Iranian Soldiers: Training

This is the first of a 3 part post on the Training, Structure and Equipment of Iranian soldiers on the battlefield.

Iran obviously has a conscription system that provides the bulk of troop numbers. It is thought out of NEJAZA's 350,000 active troops, about 110,000 are professional soldiers and the rest are conscripts.

Conscription in Iran lasts 24 months, quite a hefty time frame considering there is only 45 days of training. This is insufficient. After 45 days (6.5 weeks), a soldier is expected to shoot properly, handle and maintain a powerful G3 (chambered in the NATO 7.62 with high recoil), learn drills, use specialised equipment like machine guns/ATGMs/vehicles/artillery, know military doctrine (?), tactics (?), procedures (?).

There are indications that there may also be some disciplinary issues with over-reliance on auto fire with firearms. A heavy recoil battle rifle like the G3, and a 20 round instead of 30 round clip, must be used with control and not panic. More rifle firearms training and possibly different equipment (like newer rifles chambered in lower-recoil 5.56) may alleviate issues with aiming.

I add question marks because it is unclear of these are taught. What evidence is there that these are being taught? I assume (and if I am wrong, feel free correct me), that they are expected to follow an officer's orders rather than know anything themselves.

In contrast, when one looks at Israeli successes in wars against Arab countries in the 20th century, even when the Arabs possessed equal or better equipment and in better numbers, the Israelis prevailed decisively. The common theme has been properly trained soldiers, even if they are conscripts, beating poorly trained and organised militaries.

Conscripts should be given more training and less time idle in barren border regions. To make a quick comparison, the British Army has a 28 week training regime. Granted, the Brits have one of the best trained regular forces in the world (about as good as the Americans), but I'm only using this as a barometer since details are so hard to find on this sort of thing.

Clearly there has to be a re-balancing of sorts. We cannot merely count on the incompetency of regional armies (and certainly not on that of extra-regional countries). Better trained men ensure a faster and more assured path to victory. One might say that 24 months is too much and conscription should be reduced to a maximum of 18 months. Such an adjustment would not significantly affect the huge manpower reserves the Iranian Military enjoys, and it would bring young men into the economy much sooner. This increased economic capacity could conceivably be used to fund the extra training being given to soldiers. I can only speculate on what would be a proper time frame for this training, but for discussion's sake let's say doubling it to 13/14 weeks - half of the British Army's training time.

If you have anything to add or discuss, make a comment below.