Currently, localities across the country are implementing the military service examination in 2026. However, after the examination results were available, some citizens and parents expressed concerns related to the BMI index - one of the important criteria for assessing physical fitness for entry.
What is the BMI index in military service examination? What BMI is not accepted?
PHOTO: NHAT THINH
According to the Ministry of Defense , BMI is a body mass index or body weight index commonly used today because of its simple calculation method, making it easy to detect thin, malnourished, overweight, or obese people 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.
Before July 2025, health standards for citizens to join the army will be implemented according to two circulars of the Ministry of National Defense: Circular No. 105/2023/TT-BQP dated December 6, 2023 and Circular No. 148/2018/TT-BQP dated October 4, 2018.
Circular 105 stipulates general health standards and prescribes how to score physical fitness, diseases, and health classification for citizens entering the military (military recruitment, military enlistment, and recruitment). Circular 148 supplements regulations on specific health standards for citizens called for military service.
BMI meets military health standards between 18 - 29.9
According to Circular 105, the formula to calculate BMI is: BMI = W/ [(H)2]. In which: BMI commonly used unit is kg/ m2 , W is weight (kg), H is height (m).
BMI is scored as follows: type 1 is from 18.5 - 24.9; type 2 is 25 - 26.9; type 3 is 27 - 29.9; type 4 is from <18.5 or 30 - 34.9; type 5 is from 35 - 39.9; type 6 >= 40.
On July 3, 2025, the Ministry of National Defense issued Circular No. 68/2025/TT-BQP amending and supplementing a number of articles of Circular No. 148 regulating the selection and calling of citizens for military service. In particular, the Ministry of National Defense revised the BMI index to meet the health standards for military service.
Accordingly, the BMI index that meets the health standards for military service is between 18 and 29.9. Citizens with a BMI index less than 18 or greater than 29.9 are not called up for military service.
In addition, Circular 68 also stipulates that citizens with myopia greater than 1.5 diopters or hyperopia of all degrees will not be called up for military service.
Military service medical examination time is from November 1 to December 31 every year and the Ministry of National Defense adjusts the time when necessary.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chi-so-bmi-trong-kham-nghia-vu-quan-su-la-gi-185251122105152719.htm
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