate the army. When storm No. 3 (storm Yagi ) blew off the roof of their house, they came to help rebuild it. For several years, my children have been given warm clothes and books by the army - small but heartwarming gifts. Winter here is very cold, the wind whistles through the cliffs, but every time we see the shadow of the army's uniform, people feel warmer, as if there is a fire in the house.”

Not only helping people build houses, repair roads, and stabilize their lives, officers and soldiers of Forestry 156 also always stand side by side with functional forces in the task of patrolling and protecting the border. In the past 5 years, the unit has coordinated to detect and handle 14 cases of illegal entry and exit, promptly preventing risks of violating border regulations, and maintaining stability on the border. Also during that time, Forestry soldiers have not feared danger, directly participating in extinguishing 8 forest fires, with a total area of ​​over 69 hectares, contributing to protecting forest resources, protecting people and maintaining peace on the border of the Fatherland.

Young volunteers and intellectuals from Forestry 156 help people harvest rice.

Lieutenant Colonel Pham Xuan Kha - Party Secretary, Political Commissar of Forestry 156 shared: “Doing mass mobilization is not just about going to the village for a few days and then leaving, but about being attached for a long time, understanding and accompanying the people. For us, each officer and soldier not only performs national defense duties, but is also a technical instructor, a propagandist, and above all, a child of the village. In the near future, we will continue to expand the mass mobilization models that have been done well, regularly organize grassroots operations, and link mass mobilization work with forest protection and border preservation. In particular, we will focus on training and fostering young cadres - those who know the ethnic language and understand the local culture, so that they can truly live and work long-term with the people.”

Under the sunlight of the border, amidst the green of the great forest, the image of soldiers of Forestry 156 wading streams, climbing passes, building houses, opening roads, spreading knowledge with the people... is a vivid proof of the close bond between the army and the people, contributing to building an increasingly strong national fence.

Article and photos: NGUYEN THANH

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/quoc-phong-toan-dan/lam-truong-156-doan-kinh-te-quoc-phong-327-gan-bo-voi-dan-dung-xay-bien-cuong-831049