JOINT CIRCULAR No. 28-TT/LB ON TEMPORARY REGIME FOR THE ISSUE OF UNIFORMS AND SPECIAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE PEOPLE'S FORESTRY RANGER FORCE

CIRCULAR

Regulations on temporary provisions for equipping uniforms and specialized equipment for people's forest rangers Based on the Ordinance stipulating forest protection; based on Decree No. 101-CP dated May 21, 1973 of the Council of Ministers stipulating the organizational system and powers and responsibilities of people's forest rangers; the Forest Administration General Department and the Ministry of Finance hereby issue temporary regulations on equipping uniforms and specialized equipment for people's forest rangers as follows.

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The provision of uniforms and specialized equipment for cadres and staff members of the people's forest ranger force aims to enhance their sense of responsibility and create favorable conditions for them to fulfill assigned tasks.

2. Individuals who have registered as the principal investigator of a Research Project or Pilot Production Project and those participating in its implementation shall not participate in the Evaluation and Selection Council for that Research Project or Pilot Production Project (hereinafter referred to as the Council). In necessary cases, members of the Council may be staff members of the organization registering as the principal investigator of the Research Project or Pilot Production Project, but not more than one person and they cannot serve as Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, or reviewing member.

1. These provisions on the supply of uniforms and specialized equipment include the issuance system, the loan system for uniforms and specialized equipment, the purchase of clothing at state-prescribed prices, applicable to cadres and staff members of the people's forest ranger force, and the supply of specialized equipment to units under the forest ranger organization.

2Cadres and staff members directly performing patrol and supervision duties or frequently interacting with the public (including drivers) to carry out their tasks shall be provided with uniforms and specialized equipment and allowed to purchase clothing according to the provisions of this document; other cadres and staff members performing other tasks within the forest ranger force, if required to perform the aforementioned tasks due to urgent work needs, shall be allowed to borrow uniforms and specialized equipment and purchase clothing according to the provisions of this document.

3Uniforms and specialized equipment issued to individuals or lent to individuals, as well as specialized equipment supplied to units, are state assets and must be carefully preserved, managed, and used strictly in accordance with the general state asset management regime.

4II. REGULATIONS ON THE ISSUE OF UNIFORMS AND SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT FOR FOREST RANGER CADRES AND STAFF

Cadres and staff members officially included in the forest ranger force's payroll and directly performing patrol and supervision duties, collecting forest maintenance fees, directing and guiding forestry operations, driving, or regularly receiving guests shall be provided with uniforms and specialized equipment according to the provisions of these regulations.

1. The issuance of uniforms and specialized equipment as mentioned above does not apply to cadres and staff members who do not enjoy the forest ranger force's payroll (such as support staff, childcare workers, social organizations...) and does not apply to cadres and staff members enjoying the forest ranger force's payroll but engaged in administrative and managerial work (accounting, typing, administration, cleaning...within the forest ranger force and other cadres and staff members performing other tasks that do not require wearing uniforms when performing their duties). The Forest Administration General Department will specify the positions and tasks within the forest ranger force that are not subject to the uniform-wearing regulations.

Cadres and staff members provided with uniforms as stipulated in Point 1, Section II above, if working in high mountainous areas and deep forests where regional allowances of 15% or more of the basic salary are applied, shall be considered for cold-weather uniforms.

2. Cadres and staff members of the forest ranger force falling under the category specified in Point 1, Section II shall be provided with uniforms according to the following regulations:

3. - One set of trousers made according to a unified standard applicable to the forest ranger force, made of domestic khaki fabric, dark green color, for use for one year;

- One cotton quilted jacket, covered with domestic fine fabric, dark green color, for use for four years;

- One narrow belt, made of fabric or plastic, for use for two years;

- One hard hat, covered with domestic khaki fabric, dark green color, lined with domestic fine fabric, for use for two years;

- One pair of jungle boots or equivalent value rubber shoes, for use for one year;

- One pair of forest ranger insignia, to be sewn onto the hard hat or soft hat, to be replaced only when lost or damaged;

- One pair of forest ranger badges;

- One forest ranger identification plate, to be replaced only when lost or damaged.

Cadres and staff members of the forest ranger force mentioned in Point 1, Section II shall be provided with or allowed to borrow specialized equipment according to the following regulations:

4. - One raincoat made of domestic canvas, for use for three years (only provided to those in mobile patrol and supervision teams, forest fee collection teams);

- Two pairs of anti-leech socks, made of domestic fine fabric, for use for one year (only provided to those regularly performing patrol and supervision duties in the forest, firefighting);

- One three-compartment backpack made of domestic canvas, dark green color, for use for five years (only provided to those in mobile patrol and supervision teams, forest fee collection teams, firefighting teams, drivers);

- One whistle made of brass or aluminum (only provided to those in mobile patrol and supervision teams, firefighting teams, control stations, and watchtowers);

- One pair of high-collared rubber boots, for use for two years (only provided to those regularly performing mobile patrol and supervision duties, forest fee collection at landing sites and muddy sections of roads);

- One leather or faux leather case, for use for four years (only provided to bureau and branch-level leadership cadres).

The Forest Administration General Department will base its decisions on the nature of work of each unit and each position within the forest ranger force in different regions, issuing specific documents detailing the cases eligible for provision or borrowing of specialized equipment and the list of specialized equipment provided or borrowed in each case.

Cadres and staff members of the forest ranger force mentioned in Article 2, Section II, working in high mountainous areas and deep forests in regions with regional allowances of 15% or more of the basic salary, shall be considered for cold-weather uniforms according to the following regulations:

5. - One quilted jacket (both shell and lining) made according to prescribed standards, made of domestic khaki fabric, dark green color, thick cotton filling, covered with domestic fine fabric dark green color, for use for three years. Those provided with this quilted jacket shall not be provided with the cotton quilted jacket lining as stipulated in Point 3, Section II.

- One cotton coat (including both shell and lining), made according to specified specifications, from domestic khaki fabric, dark heather gray color, with thick cotton stuffing, covered with domestic screen fabric in dark heather gray color, for a three-year period. The person who is issued this cotton coat shall not be issued the cotton coat lining mentioned in Point 3, Section II.

- One woolen hat, made according to the specified standards with domestic khaki fabric, color heather blue, for use over three years. The person receiving this woolen hat shall not be issued the soft hat mentioned in Point 3, Section II;

The General Department of Forestry, based on the general regulations of the State, consults with the Ministry of Finance and issues a document specifying the specific cases eligible for consideration for issuance of cold-weather uniforms as mentioned in Point 5, Section II herein;

III. REGIME FOR LOANING UNIFORMS AND SPECIAL EQUIPMENT

1. In addition to officers and staff members who are issued uniforms and special equipment as stipulated in Point 1, Section II above, other officers and staff members, if required due to sudden work needs, must wear uniforms or need to be equipped with special equipment, shall borrow uniforms and special equipment according to the regime set forth herein; upon completion of the task, they must immediately return them to the borrowing entity;

2. The People's Forest Ranger Bureau is allocated funds to purchase and distribute some uniforms and special equipment to subordinate units for loaning to officers and staff under their authority in the cases mentioned in Point 1 above:

- Winter uniform jacket and pants (including quilted lining);

- Hard hat, soft hat;

- Forest walking shoes;

- Badge, rank insignia, forest ranger number;

- Raincoat;

- Water container;

- Flashlight, according to the standard: from 3 to 5 people: 1 flashlight; from 6 to 10 people: 3 flashlights; batteries according to the standard of 1 pair of batteries per flashlight for two months. Flashlights and batteries are only for officers and staff at stations, teams, and squads who regularly perform patrol duties and nighttime control tasks, borrowed for use during duty hours;

The number of uniforms and special equipment for loaning purposes shall be calculated based on the number of people not entitled to receive uniforms and special equipment but occasionally assigned sudden work tasks requiring uniforms when performing duties. The number of uniforms and special equipment purchased for loaning purposes shall not exceed 50% of the number of people required to wear uniforms due to sudden work tasks as mentioned above;

IV. REGIME FOR PURCHASING CLOTHING AT THE PRICES SET BY THE STATE

Officers and staff members of the People's Forest Ranger Bureau who are entitled to receive or borrow uniforms as stipulated in the regime herein, each year, are allowed to purchase according to the prices set by the State:

- One pair of trousers, made of domestic khaki fabric, color heather blue, manufactured according to the unified standards applicable to the People's Forest Ranger force;

- One long-sleeved shirt, made of domestic poplin fabric, color heather blue, manufactured according to the standards applicable to the People's Forest Ranger force;

Those purchasing clothing must submit fabric vouchers as prescribed;

V. REGIME FOR ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL EQUIPMENT TO SUBORDINATE UNITS OF THE PEOPLE'S FOREST RANGER FORCE

Units such as bureaus, branches, stations, teams, squads, and training schools within the People's Forest Ranger force are issued:

- One national flag;

- One forest ranger service flag;

- One nameplate;

- One desk clock;

- One drum or bell (issued to forest ranger stations for alarm purposes in case of forest fires);

- Flashlights and batteries (for common use by bureaus and branches, according to the standards specified in Point 2, Section III);

VI. MANAGEMENT OF ISSUE AND USE OF UNIFORMS AND SPECIAL EQUIPMENT

1. The issuance or loaning of uniforms and special equipment to individuals and units of the People's Forest Ranger Bureau must ensure compliance with the designated recipients and established standards and regimes. Units of the People's Forest Ranger Bureau must have internal regulations for managing the issuance and use of uniforms and special equipment, maintain records according to the standardized forms prescribed by the People's Forest Ranger Bureau to accurately record purchases, issuance, loans, and returns in a timely manner;

2. Uniforms and special equipment issued or loaned by the State are the property of the State. Each unit and officer or staff member within the People's Forest Ranger force must manage and use them properly. Units or individuals causing damage or loss of uniforms or special equipment before the expiration date must compensate according to current regulations;

3. In cases where uniforms and special equipment are damaged or lost due to natural disasters, epidemics, or other legitimate external causes, they must be verified by the branch and proposed for review by the People's Forest Ranger Bureau before being reissued or replaced;

4. When units within the People's Forest Ranger force undergo organizational changes, or when individuals change positions or ranks within the system, the issuance of uniforms and special equipment will be adjusted (additional issuance or recovery) to meet new job requirements;

5. Officers and staff members of the People's Forest Ranger Bureau who are issued uniforms and are sent to study at institutions outside the People's Forest Ranger system, or go for recuperation or treatment for more than one year, the time spent studying or recuperating or treating shall not be counted towards the issuance of uniforms;

6. Officers and staff members who are issued uniforms and special equipment and then transferred to work outside the People's Forest Ranger organization, or retire, cease working due to health reasons, etc., must return the uniforms and special equipment to the unit in kind: badges, rank insignias, numbers, and special equipment, and can transfer the remaining value of the clothes, shoes, and hats; the proceeds from transferring these items must be remitted to the State budget;

7. Recovered uniforms and special equipment that are still usable shall be used for further issuance to units or individuals or for continued use, and the specific usage period must be clearly defined;

The usage period specified for clothing, cold-weather gear, and special equipment in this Circular is the minimum period. If the assets mentioned above are still usable at the end of the specified period, they must continue to be used until they are worn out before being replaced or reissued;

VII. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

1. The funds for purchasing and distributing uniforms and special equipment for the People's Forest Ranger force as stipulated in this Circular are covered by the forestry protection service fund;

2. The funds mentioned in Point 1, Section VII above are directly allocated to the People's Forest Ranger Bureau to organize centralized procurement for the entire sector. The People's Forest Ranger Bureau is responsible for providing detailed guidance to subordinate units on implementing the issuance, management, and use of these assets, and regularly inspecting their implementation to ensure proper distribution, storage, and use of the assets.

3. During the implementation process, if any difficulties or obstacles arise, the People's Forest Protection Bureau shall report to the relevant ministries for study and resolution.

This Circular takes effect from January 1, 1974.