To make the military enlistment ceremony truly a national military enlistment day.

From February 25 to February 27, 2024, military enlistment ceremonies will take place simultaneously nationwide. To prepare well for military recruitment, up to this point, military enlistment localities and military receiving units have regularly exchanged, coordinated, and closely organized the implementation of stages and steps in the military recruitment process to ensure targets, quality, and absolute safety.

Local military agencies, especially at the district level, should promote their roles and responsibilities well. The presiding agency should closely coordinate and cooperate with departments, branches and organizations to advise local Party committees and authorities, and do a good job of propaganda and education to raise citizens' awareness and responsibility in performing military service; strengthen measures and strictly manage the quantity and quality of citizens ready to join the army in 2024.

On this occasion, VOV reporter interviewed Colonel Hoang Quang Vinh, Deputy Head of the Military Numbers and Policy Department, Military Department, General Staff.

Colonel Hoang Quang Vinh

PV : Starting from February 25, localities across the country will conduct military enlistment ceremonies. Compared to previous years, is there anything different about the military enlistment ceremonies in localities this year, sir?

Colonel Hoang Quang Vinh: The military handover ceremony is one of the solemn ceremonies organized according to the regulations of the Ministry of National Defense, implemented in districts, towns, cities under provinces and centrally run cities (collectively referred to as district level).

During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019 - 2021, the military handover ceremony was conducted in a concise and quick manner to meet the requirements of epidemic prevention and control. Currently, the country has returned to normal, so the 2024 military handover ceremony will be carried out in accordance with the regulations in Decision No. 2185 of the Chief of the General Staff.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of the local government and organizations that sent the soldiers; local military commanders and agencies that sent the soldiers and units that received the soldiers; citizens who joined the army and representatives of families with citizens who joined the army. Leaders of the Central Military Commission, the Head of the Ministry of National Defense, the General Staff and the General Department of Politics also regularly attended, directed, inspected and encouraged young people to join the army in localities across the country.

In recent years, the organization of solemn and thoughtful military enlistment ceremonies has become a tradition in all localities across the country, creating an exciting and eager atmosphere for each citizen to set out to fulfill their sacred duty to the Fatherland, truly becoming a military enlistment festival, creating a good impression and having high propaganda and educational value.

Young people join the army in 2022

PV: Up to this point, localities across the country have completed the selection and call-up of citizens for military service, preparing for the military enlistment ceremony in 2024. So what standards do citizens need to meet to join the army, sir?

Colonel Hoang Quang Vinh: Currently, the regulations on selecting and calling citizens to join the army in 2024 have not changed compared to 2023. Regarding the standards for selecting and calling citizens to join the army, Clause 1, Article 31 of the Law on Military Service (NVQS) 2015 stipulates: Citizens of military service age are called to join the army when they meet the following conditions and standards: Clear background; Strictly comply with the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws; Good health to serve in the army according to regulations; Have appropriate educational level.

Specific standards are stipulated in Article 4 of Circular No. 148/2018 of the Minister of National Defense regulating the selection and calling of citizens for military service.

Accordingly, regarding age: Citizens from 18 years old to 25 years old. Male citizens with college or university degrees who have been temporarily deferred from military service during a training course of a training level will be selected and called up for military service until they are 27 years old.

Regarding political standards: Implement according to Joint Circular No. 50/2016 of the Ministry of National Defense - Ministry of Public Security stipulating political standards for selecting citizens to serve in the Vietnam People's Army. For agencies, units and important confidential positions in the Army; Honor Guard, Ceremonial Force; Professional Guard and Military Control Force, selection is carried out according to regulations of the Ministry of National Defense.

Regarding health standards: Select citizens with health types 1, 2, 3 according to the provisions of Joint Circular No. 16/2016 of the Ministry of Health - Ministry of National Defense regulating health examination for military service. For agencies, units, and positions specified in Point b, Clause 2 of this Article, select to ensure specific standards according to the regulations of the Ministry of National Defense. Do not call citizens with health type 3, refractive eye defects (myopia 1.5 diopters or more, hyperopia of various degrees); drug addiction, HIV/AIDS infection.

Regarding cultural standards: Select and call up citizens with an 8th grade education level or higher, from high to low. Localities with difficulties that cannot meet the military recruitment quota must report to the competent authority for consideration and decision to select citizens with a 7th grade education level. Communes in remote areas, areas with especially difficult socio-economic conditions according to the provisions of law; ethnic minorities with less than 10,000 people can recruit no more than 25% of citizens with primary education level, the rest must have secondary education level or higher.

PV: Are the standards for female citizens joining the army different from those for male citizens?

Colonel Hoang Quang Vinh: Clause 2, Article 6 of the 2015 Law on Military Service stipulates: "Female citizens of military service age in peacetime, if they volunteer and the army has a need, can serve in the army."

In 2024, in addition to meeting the general conditions and standards as for selecting and calling male citizens to join the army, female citizens must have a voluntary application to serve in the Army, confirmed by a family representative and the People's Committee of the commune where they permanently reside, and meet a number of specific conditions and standards below.

Regarding age: Select female citizens from 18 to 25 years old; if graduated from college or university, the age is up to 27 years old; unmarried, no children.

Regarding health, candidates must meet health standards of type 1 and 2 according to the provisions of Joint Circular No. 16 of 2016 of the Ministry of Health - Ministry of National Defense; height must be from 1m60 or more, with a balanced appearance and a fresh appearance.

Regarding technical expertise, recruit female citizens who have graduated from intermediate level training or higher; priority is given to citizens who have graduated from university or college with training in fields suitable for the needs of the Army. In case of talent, follow the separate regulations of the Ministry of National Defense.

PV: If a citizen meets the military enlistment standards as you just mentioned, will those standards be re-examined after the unit receives new soldiers?

Colonel Hoang Quang Vinh: To ensure the quality of non-commissioned officers and soldiers joining the army and meeting mission requirements, the selection and calling of citizens to join the army is carried out according to a very strict process right from the grassroots level.

After receiving citizens for military service, the receiving units will continue to review the standards of new soldiers. In case they do not meet the prescribed standards, the unit will coordinate with the local military assignment to make compensation within 7 days from the date of receiving the soldiers.

In case of having to wait for the results of political verification, ethics or health assessment, the receiving unit shall notify and coordinate with the district-level locality to proactively make up the number of troops. The time for making up the number of troops shall not exceed 15 days from the date of handover of troops.

Reporter: Currently, the 2015 Law on Military Service stipulates that the term of active service for non-commissioned officers and soldiers is 24 months. However, in some units, the term of active service is extended by 6 months. How is this regulated, sir?

Colonel Hoang Quang Vinh: The term of active service of non-commissioned officers and soldiers is stipulated in Clause 1, Article 21 of the 2015 Law on Military Service, specifically: "The term of active service in peacetime of non-commissioned officers and soldiers is 24 months".

The extension of the term of service of non-commissioned officers and soldiers is stipulated in Clause 2, Article 21, specifically: The Minister of National Defense may decide to extend the term of service of non-commissioned officers and soldiers but not more than 6 months in the following cases: To ensure combat readiness; Performing the task of preventing and combating natural disasters, epidemics, and search and rescue.

Thus, the extension of the term of service of non-commissioned officers and soldiers for no more than 6 months is only applicable in a number of cases as above and is specifically decided by the Minister of National Defense.

PV: During military service, what benefits and policies do citizens enjoy?

Colonel Hoang Quang Vinh: The above question is also of interest to all non-commissioned officers, soldiers on active duty and families of citizens on active duty or discharged. The regime and policies for non-commissioned officers, soldiers on active duty or discharged and their relatives are stipulated in Article 50 of the 2015 Law on Military Service, as follows:

Biological parents; fathers-in-law or mothers-in-law; legal guardians; spouses; biological children and legally adopted children of non-commissioned officers and soldiers on active duty are entitled to health insurance benefits in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Health Insurance and are entitled to hardship allowances guaranteed by the State budget.

Biological and legally adopted children of non-commissioned officers and soldiers on active duty are exempted from or have their tuition fees reduced when studying at public and non-public general education institutions according to the provisions of law on tuition exemption and reduction.

In case of non-commissioned officers and soldiers on active duty who sacrifice or die while on duty, their families will enjoy preferential treatment according to the provisions of law.

PV : Thank you.

Source: https://vov.vn/quan-su-quoc-phong/de-le-giao-nhan-quan-thuc-su-la-ngay-hoi-tong-quan-trong-ca-nuoc-post1078537.vov