Iranian Army Traditions and SOPs

[Big Tank]

Hello Fellas!

I have been researching about different Armies of Islamic Countries, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran and Lebanon.
Since there wasn't much problem knowing about Pakistan Army and Saudi Army since my brother serves and his experience with Saudis at Infantry School Quetta and Special Operations School at Cherat, Peshawar.

But its being difficult to know the actual culture within the other Armies excluding PA and Saudis. My research is based on the Culture, Tradition, Basic SOPs, Psychological nurturing of Officer Cadets at the Academies and the role of Officers upon the NCOs and Enlisted. Since there is different atmosphere everywhere.

I'd request @tirdad to better help me understand about the Iranian Forces. So I put some questions further.

 

[tirdad]

Hello Fellas!

I'd request @tirdad to better help me understand about the Iranian Forces. So I put some questions further.

Hi there ...

Start your q`s from most important to less ...

i should know what are you exactly looking for ?

 

[Big Tank]

Hi there ...

Start your q`s from most important to less ...

i should know what are you exactly looking for ?

The most imp question. How are NCOs and Soldiers treated by the Officers? Since in most of the Army. It's the tradition within to keep them below the thumb. Approach them with a grudge and they likely work at the Officer's house as well. Like paint jobs or gardening etc. Is that the same in Iranian Army? Are NCOs afraid of the Officers?

2: Is it possible for an NCO to get promoted through and reach to an Officer's rank? Like there is in Western Armies where priviates (Soldiers) can become Captain too. But its not possible in Pakistan Army. NCOs have their own Ranks. They may become a JCO but never an Officer. Unles they have enough qualification. They can separately apply to get commissioned and go through the testing and all the procedures.

3: What Incentives and Facilities does an Officer receives in the Iranian Armed Forces? Free Medical of Complete Family? (Including Mother and Father), A Batman (Servant paid by the Army), House (Issued by the Army) and Membership into Community and Sports Clubs run by the Army?

4: Upon getting retired. Do Officers receive any plot or a permanent house by the Army?

 

[MTN1917]

The most imp question. How are NCOs and Soldiers treated by the Officers? Since in most of the Army. It's the tradition within to keep them below the thumb. Approach them with a grudge and they likely work at the Officer's house as well. Like paint jobs or gardening etc. Is that the same in Iranian Army? Are NCOs afraid of the Officers?

2: Is it possible for an NCO to get promoted through and reach to an Officer's rank? Like there is in Western Armies where priviates (Soldiers) can become Captain too. But its not possible in Pakistan Army. NCOs have their own Ranks. They may become a JCO but never an Officer. Unles they have enough qualification. They can separately apply to get commissioned and go through the testing and all the procedures.

3: What Incentives and Facilities does an Officer receives in the Iranian Armed Forces? Free Medical of Complete Family? (Including Mother and Father), A Batman (Servant paid by the Army), House (Issued by the Army) and Membership into Community and Sports Clubs run by the Army?

4: Upon getting retired. Do Officers receive any plot or a permanent house by the Army?

Regarding the first question, what you said on NCOs and officers relations were very true during the Shah times, there was a sea between NCOs and officers, today while the difference and somewhat a complex exists between officers and NCOs, it is much more smaller, well NCOs don't paint walls and work in officers houses but they are less privileged and paid than officers, but NCOs are scared of officers and don't have a lot of respect(unlike western armies).

2- NCOs can advance to officers rank(3rd Lt), it is either through getting a higher degree or reaching the last NCO rank(Ostovar yekom) and completing a training course.

3-Members(Officers,NCOs and conscripts) and their families(only professionals not conscripts) of Army, Revolutionary Guards and Police are covered by "Armed Forces Social Security Insurance", they receive the same treatment and services regardless of rank or service.

If they use armed forces medical facilities(Army, IRGC and Police have dozens of hospitals and clinics) , the health services are mostly free of charges, but in private institutions, the insurance pays a part of the cost.

Armed forces have their own sports clubs, swimming pools, restaurants and etc, regardless of their services they can uses these facilities.

Armed Forces personnel do have free residential complex called in Persian "Khaneh Sazmai", these are usually residential complexs separate from civilian population and under the guard of military police and jurisdiction, these complexes have their own schools and etc, these are free of charge for active members of armed forces and their families, retired personnel get no free housing(unless they are war veterans), the size of housing differs based on the size of the family, also Armed Forces corporation foundations(Bonyads) builds subsidized housing projects for Armed Forces personnel, and provides the personnel with low interest loans so most personnel upon retirement have their own houses.

There are no government paid servants for Armed Forces personnel in Iran although it existed under the shah, also Armed Forces have chain stores named "Etka" all around Iran, they get their monthly subsidized goods and food stuff from there, they can also buy a limited number of goods from these stores(like, TVs, refrigerator and etc) and pay for them from their salaries in one year or two year payments.

All Armed Forces services have their own banks which offers them services and loans.

4-yes, retired armed forces personnel receive fixed payments and insurance policy for life, the insurance policy extends to spouses and unmarried children of the retired personnel.
If the retired servicemen dies, his wife will receive the monthly salaries untill she is alive, this policy extends to unmarried female offsprings too.

Only veterans can use free housing after retirement, but as I said earlier armed forces Bonyads are always building new subsidized houses for personnel, each personnel can use these option one time in their service, and get their own house.

 

[sparten]

2: Is it possible for an NCO to get promoted through and reach to an Officer's rank? Like there is in Western Armies where priviates (Soldiers) can become Captain too. But its not possible in Pakistan Army. NCOs have their own Ranks. They may become a JCO but never an Officer. Unles they have enough qualification. They can separately apply to get commissioned and go through the testing and all the procedures.

That is.Bullshit.

I can think of three or four General officers, offhand who came up through the ranks.

And which officer uses a soldier to work in his house; if s/he did, it would be a Court Martiable offence.

 

[tirdad]

in addition,

if NCOs get a higher degree and inter Officer Ranks...

they Can Retire with Rank of Sotvan Yekom (1Lt.) or Sarvaan (Cpt.) .

Some Ranks in Army Ranking System, Has no Equivallent in English ...

Here is list from Lowest to Highest ...

1- Sarbaaz Yekom: it is not Pfc, It is "Acting Corporal" or Lance Corporal , also could be translated as Gefreiter in German Heer ranking System.

2- Sovan Sevvom: it is Junior Leitnant, or better i say, it is "Oberfeldwebel" in German Heer ranking System.

3- Sartip Dovvom: it is a Unique Rank, it has no equivallent in Any Army.

 

[Big Tank]

That is.Bullshit.

I can think of three or four General officers, offhand who came up through the ranks.

And which officer uses a soldier to work in his house; if s/he did, it would be a Court Martiable offence.

No NCO can come through the rank to even a 2nd Lt. Unless he separately applies from a totally new beginning.

And which officer uses a soldier to work in his house; if s/he did, it would be a Court Martiable offence.

It is pretty common to use the NCOs for paint job and other loading/unloading purpose. Are you even from PAK?

Regarding the first question, what you said on NCOs and officers relations were very true during the Shah times, there was a sea between NCOs and officers, today while the difference and somewhat a complex exists between officers and NCOs, it is much more smaller, well NCOs don't paint walls and work in officers houses but they are less privileged and paid than officers, but NCOs are scared of officers and don't have a lot of respect(unlike western armies).

2- NCOs can advance to officers rank(3rd Lt), it is either through getting a higher degree or reaching the last NCO rank(Ostovar yekom) and completing a training course.

3-Members(Officers,NCOs and conscripts) and their families(only professionals not conscripts) of Army, Revolutionary Guards and Police are covered by "Armed Forces Social Security Insurance", they receive the same treatment and services regardless of rank or service.

If they use armed forces medical facilities(Army, IRGC and Police have dozens of hospitals and clinics) , the health services are mostly free of charges, but in private institutions, the insurance pays a part of the cost.

Armed forces have their own sports clubs, swimming pools, restaurants and etc, regardless of their services they can uses these facilities.

Armed Forces personnel do have free residential complex called in Persian "Khaneh Sazmai", these are usually residential complexs separate from civilian population and under the guard of military police and jurisdiction, these complexes have their own schools and etc, these are free of charge for active members of armed forces and their families, retired personnel get no free housing(unless they are war veterans), the size of housing differs based on the size of the family, also Armed Forces corporation foundations(Bonyads) builds subsidized housing projects for Armed Forces personnel, and provides the personnel with low interest loans so most personnel upon retirement have their own houses.

There are no government paid servants for Armed Forces personnel in Iran although it existed under the shah, also Armed Forces have chain stores named "Etka" all around Iran, they get their monthly subsidized goods and food stuff from there, they can also buy a limited number of goods from these stores(like, TVs, refrigerator and etc) and pay for them from their salaries in one year or two year payments.

All Armed Forces services have their own banks which offers them services and loans.

4-yes, retired armed forces personnel receive fixed payments and insurance policy for life, the insurance policy extends to spouses and unmarried children of the retired personnel.
If the retired servicemen dies, his wife will receive the monthly salaries untill she is alive, this policy extends to unmarried female offsprings too.

Only veterans can use free housing after retirement, but as I said earlier armed forces Bonyads are always building new subsidized houses for personnel, each personnel can use these option one time in their service, and get their own house.

Great Information! I see. Iranian Forces Laws and Privileges are extremely similar to Pakistan Army regarding housing, medical and chain of stores. Impressed.

 

[sparten]

Yes I am from Pakistan. No idea what "Pak" is. You seem to have done 2+2=55.

There is an organization called "Military Engineering Serives (MES) (http://www.mes.gov.pk/) whose job it is to build and maintain military facilities. This includes places like officer housing* and barracks. MES is staffed by serving officers and enlisted. All maintainance is done by them.

If for instance an officer desires that his or her house be repainted, s/he will make a request to the local MES detachment. They will then come and do an assessment. Then they send a crew to do the work. Usually these are civilian contractors who are overseen by an NCO, who in my experience does not usually stay there the whole time (they often have multiple crews to oversee). The officer is then billed for the costs.

You seem to have seen NCO's there and though "oh officers, use them as servants".

As for NCO's becoming officers, yes they have to undergo training. As in every Army. In the US Army a Sargent cannot be "promoted" to become an officer, they have to go through Officer Candidate School. Like civilians from outside have to. In our Army they have to do the same.

One difference is that because of the existence of JCO's we don't do one thing that the other Armies do. Many of them train experienced soldiers who have shown leadership potential from the ranks to become late entry officers. Colloquially known as Mustangs (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustang_(military_officer). These guys typically become officers mid/career and top out at Captain or at most Major. In our case such soldier will become JCO's. They have similar responsibilities as those Mustangs.

In PA, the most common route to becoming an officer for enlisted is to apply for a Short Service Commission, which entails 22-36 weeks training before commission. Most often seen in the technical and supporting Arms, but sometimes in the fighting ones as well.

And here is a point. Unless a Jawan, opts to go in his first couple of years, what's the point. Leave the post of an NCO with its attendant respect and responsibility, and good pay and benefits, to become the lowest form of life in the Army, i.e a 2/Lt? With less pay?


*Just incase you have another misconception the house an officer living to them is not their own, its assigned to them. Once they get posted out another family comes in.