Decree 28 recognizes the contributions of the Youth Volunteer Force

Mr. Pham Huy Giang, Head of the Central Emulation and Commendation Committee (Ministry of Home Affairs) said that in order for the law on emulation and commendation to be implemented as soon as the Law on Emulation and Commendation takes effect (January 1, 2024), the development and promulgation of a decree detailing the procedures for considering and posthumously awarding the "Glorious Youth Volunteer Medal" and the commendation of achievements in the resistance war is necessary and in accordance with the provisions of the law.

During the resistance war against France and the US to save the country, the Youth Volunteer Force served directly on battlefields, in difficult and arduous areas, and in fierce war zones to carry out tasks such as opening roads, ensuring traffic, serving in combat, participating in combat, clearing bombs and mines; carrying wounded and dead soldiers, transporting weapons, ammunition, food, clearing battlefields, participating in international missions to help Laos and Cambodia, and participating in protecting the northern and southwestern borders.

According to the report of the Vietnam Association of Former Youth Volunteers, up to now, the number of Youth Volunteers participating in the resistance wars and defending the Fatherland has been confirmed to be about 420,000 people (including martyrs, wounded soldiers, sick soldiers, and people infected with toxic chemicals).

The Law on Emulation and Commendation has added a form of commendation: "Glorious Youth Volunteer Medal" in Article 96 to award to Youth Volunteers who completed their tasks in the resistance wars to protect the Fatherland by December 31, 1989.

This is a new form of reward stipulated in the Law on Emulation and Rewards, and there are no detailed regulations. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a Decree detailing the procedures for considering and awarding the "Glorious Youth Volunteer Medal" and the reward for achievements in the resistance war.

"The addition of the 'Glorious Youth Volunteer Medal' as a reward for Youth Volunteers who complete their tasks in the resistance wars and protect the Fatherland aims to recognize the contributions of the Youth Volunteer force in the resistance wars and protect the Fatherland," said Mr. Giang.

Decree 28 stipulates in detail the order and procedures for considering and awarding the "Glorious Youth Volunteer Medal" to Youth Volunteers who have completed their tasks in the resistance wars to protect the Fatherland, ensuring feasibility and facilitating the research and implementation process in practice. Youth Volunteers are awarded Medals and Medal Certificates and continue to enjoy benefits according to the regulations on resistance war rewards.

The Central Emulation and Reward Committee notes the time frames for calculating rewards in three periods: The period of resistance against French colonialism, resistance against American imperialism and national defense.

Accordingly, the period of resistance against French colonialism was from July 15, 1950 to July 20, 1954.

The period of resistance against American imperialism from July 21, 1954 to April 30, 1975, including fighting against American imperialism in the North and the South and performing the task of helping Laos from May 1972 to December 1975.

The period of defending the Fatherland has the following milestones: the Southwestern border war from May 1975 to January 7, 1979; the Northern border war from February 1979 to December 31, 1988; performing the mission to help Laos from May 1975 to December 31, 1988; performing international missions in Cambodia from January 1979 to August 31, 1989; and hunting down Fulro from May 1975 to December 1992.

According to Mr. Pham Huy Giang, Youth volunteers with achievements in resistance wars, defending the Fatherland, completing their missions, and serving for 24 months or more will be awarded or posthumously awarded the "Glorious Youth Volunteer Medal". Youth volunteers who sacrificed their lives while on duty in resistance wars, defending the Fatherland, and have been recognized as martyrs will be posthumously awarded the "Glorious Youth Volunteer Medal".

Youth volunteers are considered for awarding or posthumously awarding the "Glorious Youth Volunteer Medal" once; when considering rewards, the time spent participating in work within the time frames specified in Article 5 of Decree 28 is added together to ensure that they meet the criteria for awarding or posthumously awarding.

This Medal shall not be awarded or posthumously awarded to those who have been convicted by a court verdict or decision with legal effect of one of the crimes of violating national security or other crimes punishable by imprisonment, or who have participated in opposing the regime, the Party, or the State, deserted, betrayed, or repatriated and have had their preferential treatment terminated according to the provisions of the law on preferential treatment for people with revolutionary contributions.

Also according to the Head of the Central Emulation and Reward Committee, rewarding achievements in the resistance war is a major policy of the Party and State that has been deployed and implemented over many years (rewarding achievements in the resistance war against France since 1961; rewarding achievements in the resistance war against America since 1980), and has now been basically completed.

In order to reward achievements in the resistance war, the Party and the State have issued many documents detailing and guiding the implementation of rewards for individuals and groups with achievements in the resistance war and national defense. Up to now, the above documents are still in effect, have been implemented effectively and do not contradict current legal documents. Therefore, Decree 28 stipulates that the implementation will continue according to the legal documents that have been issued and are currently in effect.