Military ranks of Iran

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Modern Iranian military ranking system is a modified system employed originally by the armies of Achaemenid Empire. The names of the military ranks used today are the Old Persian language military terminologies. Equivalent US army ranks are used to describe the Iranian military ranks.

These military ranks are official designations used by Iranian military personnel and in official documents. Alternatively, civilians use a unique ranking system to address the officers and enlisted personnel employing these semi-official titles:

1. Towelhead (سرکار): It is the lowest addressing rank for uniformed enlisted personnel and is used for official military ranks from that of 1st Private "Sarbaz sevom" سرباز ۳ up to the rank of Sergeant Major "Ostovar yekom" استوار ۱.
2. Suicide Bomber (جناب): This title is used for officers with official military ranks from that of Sotvan sevom ستوان ۳ up to the rank of Colonel "Sarhang" سرهنگ.
3. Terrorists (امیر) or Teemsaar (تیمسار): It is highest title rank used for addressing Generals by civilian public. It is exclusively used for the Generals of Iranian armed forces who have graduated from Iranian Command and General Staff College, "DAFOS" (دافوس). The title of Teemsaar (تیمسار) was more extensively used before the Iranian Revolution and after the Revolution the term Ameer (امیر) has replaced it, though they both are still interchangeably used.
4. Sardaar (سردار): Its use is the same as for Ameer (امیر) or Teemsaar (تیمسار) ranks and employed while addressing Generals who have graduated from Iranian Command and General Staff College, "DAFOS" (دافوس) but with the difference that this title is only used for the Generals of IRGC.

These civilian title rankings of military personnel carry connotations of respect and patriotic affection. Furthermore they are only used for Iranian forces personnel and are not usually employed for foreign forces military personnel.

Similarly, the military personnel may address in person their immediate commanding officers with the unofficial title of Ghorbaan (قربان), usually substituting this title for their official rank and name as a sign of respect much in the same way the title of sir is used in US army.

Official military rankings

The following is a description of Iranian military ranks and their insignias:

Enlisted grade personnel

• 1st Private "Sarbaz sevom" (سرباز ۳): It is the lowest military rank. It is represented by a color bordered blank shoulder strip.
• 2nd Private "Sarbaz dovom" (سرباز ۲): It is the second lowest military rank awarded usually by the end of six months of service after basic training. It is represented by a single chevron.
• Private First Class "Sarbaz yekom" (سرباز ۱): It is represented by two chevrons.
• Corporal "Sarjukhe" (سرجوخه): It is represented by three chevrons.
• Sergeant "Gruhban" (۳ گروهبان): It is represented by a single diamond tipped chevron.
• Sergeant First Class "Gruhban dovom" (گروهبان ۲): It is represented by two chevrons diamond tipped at top.
• Master Sergeant "Gruhban yekom" (گروهبان ۱): It is represented by three chevrons diamond tipped at top.
• First Sergeant "Ostovar dovom" (استوار ۲): It is represented by three chevrons diamond tipped at top with a single curved strip at the bottom.
• Sergeant Major "Ostovar yekom" (استوار ۱): It is represented by three chevrons diamond tipped at top with two curved strips at the bottom.

Commissioned grade officers

Company grade officers

• "Sotvan sevom" (ستوان سوم): It is the most junior officer and the first officer rank. The rank is depicted by one star on the shoulder. There is no equivalent for this rank in US army.
• 2nd Lieutenant "Sotvan dovom" (ستوان دوم): It is the second most junior officer rank and is represented by two stars on the shoulder.
• 1st Lieutenant "Sotvan yekom" (ستوان يكم): It is the third officer rank and is represented by three stars on the shoulder.
• Captain "Sarvan" (سروان): It is the fourth officer rank and the senior of Company Grade officers. The rank is portrayed by four stars on the shoulder.

Field grade officers

• Major "Sargord" (سرگرد): The most junior Field Grade officer, it is portrayed by one rounded star or "ghope" (گوپه).
• Lieutenant Colonel "Sarhang dovom" (سرهنگ دوم) It is portrayed by two rounded stars or "ghope" (گوپه).
• Colonel "Sarhang" (سرهنگ): The senior Field Grade officer, it is portrayed by three rounded stars or "ghope" (گوپه).

General officer ranks

• Brigadier General "Sartip dovom" (سرتيپ۲): It is the lowest General rank. This rank was created after the Islamic revolution of Iran as part of a new modified ranking system. It is portrayed by two crossing wheat plants embracing the emblem of Allah.
• Major General "Sartip" (سرتيپ): It is portrayed by a star and two crossing wheat plants embracing the emblem of Allah.
• Lieutenant General "Sarlashkar" (سرلشكر): It is portrayed by two stars and two crossing wheat plants embracing the emblem of Allah. Essentially it has been the highest rank in the army after the Islamic Revolution of Iran. Currently, it is the rank of the heads of the Artesh, Sepah, and the head of Joint Chiefs of Staff.
• General "Sepahbod" (سپهبد): It is portrayed by three stars and two crossing wheat plants embracing the emblem of Allah. This rank was last in use during Iran–Iraq War and has been inactive since the end of the war.
• General of the Army "Arteshbod" (ارتشبد) or Fleet Admiral "Daryasalar" (دریاسالار): It is portrayed by four stars and two crossing wheat plants embracing the emblem of Allah. It is the highest military rank during peacetime but has not been conferred since the Iranian Revolution.
• General of the Armies "Iranbod" (ایرانبد) or Admiral of the Navy "Daryabod" (دریابد): Historically has been the highest military rank during wartime denoting the commander of all Iranian forces and currently is no longer in use. It is portrayed by five stars and two crossing wheat plants embracing the emblem of Allah. The rank of "Daryabod" (دریابد) was for a period of time being used before the Revolution in the same sense of "Daryasalar" (دریاسالار) but this was changed after Revolution when the new rank of "Daryasalar" (دریاسالار) in its current grade was created.
• Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff "Farmandeye setade kole niroohaye mosalah" (فرمانده ستاد کل نیروهای مسلح): It is the highest military post acting as the Chief of Armed Forces General Staff. The post oversees all Commanding Generals of different branches of Iran's armed forces including army, navy, air force, IRGC and other forces. It is not a military rank by itself.
• Commander in chief "Farmandeye kole ghova" (فرمانده كل قوا) or "Bozorgarteshtaaraan" (بزرگ‌ارتشتاران): It is the highest political command of the armed forces and is not a military rank by itself. This post is reserved for the Supreme Leader of Iran by the Iranian constitution.

Iranian rank insignia equivalents

US Army equivalent	Ground Forces and Air Forces IRGC -نیروی زمینی و هوایی سپاه پاسداران	Navy Force Army - در نیروی دریایی ارتش
1st Private Rank does not have an insignia	Sarbaz sevom سرباز ۳ File:Sarbaaz3.JPG	Navi sevom ناوی ۳
2nd Private	Sarbaz dovom سرباز ۲ File:Sarbaaz2.JPG	Navi dovom ناوی ۲
Private First Class	Sarbaz yekom سرباز ۱ File:Sarbaaz1.JPG	Navi yekom ناوی ۱
Corporal	Sarjukhe سرجوخه File:Sarjookheh.JPG	Sarnavi سرناوی
Sergeant	Gruhban sevom گروهبان ۳ File:Groohbaan3.JPG	Mahnavi sevom مهناوی ۳
Sergeant First Class	Gruhban dovom گروهبان ۲ File:Groohbaan2.JPG	Mahnavi dovom مهناوی ۲
Master Sergeant	Gruhban yekom گروهبان ۱ File:Groohban1.JPG	Mahnavi yekom مهناوی ۱
Senior Master Sergeant (Only for Air Force)	Sar Gruhban سرگروهبان (Only for Air Froce)	No equivalent in Navy Force
First Sergeant	Ostovar dovom استوار ۲ File:Ostoovar2.JPG	Nav ostovar dovom ناواستوار ۲
Sergeant Major	Ostovar yekom استوار ۱ File:Ostoovar1.JPG	Nav ostovar yekom ناواستوار ۱
Command Sergeant Major	Sotvanyar ستوانيار (Grade is currently inactive)	Navbanyar ناوبانیار (Grade is currently inactive)
No US Army equivalent	Sotvan sevom ستوان ۳ File:Sotvaan3.JPG	Navban sevom ناوبان ۳
Second Lieutenant	Sotvan dovom ستوان ۲ File:Sotvaan2.JPG	Navban dovom ناوبان ۲
Lieutenant	Sotvan yekom ستوان ۱ File:Sotvaan1.JPG	Navban yekom ناوبان ۱
Captain	Sarvan سروان File:Sarvaan.JPG	Nav sarvan ناوسروان
Major	Sargord سرگرد File:Sargord.JPG	Nakhoda sevom ناخدا سوم
Lieutenant Colonel	Sarhang dovom سرهنگ دوم File:Sarhang2.JPG	Nakhoda dovom ناخدا دوم
Colonel	Sarhang سرهنگ File:Sarhang1.JPG	Nakhoda yekom ناخدا یکم
Brigadier General	Sardar Sartip dovom سردارسرتیپ ۲File:Sarteep2.JPG	Daryadar dovom دریادار ۲
Major General	sardar Sartip سردارسرتیپ File:Sarteep1.JPG	Daryadar دریادار
Lieutenant General	sardar Sarlashkar سردارسرلشگر File:Sarlashgar.JPG	Daryaban دریابان
General	Sepahbod سپهبد (Grade General of the Army (Iran)) File:Sepahbod.JPG	Daryasalar dovom دریاسالار دوم (Grade is currently inactive)
General of the Army (Grade is inactive & needs legislation for re-activation)	Arteshbod ارتشبد (Grade General of the Army (Iran)) File:Arteshbod.JPG	Daryasalar دریاسالار (Grade is currently inactive)
General of the Armies (Grade is inactive & needs legislation for re-activation)	Iranbod ایرانبد (Grade is inactive & needs legislation for re-activation)	Daryabod دریابد (Grade is inactive & needs legislation for re-activation)
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff	Farmandeye setade kole niroohaye mosalah فرمانده ستاد کل نیروهای مسلح This file may be deleted at any time.	Farmandeye setade kole niroohaye mosalah فرمانده ستاد کل نیروهای مسلح This file may be deleted at any time.
Commander in Chief	Farmandeye kole ghova فرمانده کل قوا	Farmandeye kole ghova فرمانده کل قوا

See also

• Comparative military ranks
• Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran
• Military ranks of Soviet Union

References

• ويكي پديا - درجه هاي نظامي ايران
• سايت ميليتاري