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.

Circular regulating the conferment of military ranks to graduates of active officer training, including criteria for conferring the ranks of lieutenant, first lieutenant, and captain to graduates of active officer training.

Specifically, the first group is non-commissioned officers and soldiers who have graduated from pilot and submarine training and are well-trained and are considered for the rank of lieutenant.

The second group is non-commissioned officers and soldiers with university degrees, good graduation ratings or higher, and good training, who are considered for the rank of lieutenant, including the following cases: training at foreign schools; training doctors at the Military Medical Academy who are party members (the rate of conferring the rank of lieutenant is not more than 90%); training pharmacists and engineers at military schools and non-military schools who are party members; training second university degrees in military schools from non-commissioned officers and soldiers on active duty who are party members (the rate of conferring the rank of lieutenant is not more than 70%).

There are also cases of being awarded the rank of lieutenant, including: 5-year training program (not for engineering training) as a party member, during the course being awarded the title of advanced soldier or higher or winning official prizes at national and international competitions; students who are ethnic minorities from very small ethnic groups and students selected according to Government regulations are party members (the rate of being awarded the rank of lieutenant is not more than 55%); 4-year training program as a party member, during the course being awarded the title of advanced soldier or higher or winning official prizes at national and international competitions; students who are ethnic minorities from very small ethnic groups and students selected, students trained at non-military schools or schools under the Ministry of Public Security are party members (the rate of being awarded the rank of lieutenant is not more than 45%).

hvqy 4 5300 4588.jpg — 16 military medical students were awarded the rank of First Lieutenant. Photo: Nguyen Minh

The third group is Non-commissioned officers and soldiers who graduate from university training are considered for promotion to the rank of first lieutenant or captain.

Specifically, the following cases: Training doctors at the Military Medical Academy with a graduation rank of excellent or higher, during the course being awarded the title of emulation soldier of the whole army or higher; training at the university level at the remaining schools with an excellent graduation rank, during the course being awarded the title of emulation soldier of the whole army or higher is a party member considered for the rank of senior lieutenant.

For pilot and submarine training in the country, those with good graduation rank, good training, and being a party member will be considered for the rank of Senior Lieutenant; those with excellent graduation rank or higher, good training, and being a party member will be considered for the rank of Captain.

In case of training abroad, graduation rank is good or higher, good training will be considered for the rank of captain.

The fourth group is Non-commissioned officers and soldiers who graduate with a master's degree or equivalent abroad and have good training will be considered for the rank of first lieutenant.

Criteria for considering military rank for university-level military personnel

Circular No. 18 also stipulates the criteria for considering military rank conferment on professional soldiers, workers and defense officials with university degrees.

That is, graduates are promoted to the rank of second lieutenant or higher corresponding to their current salary; graduates with excellent graduation rankings or higher are considered for a salary increase 1 year ahead of schedule for consideration for officer rank.

Regarding salary transfer and officer rank promotion: Professional soldiers, workers and defense officials who are due for a salary increase will be considered for a salary increase according to regulations. Salary transfer to senior professional soldiers according to regulations of the Ministry of National Defense will serve as a basis for consideration of officer rank promotion, ensuring that the difference does not exceed one adjacent salary level.

In case of conferring an officer rank lower than the current professional soldier rank, the officer rank will not be considered, the officer number will be assigned and the salary will be transferred to a senior professional soldier according to the training level, and the salary increase period will be reserved for consideration of promotion.

At the ceremony to honor outstanding young faces and promising young faces of the entire army in 2024 held on March 26, Senior General Phan Van Giang - Minister of National Defense - said that this was the first time the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense had awarded the rank of Senior Lieutenant to students who had been trained domestically for 6 years and graduated if they met the requirements.

Previously, the regulation on conferring the rank of First Lieutenant on graduates was only applied to those trained abroad.

New regulations on promotion to general rank beyond the rank of general

The Government issued Decree No. 59/2025 stipulating criteria and standards for considering early promotion to the rank of general for officers of the Vietnam People's Army.