Circular No. 10/2025/TT-BQP stipulates the age limit for officers holding command and management positions; extending the age of service in the Vietnam People's Army.

CIRCULAR
Regulations on the highest age limit for officers holding command and management positionsextending the age of service for officers

Pursuant to the Officer Law of the Vietnam People's Army dated December 21, 1999; the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Officer Law of the Vietnam People's Army dated June 2, 2008; the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Officer Law of the Vietnam People's Army dated November 27, 2014; the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Officer Law of the Vietnam People's Army dated November 28, 2024;

Pursuant to Decree No. 01/2022/NĐ-CP dated November 30, 2022 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of National Defense;

At the proposal of the Director of the Political General Department,

The Minister of National Defense issues this Circular regulating the highest age limit for officers holding command and management positions; extending the age of service for officers.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular regulates the highest age limit for officers holding command and management positions; extending the age of service for officers as stipulated in Article 13 of the Officer Law of the Vietnam People's Army No. 16/1999/QH10, amended and supplemented according to Clause 2, Article 1 of the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Officer Law of the Vietnam People's Army No. 52/2024/QH15.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to agencies, units, and individuals related when implementing the highest age limit for officers holding command and management positions; extending the age of service for officers.

Chapter II

THE HIGHEST AGE LIMIT FOR OFFICERS HOLDING COMMAND AND MANAGEMENT POSITIONS

Article 3. Infantry unit with full complement

1. The highest age limit for officers holding basic positions in infantry units with full complement is as follows:

a) Division Commander, Division Political Commissar: 60 years old;

b) Brigade Commander, Brigade Political Commissar: 58 years old;

c) Regiment Commander, Regiment Political Commissar: 58 years old;

d) Battalion Commander, Battalion Political Commissar: 50 years old;

đ) Company Commander, Company Political Instructor: 45 years old;

e) Platoon Leader, Platoon Political Instructor: 40 years old;

g) Squad Leader: 32 years old.

2. The highest age limit for officers holding remaining basic positions and equivalent positions (same group of positions) in units tasked with island defense, oil and gas protection, naval infantry, and reconnaissance infantry shall be implemented as prescribed in points c, đ, e, and g of Clause 1 of this Article.

3. The highest age limit for officers holding brigade commander and brigade political commissar positions in infantry brigades with one battalion having full complement is 58 years old; for officers holding regiment commander and regiment political commissar positions in infantry regiments with one company having full complement is 56 years old; for officers holding company commander and company political instructor positions in infantry companies with one platoon having full complement is 54 years old.

Article 4. Military branch, arms, technical, and professional units with full complement and standing framework units

1. The highest age limit for officers holding basic positions in military branch, arms, technical, and professional units with full complement and standing framework units is as follows:

a) Brigade Commander, Brigade Political Commissar: 58 years old;

b) Regiment Commander, Regiment Political Commissar: 58 years old;

c) Battalion Commander, Battalion Political Commissar: 56 years old;

d) Company Commander, Company Political Instructor: 54 years old;

đ) Platoon Leader, Platoon Political Instructor: 47 years old for military branch, arms, and technical and professional units with full complement; 52 years old for standing framework units;

e) Squad Leader: 40 years old.

2. The highest age limit for officers holding remaining chief commanders, political commissars, and political instructors positions and equivalent positions (same group of positions) in military branch, arms, and technical and professional units with full complement shall be implemented as prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article.

Article 5. Deputies of chiefs in units specified in Articles 3 and 4

1. The maximum age for officers holding deputy positions under chiefs in units specified in Article 3 of this Circular shall be equal to the maximum age for the chief position at the same level, but shall not exceed the maximum age for officers serving on active duty according to their rank.

2. The maximum age for officers holding deputy positions under chiefs in units specified in Article 4 of this Circular shall be equal to the maximum age for officers serving on active duty according to their rank. However, the maximum age for officers holding the position of Deputy Platoon Leader and Deputy Political Instructor in units of military branches, arms, and specialized technical services shall be 47 years old.

Article 6. Agencies in units specified in Articles 3 and 4

The maximum age for officers holding command and management positions in agencies shall be implemented according to the maximum age for officers serving on active duty according to their rank. Specifically, for agencies under infantry regiments, brigades, and units responsible for island defense, oil protection, marine infantry, and reconnaissance infantry, the maximum age shall be 50 years old.

Article 7. Remaining agencies and units

The maximum age for officers holding command and management positions in remaining units and agencies shall be equal to the maximum age for officers serving on active duty according to their rank.

Chapter III

EXTENDING THE ACTIVE SERVICE AGE OF OFFICERS

Article 8. Subjects for extension

1. Officers who are professors, associate professors, doctors, specialist 2 physicians, specialist 2 pharmacists, chief engineers, leading scientists in fields, senior-level technical officers, people's educators, people's medical practitioners, and people's artists currently working effectively and in accordance with their specialties in educational institutions, research facilities, hospitals, and artistic troupes.

2. Officers who are engineers, doctors, university pharmacists, officers trained in specialized and profound fields (research, design, manufacture of modern weapons and technical equipment; artificial intelligence; high technology; new materials technology...), completing tasks well or better, currently working in accordance with their specialties in educational institutions, research facilities, hospitals, artistic troupes, factories, defense enterprises, units stationed in remote areas, border regions, islands without replacement personnel.

3. Officers engaged in combat duties or special missions; attachés,

Article 9. Conditions for extension

Officers belonging to the subjects specified in Article 8 of this Circular may have their active service age extended when they meet all of the following conditions:

1. The unit has a need for their continued use.

2. The officer possesses political qualities, morality, health; good quality and effectiveness in work.

3. The officer voluntarily continues to serve on active duty and relinquishes command and management positions; in exceptional cases where there is no replacement, they may retain command and management positions upon decision by the competent authority.

Article 10. Duration of Extension

1. The duration of extension shall not exceed five years; in cases exceeding five years (including cases within the unit's authority), it shall be decided by the Minister of National Defense; each year, units review the extension of active service age for officers, and if they fail to meet any of the conditions stipulated in Article 9 of this Circular, they will be reviewed for retirement from active service.

2. Pilots extending their active service age shall not exceed the maximum flying age limit prescribed for each type of aircraft according to the regulations of the competent authority.

3. Decisions to extend the active service age shall not be sent to individuals; the unit shall organize notification to officials and implement accordingly.

4. Notification of the proposed extension of the active service age for officers shall be made three months in advance; the authority to notify shall be carried out as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 5 of Circular No. 70/2016/TT-BQP dated June 2, 2016, issued by the Ministry of National Defense, regarding procedures and formalities for retirement from active service and termination of employment for officers, professional soldiers, defense civil servants, and personnel working in cryptographic organizations funded from the state budget managed by the Minister of National Defense.

Article 11. Benefits during extended service period

During the extended service period, officers shall be guaranteed salaries, allowances, and subsidies as before the decision on extension was made, and shall enjoy other benefits according to the assigned tasks.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 12. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from February 14, 2025, and replaces Circular No. 08/2020/TT-BQP dated January 17, 2020, issued by the Minister of National Defense detailing and guiding the implementation of Articles 13 and 16 of the Law on Officers of the Vietnam People's Army regarding the highest age limit for officers holding command and management positions; extending the service age of officers; and conferring military ranks on graduates of officer training while serving.

2. In cases where the referenced documents in this Circular are amended, supplemented, or replaced, they shall be implemented according to the new regulations.

Article 13. Responsibility for Implementation

The Director of the Political General Department, the Chief of the General Staff, and the heads of relevant agencies and units are responsible for enforcing this Circular./.