Maximum age limit for officers holding command and management positions
The Ministry of National Defense has just issued Circular No. 10/2025/TT-BQP regulating the extension of the age limit for officers in active service and the highest age limit for officers holding command and management positions.
This Circular applies to relevant agencies, units and individuals when implementing the maximum age limit for officers holding command and management positions; extending the age of active service of officers.
Article 3 of Circular No. 10/2025/TT-BQP clearly states the maximum age limit for officers holding basic positions in infantry units with sufficient soldiers:
- Commander and Political Commissar of the army is 60 years old;
- The division commander and chief of the division is 58 years old;
- Brigade Commander and Political Commissar of the Brigade is 58 years old;
- Regiment Commander and Party Committee of the regiment is 50 years old;
- Battalion commander and political officer of the battalion is 45 years old;
- Company captain, company politics is 40 years old;
- Lieutenant captain is 32 years old.
For military units, military groups, professional and technical units with sufficient strength and permanent units, the highest age limit for officers is as follows:
- The division commander and chief of the division is 58 years old;
- Brigade Commander and Political Commissar of the Brigade is 58 years old;
- Regiment Commander and Party Committee member is 56 years old;
- Battalion commander and political officer of the battalion is 54 years old;
- Company commanders and political officers of companies of military, service and technical units are 47 years old;
- Company commanders and political officers of companies under the regular framework unit are 52 years old; company commanders are 40 years old.
Officers are allowed to extend their service age
The Circular also clearly stipulates that officers whose service age is extended in the army are: Professors, associate professors, doctors, specialist II pharmacists, general practitioners, leading scientists, professional officers in high-level technical and technical fields, People's Teachers, People's Doctors, People's Artists who are working effectively and in the right profession.
The second extension is: Engineers, doctors, university pharmacists, officers trained in specialized, sophisticated, specific fields, and limited fields (Research, design, manufacturing of weapons, modern technical equipment; artificial intelligence; high technology; new material technology...) who have completed their tasks well or better, are working properly in schools, research facilities, hospitals, factories, defense enterprises, and units stationed in remote, isolated, border, and island areas without replacement.
Article 8 of the Circular also stipulates that the subjects of extended service age in the army are officers on combat missions or special missions; deputies, deputy deputies, assistants of defense deputies who have not completed their term; military pilots.
However, the long-term conditions depend on the needs of the unit and the officers voluntarily continue to serve in the army, ceasing to hold command and management positions.
In special cases where there is no replacement, they can hold the command and management positions decided by competent authorities.
