Ministry of Defense responds to petition to do military service before going to university

The Ministry of National Defense recently received a petition from voters sent by the Petition Committee, requesting that it study and submit to the National Assembly for consideration and amendment of the 2015 Law on Military Service, stipulating that all young men of age must perform military service, then go to university or vocational school to ensure strictness and fairness, creating favorable conditions for local authorities to call young men to join the army.

The Ministry of National Defense said that regarding the legal framework for military service, the 2015 Law on Military Service was passed by the National Assembly and took effect from January 1, 2016. Along with that, detailed documents guiding the Law were issued, adjusting a number of contents.

After more than 7 years of implementation, it has made an important contribution to the military and defense tasks of localities and units. Every year, the work of selecting and calling citizens to join the army to supplement the number of troops for regular units and replace troops according to the law.

New recruits say goodbye to their relatives before joining the army. Illustration photo: Pham Hai

According to the Ministry of National Defense, in practice, the implementation process has had certain difficulties, problems, and shortcomings, including a number of issues that voters have reflected on, namely the implementation of social justice for all young men of military age.

According to the provisions of the Law on Military Service 2015, all citizens of military service age, regardless of ethnicity, social status, belief, religion, education level, occupation, or place of residence, must perform military service.

However, due to the country's limited economic conditions and many other factors, it is not possible to call all young men to join the army. Every year, only 3-3.2% of the total number of young men of military service age are called to join the army.

The Ministry of National Defense said it will receive, study, and review the Government's report and submit it to the National Assembly to amend and supplement the 2015 Law on Military Service according to the law and ordinance drafting program for the 15th National Assembly term.

At the same time, direct competent authorities to review legal documents. Research and propose to the Government and ministries and branches to amend, supplement and complete the system of relevant legal documents to ensure consistency and synchronization, contributing to the implementation of fairness in military recruitment.

Demobilized soldiers are not exempted from vocational training fees.

The Ministry of National Defense also received a petition from voters with the following content: It is necessary to issue unified regulations and guidelines on job placement and vocational training cards for soldiers after demobilization. Because currently, when soldiers return to their hometowns after demobilization and want to learn a trade and bring their vocational training cards issued by the Ministry of National Defense to vocational training centers to register for vocational training, they are not exempted from tuition fees according to regulations.

Regarding this issue, the Ministry of National Defense said that the training, vocational training, and job placement regime for demobilized non-commissioned officers and soldiers are stipulated in the Law on Military Service and Decree No. 27 of the Government.

In case non-commissioned officers and soldiers complete their military service, upon discharge, if they have a need for vocational training and are eligible for vocational training support, they will be supported with vocational training according to regulations.

According to the provisions of Decree No. 61 of the Government on policies to support job creation and the national employment fund, including vocational training support for young people who have completed military service, to encourage and create conditions for demobilized soldiers returning to their localities to have more opportunities to find jobs, have stable income and develop the economy.

In principle, demobilized soldiers are granted vocational training cards and receive vocational training support if they participate in elementary-level vocational training at training facilities in accordance with the law.

Over the past years, the Ministry of National Defense has regularly coordinated with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to direct and guide all levels, sectors, localities, units, and vocational training establishments to strengthen propaganda and effectively implement vocational guidance and training policies, create jobs for demobilized soldiers and military rear work.

Demobilized soldiers who participate in vocational training at the elementary level are exempted from tuition fees and partially supported with accommodation, food, and living expenses. Therefore, the number of registrations and participation in vocational training at vocational training facilities nationwide increases every year. After completing vocational training, most of them are supported with job referrals at agencies and businesses in the area or participate in the overseas labor market, with a stable income.

However, according to the Ministry of National Defense, there are still some problems in the implementation process, such as voters' suggestions, many cases before joining the army had graduated from secondary school, college, university, so when discharged from the army, there was no need to learn a trade; the time to use the card and the payment procedures were still inadequate... leading to the failure to promote the Party and State's policies towards discharged soldiers.

Regarding the solution, the Ministry of National Defense received, researched and closely coordinated with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to propose that the Government amend Decree No. 61 to be suitable, closer to reality and better ensure the rights of demobilized soldiers.

Tran Thuong