Circular number 65/2025/TT-BQP stipulates the implementation of discharge from military service for non-commissioned officers and soldiers serving in the People's Army. The document applies to non-commissioned officers and soldiers and related agencies and units, guiding the procedures for discharge, responsibilities of the parties involved, and its effective date from July 3, 2025.
Scope of application
Non-commissioned officers and soldiers serving in the People's Army; related agencies, units, and individuals.
Key points
- Non-commissioned officers and soldiers are discharged on time when they have served according to the regulations (Article 4).
- Non-commissioned officers and soldiers are discharged after the extended period decided by the Minister (Article 4).
- Non-commissioned officers and soldiers are discharged before the scheduled time due to health reasons or difficult family circumstances (Article 4).
- The discharge dossier includes specific documents (Article 5).
- The authority to resolve discharges lies with the Minister and commanders of brigade-level units or higher (Article 6).
🌐 Social impact of this document
- Positive impact: Ensuring the rights of non-commissioned officers and soldiers when being discharged under specific conditions.
- Negative impact: Administrative burden on individuals and units during the discharge resolution process.
❓ Frequently asked questions
When are non-commissioned officers and soldiers discharged on time?
Non-commissioned officers and soldiers are discharged on time when they have completed their required service period as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 21 of the Military Service Law 2015 (Article 4).
Under what circumstances can non-commissioned officers and soldiers be discharged early?
Non-commissioned officers and soldiers may be discharged early if they meet one of the following conditions: unsatisfactory health (Article 4), difficult family circumstances (Article 4).
What does the discharge dossier include?
The discharge dossier includes Military Service Record, Military Service Health Form, Soldier's Certificate, Performance Evaluation, and Discharge Decision (Article 5).
Who has the authority to resolve discharges?
The authority to resolve discharges lies with the Minister of National Defense and commanders of brigade-level units or higher (Article 6).
What must non-commissioned officers and soldiers do after receiving the discharge decision?
After receiving the discharge decision, non-commissioned officers and soldiers must register for reserve duty at the Military Affairs Board of the commune within 15 working days (Article 7).
Full text
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| SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM
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CIRCULAR
Regulations on the discharge from military service for non-commissioned officers and conscripts serving in the People's Army
Circular No. 279/2017/TT-BQP dated October 31, 2017, issued by the Minister of National Defense, stipulates the implementation of discharge from military service for non-commissioned officers and conscripts serving in the People's Army, which took effect from December 15, 2017, amended and supplemented by:
Circular No. 65/2025/TT-BQP dated July 3, 2025, issued by the Minister of National Defense, amending and supplementing certain provisions of Circulars of the Minister of National Defense regarding age calculation in the military; issuance, management, and use of Military Identification Cards; selection and recruitment of professional soldiers, workers, and defense civil servants; promotion, demotion, appointment, and removal of non-commissioned officers and conscripts; forms, contents, and times of activities of reservists; taking effect from July 3, 2025.
Pursuant to the Law on Military Service dated June 19, 2015;
Based on Decree No. 35/2013/NĐ-CP dated April 22, 2013, issued by the Government, stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of National Defense;
At the proposal of the Chief of General Staff;
The Minister of National Defense issues this Circular to regulate the implementation of discharge from military service for non-commissioned officers and conscripts serving in the People's Army[1].
Article 1. Scope of Regulation
This Circular stipulates the form, dossier, authority to handle discharge from military service for non-commissioned officers and conscripts serving in the regular forces of the People's Army; responsibilities of relevant agencies, units, organizations (hereinafter referred to as agencies and units), and individuals.
Article 2. Applicability
This Circular applies to non-commissioned officers and conscripts serving in the regular forces of the People's Army; relevant agencies, units, and individuals.
Article 3. Discharge, method of calculating time served in military service
1. Discharge of non-commissioned officers and conscripts means transferring them out of the regular forces of the People's Army and into reserve ranks according to the provisions of the Law on Military Service 2015.
2. Calculation of time served in military service for non-commissioned officers and conscripts shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Article 22 of the Law on Military Service 2015.
Article 4. Forms of discharge
1. Non-commissioned officers and conscripts are discharged at the correct term when they have completed the required term of service as stipulated in Clause 1 of Article 21 of the Law on Military Service 2015.
2. Non-commissioned officers and conscripts are discharged after the term when they have completed the required term of service as stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article and the Minister of National Defense decides to extend their term of service in accordance with Clause 2 of Article 21 of the Law on Military Service 2015.
3. Non-commissioned officers and conscripts are discharged before the term if they meet one of the following conditions:
a)[2] The Health Assessment Board at division level and above or the authorized Medical Assessment Board concludes that they do not meet the health standards for military service as prescribed in Circular No. 105/2023/TT-BQP dated December 6, 2023, issued by the Minister of National Defense, stipulating health standards and medical examinations for subjects under the management of the Ministry of National Defense;
b)[3] The People's Committee of the commune confirms that the family has difficult circumstances falling within the scope of temporary deferment from military service as stipulated at point b, c of Clause 1 of Article 41 of the Law on Military Service 2015, as follows:
- Being the sole breadwinner directly supporting dependent relatives who are unable to work or have not reached working age; in families suffering heavy casualties and property losses due to accidents, natural disasters, or dangerous epidemics confirmed by the People's Committee of the commune;
- A child of a disabled veteran or a person affected by Agent Orange with reduced labor capacity from 61% to 80%;
c)[4] The People's Committee of the commune confirms that the family has difficult circumstances falling within the scope of exemption from military service as stipulated at point a, b, c of Clause 2 of Article 41 of the Law on Military Service 2015, as follows:
- A child of a martyr or a first-class wounded veteran;
- A sibling of a martyr;
- A child of a second-class wounded veteran; a child of a disabled veteran with reduced labor capacity of 81% or more; a child of a person affected by Agent Orange with reduced labor capacity of 81% or more.
d) The Military Security Protection Agency reports to the competent authority to decide that they do not meet the political criteria as prescribed in Article 5 of Joint Circular No. 50/2016/TTLT-BQP-BCA dated April 15, 2016, issued by the Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Public Security, stipulating political criteria for selecting citizens to enter military service in the People's Army of Vietnam.
4. During the extended term of service as stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article, if non-commissioned officers and conscripts encounter family difficulties or do not meet health or political criteria as stipulated in points a, b, c, d of Clause 3 of this Article, they will be granted discharge.
Article 5. Discharge Documents
1. In cases of discharge at the end of term and after the term, the documents include:
a) Military service record;
b) Military service health certificate;
c) Soldier's card;
d) Evaluation of work performance;
đ)[5] Discharge decision: five copies (one copy for the unit handling discharge; one copy for the financial authority of the unit handling discharge; one copy for the Defense Committee of the area where the non-commissioned officer or soldier will return; two copies for the non-commissioned officer or soldier, one of which is to be submitted to the vocational training institution where the non-commissioned officer or soldier will attend);
e) Other related documents (if any).
2.[6] In cases of early discharge, the documents include:
a) Non-commissioned officers and soldiers who have served for at least one month but do not meet the conditions for continued service shall follow the provisions of Clause 1 of this Article (the discharge decision must clearly state the reason for discharge) and attach one of the following documents:
- Health assessment report from the Health Assessment Board at division level or higher, or medical assessment report from the Medical Assessment Board with authority to conclude that they are not fit for continued service according to point a, Clause 3, Article 4 of this Circular.
- Certificate from the People's Committee of the commune confirming that the family is in difficult circumstances according to point b, c, Clause 3, Article 4 of this Circular.
- Document from the authority concluding that they do not meet political standards according to point d, Clause 3, Article 4 of this Circular.”
b) Non-commissioned officers and soldiers who have served less than one month and do not meet the conditions for continued service shall be notified in writing by the commander of the regiment or equivalent unit, stating the reasons for not meeting the conditions for continued service, along with the enlistment documents to be returned to the Defense Committee of the area where the conscripts were handed over according to regulations.
Article 6. Authority to Process Discharge
1. The Minister of National Defense decides on the number and quantity of non-commissioned officers and soldiers to be discharged annually.
2. The commander of the regiment or equivalent unit decides on the discharge of non-commissioned officers and soldiers under their command.
3. The commander of the division or higher level reviews and approves cases of early discharge according to Clause 3, Article 4 of this Circular.
4.[7] Within twelve months from the date of issuance of the discharge decision, if the individual is accepted for employment by a state agency, organization, or economic entity and wishes to transfer to the place of employment, the commander of the Defense Committee of the area shall consider and process according to regulations.
Article 7. Responsibilities of Agencies, Units, and Individuals
1.[8] The commander of the regiment or equivalent unit is responsible for:
a) Processing discharge for each non-commissioned officer and soldier under their command; organizing farewell meetings before discharge; organizing send-off ceremonies and delivering non-commissioned officers and soldiers to the Defense Committee of the area where they will return according to regulations.
b) Notifying non-commissioned officers and soldiers and the Defense Committee of the area or the agency or organization where they will return of the discharge date thirty days in advance.
2.[9] Relevant agencies and units according to their functions and responsibilities are responsible for: Assisting the unit commander in fully processing procedures, documents, benefits, and policies for non-commissioned officers and soldiers before discharge; compiling a list of discharged non-commissioned officers and soldiers to be sent to the Defense Committee of the area where they will return for management and registration in the reserve cadre according to the Law on Military Service 2015.
3.[10] The Defense Committee of the area where non-commissioned officers and soldiers will return is responsible for receiving and welcoming discharged non-commissioned officers and soldiers back to the locality and handing them over to the People's Committee of the commune; simultaneously, coordinating with the People's Committee of the commune and relevant agencies and units to implement benefits and policies according to Clause 3, Article 50 of the Law on Military Service 2015.
4.[11] The commander of the Defense Committee of the area where non-commissioned officers and soldiers will return is responsible for considering and processing discharge for non-commissioned officers and soldiers according to Clause 4, Article 6 of this Circular.
5. Within fifteen working days from the date non-commissioned officers and soldiers receive the discharge decision, they must directly register for service in the reserve cadre at the Military Command of the commune.
Article 8. Effective Date[12]
This Circular takes effect from December 15, 2017, and replaces Circular No. 11/2012/TT-BQP dated February 20, 2012, issued by the Minister of National Defense regarding the implementation of discharge for non-commissioned officers and soldiers serving in the Vietnam People's Army.
Article 9. Responsibility for implementation
The Chief of General Staff, commanders of agencies, units, and individuals concerned are responsible for implementing this Circular./.
| MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE Number: 31/VBHN-BQP Place of Receipt: | CERTIFIED CONSOLIDATED DOCUMENT
Hanoi, August 22, 2025 DEPUTY MINISTER |
[1] Circular No. 65/2025/TT-BQP amending and supplementing certain articles of Circulars of the Minister of National Defense on calculating military age; issuing, managing, and using identification cards and certificates; selecting and recruiting professional soldiers, workers, and defense civil servants; promoting, advancing, demoting ranks, appointing, demoting, and removing positions and implementing discharge for non-commissioned officers and soldiers; forms, contents, and times of activities of reserve personnel, based on the following grounds:
"On the basis of the Military Service Law dated June 19, 2015;
On the basis of the Officer Law of the Vietnam People's Army dated December 21, 1999, amended and supplemented on June 3, 2008, November 27, 2014, and November 28, 2024;
On the basis of the Law on Professional Soldiers, Workers, and Defense Civil Servants dated December 8, 2015;
On the basis of the Law on Reserve Mobilization Forces dated November 26, 2019;
On the basis of the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Articles of 11 Laws on Military and National Defense dated June 27, 2025;
BASED ON 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; Decree No. 03/2025/NĐ-CP dated February 28, 2025 of the Government amending and supplementing some articles of 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 Chief of General Staff;
The Minister of National Defense issues this Circular to amend and supplement certain provisions of the Circulars of the Minister of National Defense on calculating military age; issuing, managing, and using identification cards and cards; selecting and recruiting professional soldiers, workers, and defense civil servants; conferring, promoting, demoting ranks, appointing, demoting positions, dismissing from office, and implementing discharge for non-commissioned officers and conscripts; forms, contents, and times of activities for reserve military personnel.
[2] This point is amended and supplemented according to Article 1, Clause 1 of Circular No. 65/2025/TT-BQP amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Circulars of the Minister of National Defense on calculating military age; issuing, managing, and using identification cards and cards; selecting and recruiting professional soldiers, workers, and defense civil servants; conferring, promoting, demoting ranks, appointing, demoting positions, dismissing from office, and implementing discharge for non-commissioned officers and conscripts; forms, contents, and times of activities for reserve military personnel, which shall take effect from July 3, 2025.
[3] This point is amended and supplemented according to Article 5, Clause 1 of Circular No. 65/2025/TT-BQP amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Circulars of the Minister of National Defense on calculating military age; issuing, managing, and using identification cards and cards; selecting and recruiting professional soldiers, workers, and defense civil servants; conferring, promoting, demoting ranks, appointing, demoting positions, dismissing from office, and implementing discharge for non-commissioned officers and conscripts; forms, contents, and times of activities for reserve military personnel, which shall take effect from July 3, 2025.
[4] This point is amended and supplemented according to Article 5, Clause 1 of Circular No. 65/2025/TT-BQP amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Circulars of the Minister of National Defense on calculating military age; issuing, managing, and using identification cards and cards; selecting and recruiting professional soldiers, workers, and defense civil servants; conferring, promoting, demoting ranks, appointing, demoting positions, dismissing from office, and implementing discharge for non-commissioned officers and conscripts; forms, contents, and times of activities for reserve military personnel, which shall take effect from July 3, 2025.
[5] This point is amended and supplemented according to Article 5, Clause 2, Point a of Circular No. 65/2025/TT-BQP amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Circulars of the Minister of National Defense on calculating military age; issuing, managing, and using identification cards and cards; selecting and recruiting professional soldiers, workers, and defense civil servants; conferring, promoting, demoting ranks, appointing, demoting positions, dismissing from office, and implementing discharge for non-commissioned officers and conscripts; forms, contents, and times of activities for reserve military personnel, which shall take effect from July 3, 2025.
[6] This clause is amended and supplemented according to Article 5, Clause 2, Point b of Circular No. 65/2025/TT-BQP amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Circulars of the Minister of National Defense on calculating military age; issuing, managing, and using identification cards and cards; selecting and recruiting professional soldiers, workers, and defense civil servants; conferring, promoting, demoting ranks, appointing, demoting positions, dismissing from office, and implementing discharge for non-commissioned officers and conscripts; forms, contents, and times of activities for reserve military personnel, which shall take effect from July 3, 2025.
[7] This clause is amended and supplemented according to Article 5, Clause 3 of Circular No. 65/2025/TT-BQP amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Circulars of the Minister of National Defense on calculating military age; issuing, managing, and using identification cards and cards; selecting and recruiting professional soldiers, workers, and defense civil servants; conferring, promoting, demoting ranks, appointing, demoting positions, dismissing from office, and implementing discharge for non-commissioned officers and conscripts; forms, contents, and times of activities for reserve military personnel, which shall take effect from July 3, 2025.
[8] This clause is amended and supplemented according to Article 5, Clause 4 of Circular No. 65/2025/TT-BQP amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Circulars of the Minister of National Defense on calculating military age; issuing, managing, and using identification cards and cards; selecting and recruiting professional soldiers, workers, and defense civil servants; conferring, promoting, demoting ranks, appointing, demoting positions, dismissing from office, and implementing discharge for non-commissioned officers and conscripts; forms, contents, and times of activities for reserve military personnel, which shall take effect from July 3, 2025.
[9] This clause is amended and supplemented according to Article 5, Clause 4 of Circular No. 65/2025/TT-BQP amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Circulars of the Minister of National Defense on calculating military age; issuing, managing, and using identification cards and cards; selecting and recruiting professional soldiers, workers, and defense civil servants; conferring, promoting, demoting ranks, appointing, demoting positions, dismissing from office, and implementing discharge for non-commissioned officers and conscripts; forms, contents, and times of activities for reserve military personnel, which shall take effect from July 3, 2025.
[10] This clause is amended and supplemented according to Article 5, Clause 4 of Circular No. 65/2025/TT-BQP amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Circulars of the Minister of National Defense on calculating military age; issuing, managing, and using identification cards and cards; selecting and recruiting professional soldiers, workers, and defense civil servants; conferring, promoting, demoting ranks, appointing, demoting positions, dismissing from office, and implementing discharge for non-commissioned officers and conscripts; forms, contents, and times of activities for reserve military personnel, which shall take effect from July 3, 2025.
[11] This clause is amended and supplemented according to Article 5, Clause 4 of Circular No. 65/2025/TT-BQP amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Circulars of the Minister of National Defense on calculating military age; issuing, managing, and using identification cards and cards; selecting and recruiting professional soldiers, workers, and defense civil servants; conferring, promoting, demoting ranks, appointing, demoting positions, dismissing from office, and implementing discharge for non-commissioned officers and conscripts; forms, contents, and times of activities for reserve military personnel, which shall take effect from July 3, 2025.
[12] Article 7 of Circular No. 65/2025/TT-BQP amending and supplementing certain provisions of Circulars issued by the Minister of National Defense regarding military age calculation; issuance, management, and use of Identification Cards and Passes; recruitment and enlistment of professional soldiers, workers, and defense civil servants; promotion, advancement, demotion, appointment, demotion in rank, dismissal from office, and implementation of discharge for non-commissioned officers and conscripts; forms, contents, and times of reserve military personnel activities, shall take effect from July 3, 2025, and is specified as follows:
"Article 7. Implementation Provisions
1. This Circular takes effect from July 3, 2025.
2. Transitional provisions: Officer Identification Cards; Professional Military Personnel Identification Cards, Workers, and Defense Civil Servants; Non-commissioned Officers and Conscripts' In-service Cards; Reserve Officer Cards; Professional Military Personnel and Reserve Non-commissioned Officers and Conscripts' Cards issued before this Circular takes effect will continue to be valid until their expiration date, in cases of reissue or replacement after this Circular takes effect, they shall be carried out according to the provisions of this Circular.
3. The Chief of General Staff, heads of agencies, organizations, units, and related individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular."
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