National Assembly agrees to raise retirement age for military officers

According to approved amendments and supplements to the Law on Officers of the Vietnam People’s Army, the retirement age will go up from 46 to 50 years for junior officers, from 48 to 52 for majors, from 51 to 54 for lieutenant colonels, from 54 to 56 for senior lieutenant colonels, from 57 to 58 for colonels (male) and from 55 to 58 for colonels (female).

The retirement age for generals remains unchanged at 60 years for men, while for women, it will be raised from 55 to 60 years.

The amended law also comprises provisions regarding the extension of retirement age for military officers under certain conditions. Officers who meet the required political, moral, professional, and physical qualities, and who voluntarily choose to extend their service, can have their retirement age extended by up to 5 years.

The law also grants the Minister of National Defense the discretion to determine the retirement age for officers holding command positions, such as Chief of General Staff, Director of a General Department, and Political Commissar of a General Department. However, the retirement age for these officers cannot exceed the highest retirement age already set for active-duty officers in general.

The new policy allows military officers to serve longer in their positions. This change is intended to retain experienced and skilled officers within the military, enhancing the overall effectiveness and stability of the armed forces.

In another development, the law introduces provisions regarding the highest military ranks for officers, specifying the limits for different ranks. The highest rank for military officers (general officers) will be capped at 415 positions, which is the same as the current law.

The amended law will come into effect as from December 1, 2024.