The Ministry of National Defense recently received a petition from voters in Hue city reflecting that currently, the calling of young men to join the army is carried out according to the provisions of Circular 105/2023 of the Minister of National Defense, which stipulates health standards and health examinations for subjects participating in military service to achieve a BMI (Body Mass Index - body weight index or body mass index) from 18.5-30.

Through the actual medical examination for military service this year, the number of young people who do not meet the BMI standards is quite high (under 18.5), while the health of the young people is good. Therefore, voters suggest that the Ministry of National Defense study and adjust the BMI index (around 16-30) to ensure military recruitment in the following years.

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Hue City Military Command conducts health check-up for military service in 2024. Photo: Hue City Military Command

Responding to voters' petitions, the Ministry of National Defense said that the BMI index is commonly used today because of its simple calculation method, making it easy to detect people who are thin, sick, malnourished, overweight, or obese at different levels of severity.

The higher the BMI, the more fat in the body; conversely, the lower the BMI, the thinner the body. Applying the BMI in health assessment and classification ensures more scientific and objective results than using separate height and weight indicators and is used by many countries in the world in health standards for selecting citizens for military service.

The Ministry of Health has consulted the World Health Organization's BMI index standards and compiled opinions from experts from leading hospitals (Central Endocrinology Hospital, Bach Mai Hospital...) to propose adding and specifying the BMI index into a standard for physical classification.

Circular 105/2023, before being issued, was widely consulted and received high consensus from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance, People's Committees and Military Commands of provinces and cities.

The Ministry of National Defense said that before July, health standards for citizens to join the army were implemented according to two circulars of the Ministry: No. 105 and No. 148/2018.

Circular No. 105/2023 stipulates general health standards and prescribes how to score physical fitness, diseases, and health classification for cases of citizens joining the army (military recruitment, military recruitment, and employment). Circular No. 148/2018 supplements regulations on specific health standards for citizens called for military service.

During the implementation of Circular No. 105/2023, the Ministry of National Defense assessed that the selection of citizens for military service was basically favorable, and units found that the physical strength (height, weight, BMI) of new soldiers was more uniform than in previous years.

However, some localities have suggested that the Ministry of National Defense study and consider health standards for military service for tall, thin, and healthy citizens.

Therefore, on March 9, the Ministry of National Defense assigned the General Department of Logistics and Technology to direct the Military Medical Department to coordinate with research agencies, advise, and propose adjustments to health standards regarding BMI index in calling citizens to join the army.

The Military Medical Department asked for opinions from the entire army and received 102 opinions from agencies and units, including 19 focal units under the Ministry of National Defense, 62 provincial military commands, and 21 military hospitals.

According to the general survey results, agencies and units proposed to adjust the BMI index in calling citizens to join the army: 16-29.9 is 1.96% (2/102); 16.5-29.9 is 3.92% (4/102); 17-29.9 is 38.23% (39/102); 17.5-29.9 is 55.88% (57/102); 18-29.9 is 64.7% (66/102).

On July 3, the Ministry of National Defense issued Circular No. 68/2025 amending and supplementing a number of articles of Circular No. 148/2018 regulating the selection and calling of citizens for military service; in which the BMI index meeting the health standards for military service was amended to be between 18 and 29.9.

Regarding the voters' proposal to adjust the BMI index from 16-30, the Ministry of National Defense said it will continue to research and coordinate with relevant agencies and units to adjust at the appropriate time.

BMI = weight (kg)/height squared (m)

Only citizens with health categories 1, 2 and 3 as prescribed in Circular 105/2023 will be selected. This means that citizens with health categories 4, 5, 6 will not be called up for military service.

In addition, citizens with myopia greater than 1.5 diopters or hyperopia of any degree will not be called up for military service (previous regulations in Circular 148/2018 were myopia from 1.5 diopters or more).

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/bo-quoc-phong-tra-loi-kien-nghi-dieu-chinh-chi-so-bmi-tuyen-cong-dan-nhap-ngu-2451043.html