Reasons for not expanding the scope of military deferment for citizens who graduated from college or university

The National Assembly's Committee on Citizen Petitions and Supervision has forwarded to the Ministry of National Defense a petition from voters in Quang Binh province regarding the age for compulsory military service for those with college, university, or postgraduate degrees.

Accordingly, voters believe that the provision in Article 30 of the 2015 Military Service Law: "...citizens who have received college or university education and have been granted a temporary deferment from military service may be called up for military service until the age of 27" is not truly appropriate to reality and lacks flexibility.

Bộ Quốc phòng: Độ tuổi gọi nhập ngũ đến hết 27... phù hợp nguyện vọng nhân dân - Ảnh 1. — The Ministry of Defense believes that the age for military service up to 27 is appropriate.

Voters analyzed: "Under normal circumstances, college and university graduates currently graduate at 22 years old, graduate at 24 if they continue with postgraduate studies, and obtain a doctorate at 26. According to regulations, after graduating from college, university, or postgraduate studies, students must fulfill their military service obligation because they are not yet 27 years old."

The problem is that most students when participating in studying and training at colleges, universities or postgraduate training facilities are in difficult circumstances; many students, especially those in rural areas, have to borrow money to go to school, but when they graduate, they have to join the military immediately, making the difficulties even more difficult, and it is unknown when they will be able to pay off the loans they invest in for their studies.

Therefore, voters propose that the National Assembly study and propose more flexible regulations on the age for military service in cases of temporary deferment due to college, university, or postgraduate education, in order to provide these students with job opportunities to earn income and repay loans taken out for their studies.

The appropriate age for military service is up to 27 years old.

Responding to voters, the Ministry of National Defense said that, based on Article 30 of the 2015 Law on Military Service, which stipulates the age of military service; Point g, Clause 1, Article 41; Point k, Clause 1, Article 50, which stipulates the regime and policies for non-commissioned officers and soldiers during their military service, "the repayment of loans from social policy banks, which are temporarily deferred and not subject to interest, and which, before enlisting, were members of poor households, students, and pupils according to the provisions of law, are temporarily deferred and not charged interest on loans from social policy banks."

To ensure social fairness, citizens who have graduated from college or university and have been granted a temporary deferment from military service will be drafted up to the age of 27. This regulation is consistent with current social conditions and the aspirations of the people.

At the same time, it fulfills the legitimate aspirations for the right to study and work as prescribed by law; it creates a high-quality workforce necessary for the industrialization and modernization of the country, while ensuring sufficient quantity and quality of citizens for military service.

"Currently, the average number of citizens eligible for temporary deferment of military service nationwide is over 55%, and in Quang Binh province it is 64% of the total number of young people of eligible age. Therefore, expanding the deferment period to include citizens who have graduated from college or university and are continuing their studies at the postgraduate or doctoral level is inappropriate given the current situation and would create social inequality," the Ministry of National Defense emphasized.

The Ministry of National Defence will direct relevant agencies to conduct a comprehensive study and propose to the National Assembly and the Government for consideration amendments and additions to the 2015 Military Service Law and related legal documents at an appropriate time when there is sufficient political, legal, and practical basis...

For now, only amend and supplement issues related to the implementation of two-level local government.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ly-do-khong-mo-rong-dien-tam-hoan-nhap-ngu-voi-cong-dan-tot-nghiep-cao-dang-dai-hoc-185250701134952626.htm