Under the Prime Minister’s decision on calling citizens to military service in 2026 and the Minister of National Defense’s decision assigning enlistment quotas for the year, young people nationwide will depart for military service on March 4 and 5.

Leaders of the Ministry of National Defense, the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and the General Department of Political Affairs of the Vietnam People’s Army will attend ceremonies in various localities.

In preparation for this year’s enlistment, Party committees, local authorities and military agencies at all levels have paid close attention to leadership and direction, ensuring that each step of the recruitment process is carried out thoroughly and in accordance with regulations.

The selection and call-up of citizens for military service have been implemented in line with the Party’s guidelines, the State’s policies and laws, as well as established procedures governing enlistment.

The Department of Military Affairs under the General Staff has coordinated with relevant agencies to study and propose amendments, supplements or the issuance of new documents to help units and localities effectively carry out the 2026 enlistment mission.

The entire armed forces have been briefed and unified on key tasks, especially new points requiring attention. Authorities have also reviewed the pool of eligible citizens in provinces and cities following administrative mergers and allocated enlistment quotas early to subordinate units under the Ministry of National Defense, enabling proactive implementation at the local level.

Party committees and local administrations have focused on every stage of the recruitment process, from reviewing and managing eligible citizens to registering those of enlistment age. They have also promptly grasped the aspirations of conscripts and their families to ensure effective communication and the proper implementation of policies and benefits.

All procedures have been carried out in a democratic, transparent and quality-oriented manner, adhering to the principle of “selecting each individual with certainty.”

Under Circular 105/2023 issued by the Ministry of National Defense, health classification for military service is based on two main criteria: physical condition and medical status.

For physical assessment, the Ministry applies the BMI index, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. Citizens must meet health classifications of Level 1, 2 or 3 to qualify for military service.

Level 1 corresponds to a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9; Level 2 ranges from 25 to 26.9; and Level 3 from 27 to 29.9.

In addition, citizens with myopia greater than 1.5 diopters or with hyperopia at any level will not be called up for service. The previous regulation under Circular 148/2018 also set the threshold for myopia at 1.5 diopters or more.

Tran Thuong