'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎144r] (292/610)

60. Recruitment is by voluntary enlistment. First engage
ment for three years, with possible extensions to 50 years of
age. Intending recruits must be Persian subjects, Musulmans
at least 20 years of age, 5' 5" in height, medically sound, able
to read and write Persian and have a certificate of character from
some reliable person. They take an oath of allegiance to govern
ment and country. There is no lack of good recruits.
For all ranks pensions are provided (1) after 25 years service,
half-rate of pay at time of retirement, same rate in case of dis
ablement (2) if death is caused in the performance of duty,
compassionate allowance is paid for three years to the children
or if none, for one year to the next of kin, (3) in case of ordinary
death, a compassionate allowance is paid to the children, or
failing such, to the next of kin, (a) after 3 years’ service half
rate last pay for one year to the children or 6 months to the next
of kin, (b) with less than three years’ service a gratuity of three
months’ pay is granted.
Officers are obtained (1) from aspirants who serve one year
in the rank's and then undergo an examination which embraces
reading, writing, French or English and mathematics, (2) from
the ranks, selected Non-Commissioned Officers who pass the
same examination as aspirants being commissioned. There is
no officers’ school. There is no further examination for promo
tion, which is by seniority. Inefficients may be compulsorily
retired, otherwise officers may continue in the service till 50
years of age.
Non-Commissioned Officers are selected after one or two
years’ service, go through a three months’ course at the
Non-Commissioned Officers school at Tehran and are graded
according to their pass out.
The rates of pay are as follows in krans per mensem:—
Chief Instructor (Swede) .... 6,666
2 Swedish instructors at . . . . 3,333
3 Swedish instructors at . . . . 1,777
Yarvar 1,000
Sultan ....... 800
Naib I . 500
Naib II . . . . . . . 400
Aspirant ...... 250
Non-Commissioned Officers . . . 250
Constables ...... 150