Conditions for early promotion to military rank and officer status

Lao Dong Newspaper Legal Consulting Office replied:

Clause 5, Article 1 of the Law on Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Law on Officers of the Vietnam People's Army 2024 (effective from December 1, 2024) stipulates the amendment and supplementation of Article 18 of the Law on Officers of the Vietnam People's Army on early promotion of military ranks and officers as follows:

1. Officers are considered for promotion before the deadline specified in Clause 2, Article 17 of this Law in the following cases:

a) Outstanding achievements in combat or commendation in work;

b) Successfully fulfill the duties and tasks for which the current military rank is two or more ranks lower than the highest military rank prescribed for the position or title the officer is holding, or the current military rank is lower than the highest military rank for the command or management position.

2. Officers are considered for early salary increase if they have outstanding achievements in combat or are commended for their work.

3. The Government shall specify the criteria and standards in Clause 1 of this Article for considering the promotion of General officers ahead of schedule. The Minister of National Defense shall specify the criteria and standards for considering the promotion of Colonel and Lieutenant officers and the salary increase of officers ahead of schedule as prescribed in Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article.

Clause 2, Article 17, Law on Officers of the Vietnam People's Army 1999 stipulates: The time limit for considering promotion of military rank for officers in active service is stipulated as follows:

Second Lieutenant to First Lieutenant 2 years;

Lieutenant to Senior Lieutenant in 3 years;

Lieutenant to Captain 3 years;

Captain to Major 4 years;

Major to Lieutenant Colonel in 4 years;

Lieutenant Colonel to Senior Colonel in 4 years;

Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel in 4 years;

Promotion to the rank of General has no time limit.

The time an officer spends studying at school is counted towards the time limit for promotion.

During wartime, the promotion period may be shortened according to regulations of the competent authority.

Thus, the conditions for promoting military ranks and military officers before the deadline are stipulated as above.