On November 3, the Ministry of National Defense said that the agency is seeking opinions on a draft Decree regulating criteria and standards for promoting generals ahead of schedule.
According to the draft Decree, the criteria and standards for considering promotion to the rank of general are:
Officers whose current military rank is lower than the highest military rank of the position or title they are holding, which is a general rank of 2 ranks or higher, and who, by the end of the term, have completed their duties well and made exceptionally outstanding achievements, will be considered for promotion to a higher military rank when they are awarded one of the following forms of commendation (excluding commendations based on seniority or dedication):
Forms of medals: Gold Star Medal; Ho Chi Minh Medal, First Class Independence Medal; First Class Military Exploit Medal; First Class Labor Medal; First Class Fatherland Protection Medal; First Class Military Exploit Medal;
State honorary titles: Title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces; Title of Hero of Labor;
Ho Chi Minh Prize.
During the term of holding a position, one can only be considered for promotion to a higher rank once and one higher rank; the time of being awarded medals, state honorary titles, and prizes must be within the term of holding the current military rank.
In case an officer achieves many achievements during his/her term, only the highest achievement will be used to consider promotion to a higher rank.
Cases not specified above shall be decided by competent authorities.
The Draft Decree also stipulates criteria and standards for considering early promotion to the rank of general:
Accordingly, officers of the Vietnam People's Army who have achieved outstanding achievements in combat, work, and scientific research will be considered for promotion to the rank of general ahead of schedule when they are awarded one of the following forms of medals or honorary titles of the state (excluding forms of commendation based on seniority or dedication):
Forms of medals: Gold Star Order; Ho Chi Minh Order; Independence Order, First Class, Second Class, Third Class; Military Exploit Order, First Class, Second Class, Third Class; Labor Order, First Class, Second Class, Third Class; Fatherland Protection Order, First Class, Second Class, Third Class; Feat of Arms Order, First Class, Second Class, Third Class; Bravery Order;
State honorary titles: Title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces; Title of Hero of Labor;
Ho Chi Minh Prize.
During the term of holding a position, promotion to the rank of general may only be considered once before the term expires, and the time of awarding medals, state honorary titles and prizes must be within the term of holding the current military rank.
The time for promotion to general rank before the deadline is not more than 12 months.
Cases not specified above shall be decided by competent authorities.
