General Phan Van Giang Proposes Amendments to Nine Military and Defense Laws

The legislative overhaul is a massive undertaking, touching everything from the Law on National Defence to the Law on Militia and Self-Defence Force. While the scope is broad, the core of the proposal is a technical realignment of authority and personnel management.

Reclassifying Provincial and Commune Military Ranks

A significant portion of the proposal targets the hierarchy of the Vietnam People’s Army. The government wants to elevate the status of provincial-level military commanders. Specifically, the titles of Commander and Political Commissar of provincial-level military commands will move from the Division Commander, Division Political Commissar group to the same group as Commanders and Political Commissars of military branches and Naval Regions.

The same logic applies to deputy roles. Deputy Commanders and Deputy Political Commissars of provincial commands will move from the Deputy Division Commander, Deputy Division Political Commissar group to join the ranks of Deputy Commanders and Deputy Political Commissars of military branches and Naval Regions.

The reforms also professionalize the lowest level of military administration. Positions within commune-level military commands are now proposed to be categorized as officer ranks. Under this plan, the Commune Military Commander will be grouped with Battalion Commanders and Battalion Political Officers, while the Deputy Commander and Deputy Political Officer will align with Deputy Battalion Commanders and Deputy Battalion Political Officers.

New Retirement Age Standards for Reserve Officers

The government is scrapping the current rule that ties the maximum service age of Commune Military Commanders to the Labor Code. Instead, these commanders will now fall under the general age limits for reserve officers based on their military rank.

Military Rank	Maximum Service Age
Company Grade (Cấp úy)	53
Major (Thiếu tá)	55
Lieutenant Colonel (Trung tá)	57
Colonel (Thượng tá)	59
Senior Colonel (Đại tá)	61
General Officer (Cấp tướng)	63

Tightening the Law on Military Service

Beyond ranks and ages, the proposal introduces stricter definitions and prohibitions to prevent draft dodging.

The government is also expanding the list of prohibited acts.

Other updates to the Law on Military Service include new regulations on the discharge of reserve personnel, the organization of citizens called for enlistment, and the handover of non-commissioned officers and soldiers who have completed their active service. The proposal also seeks to clarify policies for citizens during the registration and screening process.

Administrative Shifts in Commune Military Commands

Under the proposed changes to the Law on Militia and Self-Defence Force, commune-level military commands will be formally identified as local military agencies. They will operate under the direct authority of the Hanoi Capital Command, the Ho Chi Minh City Command, or provincial military commands.