Research on amending military enlistment standards for nearsighted citizens

Accordingly, the Ministry of National Defense received a petition from voters of Nam Dinh province sent by the Petition Committee under Official Dispatch No. 742/BDN dated June 14, 2023, with the following content: "Currently, the proportion of young people of military age with refractive eye defects with myopia of 1.5 diopters or more is high. It is recommended that the Ministry of National Defense consider and amend the military enlistment standards for citizens with myopia as prescribed in Point c, Clause 3, Article 4 of Circular No. 148/2018/TT-BQP dated October 4, 2018 of the Ministry of National Defense in the direction of increasing the standard for myopia from "1.5 diopters" to "02 diopters" and amending it as follows: "Do not call up citizens with health category 3 refractive eye defects (myopia of 02 diopters or more, hyperopia of all levels) for military service in the Army." drug addiction, HIV, AIDS infection" to avoid wasting local resources and to be suitable for the current health of young people participating in military service".

Regarding this issue, the Ministry of National Defense said that the activities of soldiers in the military environment are specific and high-intensity. Every day and every week, soldiers must participate in military training, live-fire drills, use weapons, equipment, and training equipment, and be ready for combat. Of which, shooting is the most typical activity of soldiers. In addition, there are physical training activities, combat activities during the day and at night in all weather conditions, in mountainous areas, in the air, and at sea.

Dialogue - Ministry of National Defense: Research on amending military enlistment standards for nearsighted citizens — The Ministry of National Defense has responded to the petition of voters in Nam Dinh province about reducing the myopia standard for military service from 1.5 diopters to 2 diopters. Illustrative photo from the internet

Thus, in the military environment, soldiers must always have good eyesight to meet the requirements of training, practice, and combat readiness. High vision requirements are an important criterion when evaluating and classifying the health of citizens joining the army, to ensure that soldiers have good eyesight conditions to operate in the military environment.

Accordingly, at 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 calling of citizens for military service (Circular No. 148/2018/TT-BQP), it is stipulated: "Do not call up citizens with health category 3 refractive eye defects (myopia of 1.5 diopters or more, hyperopia of various degrees); drug addiction, HIV infection, AIDS". If citizens with myopia of over 1.5 diopters or hyperopia are called up for military service, it will be difficult to meet the requirements for military activities of soldiers.

However, in the implementation process, there are still some problems as voters have reflected and in reality, the rate of young people with refractive eye defects is large and increasing, especially young people with university and college degrees, and young people in urban areas.

Therefore, in order to attract high-quality human resources to serve in the Army and to be suitable for the health of young people of military age, it is necessary to study and amend the regulations on military enlistment standards for citizens with myopia refractive errors to be appropriate.

In response to voters' opinions, the Ministry of National Defense continues to direct relevant agencies to research and coordinate with departments, ministries, branches and localities to report to the Government and submit to the National Assembly to amend and supplement the 2015 Law on Military Service according to the law and ordinance drafting program of the 15th National Assembly; propose the Government to amend and supplement Decree No. 37/2022/ND-CP, Joint Circular No. 50/2016/TTLT-BQP-BCA, Circular No. 148/2018/TT-BQP and legal documents guiding the implementation of the law on military service to be suitable, close to reality and ensure that the law on military service is strictly implemented.

The Ministry of National Defense requested the provincial National Assembly delegation and the People's Councils at all levels in the localities to promote their supervisory role in the implementation of the Law on Military Service, not to violate the law, contributing to ensuring social justice, so that the law on military service is strictly enforced, promoting positive and practical effects in the localities.

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