What are forces of the People's Army of Vietnam?
What are forces of the People's Army of Vietnam?
According to Article 25 of the National Defense Law 2018, the People's Army is defined as follows:
Article 25. People's Army
- The People's Army is the core force of the people's armed forces in implementing national defense tasks, including the standing force and the reserve mobilization force. The standing force of the People's Army comprises the Regular Troops and the Local Troops.
December 22 each year is the traditional day of the People's Army, and also National Defense Festival Day.
- The People's Army has the function and duty of being ready to fight, defending the Fatherland; implementing propaganda and advocacy of the Communist Party's lines, policies, and laws of the State; engaging in labor production, integrating defense with socio-economic development, participating in civil defense, and joining the people in building the country; fulfilling international obligations.
- The State builds a revolutionary, regular, elite, and gradually modernized People's Army with a reasonable standing force and a robust reserve force; certain forces advance directly to modernity.
- The organization, tasks, service policies, and policies of the People's Army are governed by the Vietnamese People's Army Officers Law, the Professional Soldiers, Defense Workers, and Public Employees Law, the Military Service Law, and other relevant legal provisions.
Thus, the Vietnam People's Army is the core force of the people's armed forces in carrying out national defense tasks, consisting of a standing force and a reserve mobilization force.
What are forces of the People's Army of Vietnam? (Image from Internet)
When are active-duty officers of the Vietnam People's Army promoted in military rank?
Based on Article 17 of the Vietnam People’s Army Officers Law 1999 (amended by Clause 4 Article 1 of the Amendment Law on Vietnam People’s Army Officers 2014), the criteria for rank promotion for active-duty officers are:
Article 17. Rank Promotion for Active-Duty Officers
- Active-duty officers are eligible for rank promotion upon meeting the following conditions:
a) Meeting the standards specified in Article 12 of this Law;
b) Current rank is lower than the highest rank stipulated for the position held;
c) Having served the required period for consideration for promotion as specified in Clause 2 of this Article.
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As such, active officers of the Vietnam People's Army are promoted in rank upon meeting the following conditions:
[1] Meeting the Vietnam People's Army officer standards:
- General standards:
+ Possess firm political stance, absolute loyalty to the Fatherland and the people, to the Communist Party of Vietnam, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; high revolutionary vigilance, readiness to fight, sacrifice, and complete all assigned tasks.
+ Possess revolutionary moral qualities; frugal, honest, public-spirited, and impartial; exemplary in adhering to the Party's lines, directions, and legal policies of the State; promote democracy, strictly obey military discipline; respect and unite with the people and comrades; trusted by the populace.
+ Experience in political, military science, and the ability to creatively apply Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh's thought, Party's guidelines, and State's viewpoints in building national defense, building the people's army; knowledge in culture, economics, society, law, and other fields; practical activity capability that meets assigned task demands; graduated from training programs as prescribed for each position.
+ Clear history, age, and health appropriate to the position, rank being held.
- Specific standards for each officer rank as prescribed by the competent authority.
[2] Current rank is lower than the highest specified rank for the position held.
[3] Required period for considered rank promotion for active-duty officers as follows:
Second Lieutenant to First Lieutenant: 2 years
First Lieutenant to Captain: 3 years
Captain to Major: 3 years
Major to Lieutenant Colonel: 4 years
Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel: 4 years
Colonel to Senior Colonel: 4 years
Senior Colonel to Major General, Rear Admiral: minimum 4 years
Major General, Rear Admiral to Lieutenant General, Vice Admiral: minimum 4 years
Lieutenant General, Vice Admiral to Colonel General, Admiral: minimum 4 years
Colonel General, Admiral to General: minimum 4 years
Time spent in school for officers is counted towards the timeframe for rank promotion consideration.
What branches do Vietnam People’s Army Officers belong to?
According to Article 9 of the Vietnam People's Army Officers Law 1999, officers of the Vietnam People's Army belong to the following branches:
- Commanding and Staff Officers
- Political Officers
- Logistics Officers
- Technical Officers
- Other Specialized Officers
