Brian Jeffrey
On November 28, Vietnam’s National Assembly enacted changes to the Law on Officers of the Vietnam People’s Army, with an overwhelming majority of 458 out of 459 members voting in favor. These amendments, which will come into force on December 1, 2024, raise the retirement ages for military officers and limit the number of army generals to 415.
The updated legislation adjusts the maximum service ages for military ranks as follows:
Lieutenant: 50 years
Major: 52 years
Lieutenant Colonel: 54 years
Colonel: 56 years
General: 60 years
Military officers who meet the necessary political, ethical, professional, and health criteria may choose to extend their service voluntarily for up to five additional years based on military needs. In exceptional cases, the Minister of National Defense can approve extensions beyond five years.
Prior to the law’s approval, the National Assembly Standing Committee expressed concerns that synchronizing military officers’ retirement ages with those of police or civilian workers might impact operational effectiveness, particularly in combat-ready units.
To ensure a dynamic and capable military force, the military needs to annually recruit and train new officers. Significant increases in service age may lead to an overcrowded workforce and reduced efficiency.
The new age limitations are designed to retain skilled, experienced officers who can meet contemporary military needs, while also allowing officers to gather sufficient applicable social insurance credits for optimal retirement benefits.
The legislation delineates specific caps on the highest army ranks:
General: Limited to 3 positions, which include Minister of National Defense, Chief of the General Staff, and Director of the General Political Department.
Senior Lieutenant General / Admiral: Capped at 14 roles, comprising 6 Deputy Ministers of Defense and 3 Deputy Chiefs of Staff.
For ranks of Lieutenant General / Vice Admiral and Major General / Rear Admiral: A total of 398 positions.
This limits the overall number of army generals to 415.
Regarding military officers assigned to non-military roles:
Officers acting as Chair of the National Assembly’s Defense and Security Committee may hold the title of Senior Lieutenant General.
Those designated as Vice Chair or in equivalent positions may be assigned the rank of Lieutenant General.
Officers holding permanent committee roles or similar positions may achieve the rank of Major General.
The Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense are actively working on guidelines and regulations to ensure standardized rank assignments across all military units. This includes specific protocols for ranks like Lieutenant Generals, Vice Admirals, Major Generals, and Rear Admirals.
The revisions are geared towards fostering transparency and aligning with Politburo directives, ensuring structural balance within the military.
