Defense Ministry clarifies deferral from military service for hardship cases

Vietnam's Ministry of National Defense has addressed public inquiries regarding deferrals from military conscription for individuals facing difficult family circumstances. The ministry clarified that citizens who are the sole income earners and directly support relatives unable to work or not yet of working age may be eligible for temporary deferral or exemption from service.

This clarification came after a citizen reported a particularly challenging situation: a family with a mother suffering from a disability and chronic illnesses, a young child in elementary school, and a father who had to leave his seasonal work to manage household responsibilities and caregiving. The citizen questioned the process, noting that local military command advised deferral requests should be made only after being drafted, contrary to their understanding of needing to submit documentation beforehand.

The Ministry of National Defense explained that such deferrals are governed by Article 41 of the Law on Military Service. To qualify, the individual must be the sole provider and caregiver for family members who are incapacitated or underage. The family must also have suffered significant losses due to accidents, natural disasters, or dangerous epidemics, as confirmed by local authorities.

Eligible citizens must submit an application detailing their family's hardship, supported by official confirmations of the relative's medical condition, proof of sole breadwinner status, and documents related to the child's schooling. The process involves review by the commune-level Military Service Council, with final decisions made by provincial authorities. Applications are typically processed annually before September.