Currently, it is the season for military service medical examinations in preparation for the 2017 enlistment. Below are the necessary contents to know regarding military service (NVQS) in 2017.
Article table of contents
Military Service Health Examination Period from November 1, 2016, to December 31, 2016, and calling for enlistment in February or March
According to the Military Service Law 2015, corresponding to one call for military service in February or March, the health examination period for military service will begin from November 1 until the end of December 31 each year. The order for health examination must be delivered to citizens 15 days before the health examination period.
The health examination period for conscription and fulfilling the duty to join the People’s Police for the second time if necessary for national defense and security reasons is decided by the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam.
From 2016 onwards, there will be only one conscription period in February or March. If necessary for national defense and security reasons, a second conscription can be called. For localities experiencing disasters or dangerous epidemics, the conscription time can be adjusted, and this time regulation also applies to calling for the duty to join the People’s Police.
Age for Military Service until 27 for University Students
Citizens aged 18 are eligible for conscription; the age for conscription is from 18 to 25 years old. For citizens trained at college or university levels and have had their conscription postponed, the conscription age is up to 27 years old.
Therefore, upon completing their studies, university graduates who are not subject to postponement still have to enlist.
Recognized cases of fulfilling the obligations for military service during peacetime
Citizens belonging to one of the following cases are recognized as completing military service obligations during peacetime:
- Core militia members who have completed militia duties, including at least 12 months of regular militia duty.- Completing continuous duties in the communal police for at least 36 months.- Officials and public employees, and university graduates or higher, trained and awarded reserve officer ranks.- Youngsters who've graduated from university, college, or intermediate levels volunteering to serve in economic-defense units for at least 24 months as per the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam’s scheme.- Citizens serving on fishery control vessels for at least 24 months.
Exemptions from enlistment
If citizens are exempt or have postponed enlistment, they will not be required to enlist. Specifically:
06 exemptions from military service in 2017
- Not meeting health standards: Belonging to 10 health conditions for exemption; Health category of 4, 5, 6; Health category 3 with nearsightedness of 1.5 degrees or more and/or farsightedness; drug addiction.- Children of martyrs, children of first-class war invalids.- One sibling of a martyr.- One child of second-class war invalids; one child of invalids with a decreased labor capacity of 81% or more; one child of persons affected by dioxin with a decreased labor capacity of 81% or more.- Cipher officers not being servicemen, members of the People’s Police.- Officials and public employees, and youth volunteers mobilized to work in areas with exceptionally difficult socioeconomic conditions under the law for 24 months or more.
07 cases of postponing military service
- Not healthy enough to serve on active duty.- Having to work to support family members: Conditions include:- Being the only laborer.- Directly nurturing family members.- Family members are incapable of working or not of working age; family severely damaged by accidents, natural disasters, dangerous epidemics.- One child of invalids or persons affected by dioxin with a decreased labor capacity from 61% to 80%.- Having siblings who are non-commissioned officers or soldiers serving on active duty; non-commissioned officers or soldiers fulfilling their duty to join the People’s Police.- Persons resettling within the first 03 years to particularly difficult communes under State socioeconomic development projects decided by the provincial People's Committee or higher.- Officials and public employees, and youth volunteers mobilized to work in areas with exceptionally difficult socioeconomic conditions under the law.- Currently studying at regular education institutions; undergoing regular university-level training at higher education institutions, regular college-level training at vocational education institutions during the duration of one training course at one educational level. Not applicable to cases of continuous education or repeating due to failed subjects.
Leave for Military Service Health Examination Still Paid
According to the Military Service Law 2015 and Decree 13/2016/ND-CP, citizens working in agencies or organizations while registering for military service or undergoing health examinations or tests for military service are entitled to full salary, travel expenses, and current allowances. Citizens registering for military service, health examinations, or tests are provided with food, accommodation, and travel expenses to and from the examination locations. Specifically:
- Citizens working in agencies or organizations receiving their salary from the state budget or state-owned enterprises during health examinations or tests according to the call of the District Military Command are entitled to full salary, current allowances, and travel expenses back and forth according to policies prescribed by the law.- Citizens not working in state-budget-funded agencies or state-owned enterprises during health examinations or tests according to the call of the District Military Command are entitled to the following policies:- Meal allowance equal to the basic daily meal allowance of infantry non-commissioned officers and soldiers.- Reimbursement of travel expenses to and from according to policies prescribed by the law.
Criminal Prosecution for Repeated Evasion of Military Service After Being Fined
According to Decree 120/2013/ND-CP, a fine of 800,000 VND to 1,200,000 VND is imposed for failing to appear on time or at the designated location for the initial military service screening without a legitimate reason.
A fine of 2,000,000 VND to 4,000,000 VND is imposed for the following acts:
- Falsifying health examination results to evade military service.- Offering money or other material benefits to officers or medical staff to falsify health examination results for military service.
Furthermore, according to Article 259 of the Criminal Code 1999, the offense of evading military service is stipulated as follows:
Anyone who does not comply with the laws regarding military service registration, fails to comply with the enlistment order, or fails to comply with the training order, having been administratively sanctioned for this act or sentenced for this crime without having their criminal records expunged, will be subject to non-custodial reform for up to two years or imprisonment from three months to two years.
Imprisonment from one to five years for committing the following acts:
- Inflicting self-injury or health impairment.- Committing the crime during wartime.- Inducing others to commit the crime.
Thus, those already fined but reoffending will be subject to imprisonment from three months to five years, depending on the severity of the violation.
