Ministry of Defense proposes promoting generals ahead of schedule

The Ministry of National Defense is seeking comments on a draft Decree regulating criteria and standards for promoting generals ahead of schedule.

According to the drafting agency, Clause 4, Article 17 of the 1999 Law on Officers of the Vietnam People's Army (amended and supplemented in 2014 and 2024) stipulates that officers in active service with outstanding achievements will be considered for promotion to a higher rank, but not exceeding the highest rank for the position or title the officer is holding.

Parade, march at the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory.

However, the law has not assigned the competent authority to specify in detail the criteria and standards for considering the promotion of generals to higher ranks, so the implementation process has no legal basis for considering the promotion of officers to higher ranks.

The Law on Officers of the Vietnam People's Army also stipulates the promotion of officers ahead of schedule. However, competent authorities have not yet been assigned to prescribe criteria and standards for considering early promotion of generals, so there is no legal basis for considering proposals for early promotion of generals.

Based on the draft, the Ministry of National Defense has proposed new criteria and standards for considering promotion to the rank of general.

Accordingly, officers with current military ranks lower than the highest military rank of the position or title they are holding, which is the general rank, by 2 ranks or more, and who, by the end of the term, have completed their tasks well and made exceptionally outstanding achievements, will be considered for promotion to a higher military rank when they are awarded one of the following forms of commendation (excluding commendations based on seniority or dedication):

Forms of medals: Gold Star Order; Ho Chi Minh Order, First Class Independence Order; First Class Military Exploit Order; First Class Labor Order; First Class Fatherland Protection Order; First Class Military Exploit Order.

State honorary titles: Title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces; Title of Hero of Labor; Ho Chi Minh Prize.

During the term of an officer holding a position, he/she may only be considered for promotion to a higher rank once and only one higher rank; the time of being awarded a medal, state honorary title, or prize must be within the term of holding the current military rank.

In case an officer achieves many achievements during his/her term, only the highest achievement will be applied to consider promotion to a higher rank. Other cases will be decided by the competent authority.

Regarding the criteria and standards for promoting generals ahead of schedule, the draft clearly states:

Officers of the Vietnam People's Army who have made outstanding achievements in combat, work, and scientific research shall be considered for promotion to the rank of general ahead of schedule when they are awarded one of the following forms of state medals or honorary titles (excluding forms of commendation based on seniority or contribution):

Forms of medals: Gold Star Order; Ho Chi Minh Order; Independence Order, First Class, Second Class, Third Class; Military Exploit Order, First Class, Second Class, Third Class; Labor Order, First Class, Second Class, Third Class; Fatherland Protection Order, First Class, Second Class, Third Class; Feat of Arms Order, First Class, Second Class, Third Class; Bravery Order.

State honorary titles: Title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces; Title of Hero of Labor; Ho Chi Minh Prize.

During the term of holding a position, a general may only be considered for promotion before the term of office once, and the time of awarding medals, state honorary titles and prizes must be within the term of holding the current military rank. The time of promotion to the general rank before the term of office shall not exceed 12 months.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/bo-quoc-phong-de-xuat-thang-quan-ham-cap-tuong-vuot-bac-truoc-thoi-han-192241101143054032.htm