Criteria and standards for considering military promotion

The Circular stipulates that officers with current military ranks 2 or more ranks lower than the highest military rank of the position or title they are holding, and who have made exceptionally outstanding achievements, will be considered for promotion to a higher rank when awarded one of the forms of commendation.

These are: 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 Feat of Arms Order; Title of People's Armed Forces Hero; Title of Labor Hero; Ho Chi Minh Award.

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The army practices a parade for the April 30th occasion. Illustration: Thach Thao

The Circular also clearly states that during the term of holding a position, a promotion beyond a rank can only be considered once, one rank above; the time of consideration is after the officer has a decision on commendation. Special cases not yet regulated will be considered and decided by the competent authority.

Criteria and standards for considering early military promotion

Regarding the criteria and standards for early promotion, the Circular stipulates that officers are considered for early promotion when they meet all the criteria and standards for promotion beyond the rank level, but their current rank is one level lower than the highest rank ceiling of the position or title they are holding; they are considered for early promotion after the officer has a decision on commendation.

Another criterion and standard is that the current military rank is one level or higher lower than the highest military rank ceiling of the current position or title and is awarded one of the following forms of commendation, and is considered for promotion no more than 24 months ahead of schedule.

These are the forms of awards: Independence Medal, second and third class; Military Exploit Medal, second and third class; Labor Medal, second and third class; Fatherland Protection Medal, second and third class; Military Exploit Medal, second and third class; Bravery Medal.

In addition, consideration for early promotion is also based on the criteria of having the current military rank lower than the highest military rank ceiling of the position or title being held, and having completed the tasks well or better in the years during the term of holding the current military rank, falling into one of the cases considered for early promotion not exceeding 12 months.

That is the case of being recognized as a professor, associate professor, or doctor working in the right field (only considered for promotion before the deadline once).

Another case is being awarded one of the following achievements: National Emulation Fighter; Army Emulation Fighter; Prize or medal in national competitions and sports events, competitions and sports events at the ministerial and industry levels; Medal or prize in international military sports events; Officer participating in UN peacekeeping operations who is awarded a certificate of merit or higher; Project leader, initiative winning the "Creative Youth in the Army" award; National Outstanding Young Face; Army Outstanding Young Face...

Criteria and standards for considering early salary increase

Circular 18 also stipulates that general officers who are awarded one of the above-mentioned forms of commendation shall be considered for an early salary increase; those who are awarded one of the above-mentioned forms of commendation shall be considered for an early salary increase no more than 24 months.

For officers of the rank of colonel or lieutenant who are awarded one of the above forms of commendation, they will be considered for an early salary increase; those awarded one of the above forms of commendation will also be considered for an early salary increase, not exceeding 24 months.

In addition, it is necessary to meet the criteria and standards for consideration of military rank promotion before the deadline specified in the circular, and to be considered for salary increase before the deadline not exceeding 12 months.

In case an officer achieves many achievements during his/her tenure, only one achievement will be applied to consider early salary increase (the remaining achievements will not be retained). If not yet considered, one of the achievements will be retained to consider early salary increase of the next salary increase.

New regulations on promotion to the rank of lieutenant and captain for pilot and submarine students

New regulations on promotion to the rank of lieutenant and captain for pilot and submarine students

The Minister of National Defense recently signed and issued Circular No. 18/2025 regulating the conferment of military ranks on graduates of officer training in active service.
Regulations on salary regime for retired and transferred military officers

Regulations on salary regime for retired and transferred military officers

The Government issued Decree No. 52/2025 detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Officers of the Vietnam People's Army.