Research is being conducted to revise conscription standards for citizens with nearsightedness.

Accordingly, the Ministry of National Defense received a petition from voters in Nam Dinh province, forwarded by the People's Petition Committee via Official Letter No. 742/BDN dated June 14, 2023, with the following content: “Currently, the percentage of young people of military age suffering from refractive errors of myopia with a degree of 1.5 diopters or more is high. We request that the Ministry of National Defense consider and amend the conscription standards for citizens with myopia as stipulated in point c, clause 3, Article 4 of Circular No. 148/2018/TT-BQP dated October 4, 2018, of the Ministry of National Defense, by increasing the standard for myopia from “1.5 diopters” to “2 diopters” and revising it as follows: “Citizens with health category 3 refractive errors of the eyes (myopia of 2 diopters or more, various degrees of hyperopia) shall not be called up for military service.” "Drug addiction, HIV infection, AIDS" to avoid wasting local resources and to be consistent with the current health status of young people eligible for military service."

Regarding this matter, the Ministry of National Defence stated that the activities of soldiers in a military environment are unique and high-intensity. Daily and weekly, soldiers must participate in military training, live-fire exercises, and use weapons, equipment, and supplies during training and combat readiness. Shooting is the most characteristic activity of a soldier. In addition, there are physical training activities, and combat operations during the day and night in all weather conditions, in mountainous terrain, in the air, and at sea.

The Ministry of National Defence has issued a written response to a petition from voters in Nam Dinh province regarding the reduction of the myopia requirement for military conscription from 1.5 diopters to 2 diopters. (Illustrative image from the internet)

Therefore, in the military environment, soldiers are required to have good eyesight to meet the demands of training, drills, and combat readiness. High eyesight requirements are an important criterion when assessing and classifying the health of citizens entering the military, ensuring that soldiers have sufficient good eyesight to operate in a military environment.

Accordingly, point c, clause 3, Article 4 of Circular No. 148/2018/TT-BQP dated October 4, 2018, of the Ministry of National Defense regulating the selection and conscription of citizens into the military (Circular No. 148/2018/TT-BQP), stipulates: “Citizens with health category 3 refractive errors of the eyes (myopia of 1.5 diopters or more, various degrees of hyperopia); drug addiction, HIV infection, or AIDS shall not be conscripted into the Army.” Conscripting citizens with myopia exceeding 1.5 diopters or hyperopia would make it difficult for them to meet the requirements for military service.

However, during implementation, there are still some obstacles, as reflected in voter feedback and current practice, where the rate of refractive eye errors among young people is high and increasing, especially among those with university or college degrees and young people in urban areas.

Therefore, in order to attract high-quality human resources to serve in the Army and to suit the health of young people of conscription age, it is necessary to research and revise the regulations on conscription standards for citizens with myopia to make them more appropriate.

Responding to voters' opinions, the Ministry of National Defense continues to direct relevant agencies to research and coordinate with ministries, departments, and localities to report to the Government and submit to the National Assembly amendments and supplements to the 2015 Law on Military Service according to the legislative drafting program of the 15th National Assembly term; proposing to the Government amendments and supplements to Decree No. 37/2022/ND-CP, Joint Circular No. 50/2016/TTLT-BQP-BCA, Circular No. 148/2018/TT-BQP and other legal documents guiding the implementation of the law on military service to ensure suitability, relevance to reality, and strict enforcement of the law on military service.

The Ministry of National Defence requests that the Provincial National Assembly Delegation and People's Councils at all levels in the locality promote their supervisory role regarding the implementation of the Military Service Law, preventing violations of the law, contributing to ensuring social fairness, and ensuring that the law on military service is seriously enforced and has a positive and practical effect in the locality.

TM

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/bo-quoc-phong-nghien-cuu-sua-tieu-chuan-nhap-ngu-voi-cong-dan-can-thi-a623840.html