In April, local authorities will conduct initial registration for citizens of eligible age to participate in the civil defense duty. Questions such as who will be called for duty, which cases are exempted or deferred, the duration of the duty, etc., are matters of significant public concern.
Article table of contents
Participants:
Militia and Self-Defense Law 2009 stipulates:
- Male citizens from 18 to 45 years old, and female citizens from 18 to 40 years old are obliged to participate in the militia and self-defense forces.- If one volunteers to participate in the militia and self-defense forces, the age can be extended to 50 years (for men) and 45 years (for women).
Duration of service:
The duration of the core militia and self-defense service is 04 years. However, depending on conditions, actual situations, task nature, and work requirements, the service duration for core militia and self-defense service can be extended by no more than 02 years for militia members. Particularly, self-defense forces and commanders of militia and self-defense units can have their service duration extended provided it does not exceed the age limit for participation in militia and self-defense duties.
Standard of background and health
Vietnamese citizens within the age range for participation, meeting the following standards, can be selected into the core militia and self-defense forces:
- Clear background;- Good adherence to the guidelines, policies of the Communist Party, and the laws of the State;- Sufficient health to perform the duties of participating in the militia and self-defense forces.
Those capable of operating at sea can be selected for maritime militia and self-defense forces.
If reservist soldiers not yet assigned to reserve mobilization units will be organized into militia and self-defense units.
Cases of deferment and exemption
Citizens can be deferred from participating in the core militia and self-defense forces if falling under one of the following cases:
- Pregnant or caring for children under 36 months old;- Insufficient health according to conclusions from healthcare facilities of commune level or higher;- Having a spouse who is an officer, professional soldier, non-commissioned officer, or soldier serving in the Vietnam People's Army or People's Public Security;- The sole main laborer in a poor household;- Studying at a high school, professional secondary school, vocational secondary school, college, vocational college, university, or academy.
Citizens can be exempted from fulfilling the core militia and self-defense duties in the following cases:
- Having a spouse or child of a martyr; spouse or child of a first-class wounded soldier or first-class sick soldier; spouse or child of a person affected by Agent Orange/dioxin with a labor incapacity;- Reservist soldiers already assigned to reserve mobilization units;- Direct caretakers of persons with a labor incapacity rate of 81% or higher.
Additionally, core militia and self-defense members can be released from service duties before the term if:
- Health deterioration prevents them from performing militia and self-defense duties according to conclusions from healthcare facilities of commune level or higher;- Sudden difficult family circumstances prevent them from fulfilling militia and self-defense duties.
