Focusing on fulfilling the 2026 military recruitment quota

The year 2026 marks the first time military enlistment is carried out under the two-tier local government model.

Colonel Bui Dang Ninh, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command, encourages Dong Nai youth enlisting in 2025. Photo: Nguyet Ha

At both the commune and provincial levels, the Military Service Council has been advising Party committees and local authorities on practical solutions. Based on the directions and guidelines from higher authorities, and under the leadership of the Party, local governments, and the consensus of the people, the councils have mobilized the collective strength of the entire political system to accomplish this key mission.

Increase in the number of recruits

Lieutenant Colonel Pham Minh Tri, Deputy Commander of the Provincial Military Command, the standing body of the Provincial Military Service Council, stated that in 2026, Dong Nai province plans to recruit 5,420 citizens for military and public security service with 4,500 to be enlisted into military units, while 740 will serve fixed terms in the public security force, a significant increase compared to 2025.

"Compared to previous years, the assigned enlistment quota has increased significantly. Meanwhile, with the removal of district-level military command offices, new challenges have emerged in the procedures and stages of the recruitment process. Under the leadership and direction of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee, the Provincial Military Service Council has completed the review of eligibility standards and launched several key tasks to implement the 2026 military recruitment," Lieutenant Colonel Pham Minh Tri emphasized.

Data from the 2026 military enlistment shows that the province has over 157,000 citizens of eligible age for military service across 95 commune-level units, with more than 80% of them being of the Kinh ethnicity, and over 39,800 being religious followers. In recent years, the Party committees and local authorities have paid close attention to supporting families of enlisted citizens and helping returning soldiers find employment, which has positively influenced annual recruitment efforts.

The implementation of the two-tier local government system has created logistical challenges, especially in communes located far from administrative centers. Guiding and directing commune-level authorities in carrying out recruitment procedures has been difficult due to the province’s wide geographical coverage. Additionally, the limited staffing of commune-level military commands has, at times, hindered their ability to meet task requirements. Managing the pool of citizens within the draft age has also proven challenging, as many young people work far from home and are frequently absent from their localities.

In accordance with the 2015 Law on Military Service (amended in 2025), The Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of 11 Laws on Military and National Defense, and relevant circulars from the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security, under the two-tier local government model, the commune-level Military Service Councils have carried out the 2026 selection process in accordance with the law. The process ensures objectivity, fairness, and an improved quality of life for eligible citizens through health screening. Several commune-level units have performed well in this regard, including Dau Giay, Phu Trung, Loc Thanh, Cam My, Binh An, An Vien, and wards such as Tam Phuoc, Phuoc Long, and Binh Phuoc.

A total of 143 Party members have passed preliminary health screenings, including 121 official Party members. The province has now completed the eligibility review phase and is advising the Provincial People's Committee on issuing plans for initial health screenings for 2026 military service.

Efforts to fulfill military enlistment targets

Ngo Hong Khang, Chairman of the People’s Committee and Chairman of the Military Service Council of Binh Phuoc ward, said that thanks to the close direction of the provincial Military Service Council, particularly its standing agency, the provincial Military Command, all preparatory work related to source selection and eligibility screening in Binh Phuoc ward has been completed. However, the ward has faced certain difficulties during the initial health screening of citizens prior to enlistment. Therefore, once the provincial Military Service Council Chairman issues the decision on establishing health screening zones, the ward will work closely with relevant units to ensure thorough and accurate medical checks, so that only high-fitness citizens are assigned to military units, minimizing the need for replacements after handover.

Several commune-level units across the province have reported the results of their 2026 recruitment eligibility reviews, all showing strong determination to successfully fulfill their military recruitment targets for the year.

Deputy Secretary of the Long Thanh Commune Party Committee, Chairman of the Long Thanh Commune People’s Committee and Chairman of the Long Thanh Commune Military Service Council Le Hoang Son said that, despite challenges following the administrative merger, the commune has treated the conscription target as a top-priority task to be achieved from the start of the year. The commune will coordinate closely with relevant agencies to conduct thorough pre-screening and medical examinations, ensuring that the most qualified citizens are selected and ready for enlistment at the beginning of 2026.

Xuan Loc Commune has faced similar difficulties to those of other localities in the province. Yet, with the determination and concerted efforts of the entire political system, the commune is committed to carrying out effective pre-screening and health checks to prepare citizens for military service.

Le Khac Son, Chairman of the Xuan Loc Commune People’s Committee and Chairman of the Xuan Loc Commune Military Service Council, stated that despite the difficulties, local awareness campaigns have been carried out. To date, 27 young men have submitted voluntary applications for enlistment in 2026.

Colonel Vo Thanh Danh, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Commander of the Provincial Military Command, and Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial Military Service Council, requested that localities closely follow guidance from higher authorities during the pre-screening and medical examinations. In particular, they are to apply Circular 68/2025/TT-BQP dated July 3, 2025, of the Ministry of National Defence, which amends and supplements certain provisions of Circular 148/2018/TT-BQP, along with the health standards for enlistment as prescribed in Circular 105/2023/TT-BQP. The Provincial Military Command and local defense command units will work closely with relevant agencies to select the most qualified citizens, ensuring readiness for enlistment in 2026.

At a recent meeting reviewing the results of recruitment eligibility, Vo Tan Duc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, and Chairman of the Provincial Military Service Council, expressed full agreement with the evaluation results compiled by the Standing Committee of the Provincial Military Service Council. The Provincial People’s Committee Chairman tasked the Provincial Military Command with continuing to advise the provincial authorities on issuing decisions in accordance with regulations, and directing localities to publicly post relevant lists on their electronic information portals and at commune-level People’s Committee offices. This endeavor aims to ensure transparency and fairness in the recruitment process, foster public consensus, and demonstrate determination to thoroughly complete the 2026 military enlistment campaign.

“The Provincial Military Command will take the lead in coordinating with the Department of Health to agree on methods and organize health screening in the designated zones; assign officers to strengthen inspection and supervision of the medical examination councils, ensuring that no misconduct occurs during the screening process… It will also coordinate with relevant departments and agencies, as well as members of the Provincial Military Service Council, focusing efforts on completing all stages and steps of the recruitment process so that the 2026 military enlistment is carried out on schedule and meets quality standards in all aspects.”

Vo Tan Duc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, and Chairman of the Provincial Military Service Council

By Nguyet Ha – Translated Thuc Oanh, Minho