Starting ranks of People's Public Security conscripts in Vietnam

Starting ranks of People's Public Security conscripts in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

1. Starting ranks of People's Public Security conscripts in Vietnam

According to Clause 1, Article 22 of the Law on People’s Public Security Force 2018, candidates eligible for consideration of bestowal of ranks and grades:

- After graduation, cadets offered stipends for their study in People’s Public Security education establishments shall be entitled to the bestowal of the following ranks and grades:

+ Cadets holding bachelor degrees may hold the rank of second lieutenant;

+ Cadets holding associate degrees may hold the rank of sergeant;

+ Cadets attaining excellent outcomes upon graduation may be granted the rank which is one grade higher than the one that other cadets usually hold; 

- Cadres, civil servants or graduates from higher education establishments and vocational education establishments who are recruited into the People’s Public Security Force, shall be entitled to the bestowal of ranks corresponding to their respective training qualifications, working seniority, assigned tasks and salary grades;

- Conscripts shall be initially granted the rank of the private.

Thus, according to the above regulations, People's Public Security service soldiers are given the starting rank of private.

2. Conditions for rank promotion consideration for People’s Public Security conscripts in Vietnam

Clause 2, Article 22 of the Law on People’s Public Security Force 2018 stipulates that People’s Public Security officers, non-commissioned officers and conscripts may get rank promotion if they satisfy the following conditions:

- Fulfilling their tasks, fully meeting political, moral quality, professional qualification and health criteria;

- Their current ranks are lower than the highest ranks as provided by regulations on the positions and titles they are holding;

- Having fully gone through the time limit for rank promotion consideration specified in Section 3.

3. What are rank promotion consideration time limits in Vietnam?

Rank promotion consideration time limits:

- Operation officers and non-commissioned officers:

Promotion from Corporal to Sergeant: 01 year;

Promotion from Sergeant to Sergeant Major: 01 year;

Promotion from Sergeant Major to Second Lieutenant: 02 years;

Promotion from Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant: 02 years;

Promotion from Lieutenant to Senior Lieutenant: 03 years;

Promotion from Senior Lieutenant to Captain:  03 years;

Promotion from Captain to Major: 04 years;

Promotion from Major to Lieutenant Colonel: 04 years;

Promotion from Lieutenant Colonel to Senior Lieutenant Colonel: 04 years;

Promotion from Senior Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel: 04 years;

Promotion from Colonel to Major General: 04 years;

The minimum time limit for consideration of promotion of each general rank shall be 4 years;

- The Minister of Public Security shall adopt regulations on consideration of promotion of pay grades and ranks of technical officers or non-commissioned officers corresponding to pay rates specified in the pay chart of technical personnel promulgated by the Government; 

- The Minister of Public Security shall regulate the time limits for consideration of promotion of enlisted non-commissioned officer and member ranks;

- The period during which officers, non-commissioned officers and servicemen study at educational establishments shall be counted into the rank promotion consideration time limit; as for officers or non-commissioned officers or members who are demoted, if they make progress within one year after their demotion, they may be considered rank promotion.

In addition, an commissioned officer to be eligible for consideration of rank promotion from colonel to major general shall have at least 03 years to the date on which his/her service term is up; may be less than 03 years of service in case of being requested under the State President’s decision.

(Clause 3, 4, Article 22 of the Law on People’s Public Security Force 2018 (amended in 2023))

4. Regulations on rank promotion ahead of time and rank promotion beyond the prescribed rank

(i) People’s Public Security officers, non-commissioned officers or servicemen who record especially outstanding achievements in national security protection, social order and safety maintenance, crime prevention and fighting, scientific research or study and whose current ranks are lower than the highest ranks prescribed for the positions or titles they are holding respectively, shall be considered rank promotion ahead of time.

(ii) People’s Public Security officers, non-commissioned officers or men who record especially outstanding achievements in national security protection, social order and safety maintenance or prevention and fighting of crimes and violations of laws, and whose current ranks are two grades or more lower than the highest ranks prescribed for the positions or titles they are holding respectively, shall be considered rank promotion beyond the prescribed rank, but not beyond the highest ranks prescribed for the positions or titles they are holding.

(iii) The State President shall decide on the rank promotion ahead of time and rank bestowal and promotion beyond the prescribed rank for the general rank. The Minister of Public Security shall decide on the rank promotion ahead of time and rank promotion beyond the prescribed rank for the rank of colonel or lower.

(iv) The Government shall specify criteria and standards prescribed in Clause (i) for consideration of general rank promotion ahead of time.

The Minister of Public Security shall specify criteria and standards prescribed in Clause (i) and (ii) for consideration of rank promotion ahead of time and rank promotion beyond the prescribed rank for the rank of colonel or lower.

(Article 23 of the Law on People’s Public Security Force 2018 (amended in 2023))

Nguyen Ngoc Que Anh

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