New Government Decree Raises Age Limit for Reserve Officer Training Candidate

The Government has recently issued Decree No. 209/2025, amending and supplementing several provisions of 11 Government Decrees under the state management scope of the Ministry of National Defense.

Decree No. 209/2025 revises specific criteria for selecting candidates for reserve officer training under Decree No. 78/2020, particularly increasing the age limit for university graduates to no more than 32 years old (an increase of 2 years compared to the previous regulation).

Specifically, professional soldiers, non-commissioned officers preparing for discharge, and reserve non-commissioned officers who have held positions such as deputy platoon leader or equivalent and have completed high school or higher (in some cases, junior high school for ethnic minorities — minimum 7th-grade education) are eligible. The age limit is set at no more than 35 for professional soldiers and no more than 30 for non-commissioned officers preparing for discharge and reserve non-commissioned officers.

For government officials, public employees, and civil servants, the age limit is set at no more than 35. For reserve officer training in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors, the age limit is extended to no more than 40. Candidates for political reserve officer training must be members of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Citizens with a university degree or higher must be no older than 35; for students upon graduation, the age limit is no more than 32.

Shortening the Process for Registration and Management of Reserve Officers

The procedures for registering and managing reserve officers have been streamlined to shorten processing times, expand online registration options, and shift the management and reporting levels from district to provincial authorities to align with the two-tier government structure.

Initial registration procedures are clearly outlined: Within 10 working days from the date of returning to their place of residence or employment (as indicated in an official referral letter), the individual must present the referral and reserve officer card in person or submit it online to the military command at the commune level or to the military command of the relevant organization for registration into the reserve officer category.

If the organization does not have a military command unit, its head or legal representative must ensure that the individual registers directly or online with the military command at the commune level corresponding to their residence.

From the 25th to the 30th of each month, military commands at the commune or organizational level must compile a list of registered reserve officers and report it to the provincial military command where the individuals reside or work for management purposes.

The Decree also provides clear regulations on procedures for supplementary registration, relocation registration, absence registration, and separate registration.

Author: Trần Thường