Vietnam Defense Ministry Addresses Reserve Officer Placement Concerns

Vietnam's Ministry of National Defense is addressing constituent concerns from Nghe An province regarding the placement and policies for reserve military officers at the commune level following administrative reforms. These reforms involved integrating regular army officers into commune-level military command structures.

Concerns have been raised by voters in Nghe An province about the challenges faced by reserve officers. Many of these individuals completed military training, including intermediate, college, and university-level courses in basic military science, after the government's decision to streamline local administration. However, upon graduation, they encounter difficulties securing suitable positions due to issues related to age, length of service, and other eligibility requirements.

These placement issues mean that some graduates are not eligible for recruitment as regular officers or professional soldiers. Furthermore, they do not yet meet the criteria for social insurance benefits. The constituents argue that this situation not only affects the livelihoods and morale of these local-level officials but also represents a waste of trained human resources.

In response, the Ministry of Defense indicated that officials and non-specialized personnel assigned to commune-level military commands before the implementation of Government Resolution 66 fall under the state management of the Ministry of Home Affairs. That ministry is currently preparing a resolution for the government to address the policies for these individuals. Additionally, the Ministry of Defense plans to recruit qualified individuals, including reserve officers with bachelor's degrees in military science and eligible professional soldiers, into commune-level military commands starting in the first quarter of 2026.