High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Vietnam People's Army distinguishes three careerpaths: Officers (s quan), non-commissioned officers (h s quan), and enlisted members (chi n s ).Because the shoulder insignia of all ranks are represented by an elongated pentagonal epaulette (emulating the tradition of all communist militaries, and ultimately from the 19th century Russian army uniform), they are, hence, either detailed or colour-coded to indicate rank, branch, as well as unit.The shoulder epaulettes from those of enlisted soldiers to field officers are detailed with a silver crest with an ercircled silver star. Those of generals and admirals have fully golden epaulettes with corresponding golden crests and encircled stars.