Republic of Viet-Nam Insignia on Military Mail
National Military Academy
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In 1948, the French founded the Vietnamese Regular Officers School in Hue. In 1950, the school was moved to Dalat and until 1954, all commanders and instructors of the school were French officers. After the Geneva Accords, the Vietnamese gradually assumed control of the Academy and changed its name to "Truong Vo Bi Lien Quan" (National Military Academy).
In 1959, the Academy was decreed a university-level institution with a three-year academic program. This was increased to a four-year program in October 1961, but by August 1962 it was reduced to a two-year wartime program to meet the demands of providing junior officers into the field. In 1966 a four-year program was officially established, putting the Academy on equal academic terms with any other four-year college in Viet-Nam. The Academy was organized into a headquarters and three sub-units: 1) Academic College 2) Military Instruction Directorate (MID), and 3) Staff and Support Group. Its mission was based on the following objectives: 1. Provide a university level education in the arts and sciences 2. Develop in the cadet a high sense of duty and the attributes of character, discipline and motivation. 3. Provide physical training essential to a career as an officer in the Armed Forces of Viet-Nam. Cadets were organized into a Cadet Regiment consisting of two battalions of five companies each, and followed a Cadet Chain of Command and "plebe" system similar to those at West Point. Beginning in 1970, all cadets received identical military and academic training for the first two years. At the end of the second year, the cadet classes were divided into three services, with 1/8 of the class going to the Navy, 1/8 to the Air Force, and 3/4 going to the Army. To be eligible for admission, candidates had to meet the following requirements: 1. Between 17 and 22 years of age 2. Be a citizen of the Republic of Vietnam 3. Be unmarried and agree not to marry until after graduation 4. Be without a criminal record 5. Be physically fit 6. Be at least 1.60 meters (5'4") in height 7. Possess a Baccalaureate II Diploma in Science or Mathematics, or equivalent diploma from a foreign university 8. Pass the VNMA entrance exam. The Academy Crest consists of a blue shield with a map of Viet-Nam superimposed in white. Encircling Viet-Nam is a golden dragon, outlined in red and clutching a sword in its teeth. The blue represents the high spirit of the cadets, the red represents the blood sacrificed by the Vietnamese in defense of their country, and the dragon represents the legendary father of the Vietnamese race, its sword representing the possession of arms and readiness of defense. < Republic of Viet-Nam Military Insignia < Imnaha Stamps Home |
