Today,
four women officially finished tank commanders course and became the
IDF’s first female tank commanders. After 16 weeks of hard training in
the 460 Brigade they successfully completed the course. “We can say
after a year and four months that an armored combat team can carry out
operational duties in the Border Defense Array under the command of a
female tank commander,” said Brigadier General Guy Hasson, Head of the
Armored Corps.
The Armored
Corps’ pilot program began in July 2017. Its purpose was to examine
whether or not women could be integrated as tank combat soldiers into
the Border Defense Array. The selection process was based on medical
data, the soldiers’ motivation, former commanders’ opinions, and
personal interviews. Finally a committee held a hearing to select 30
female combat soldiers who would be sent to the next screening stage
where additional interviews would take place. At the end of the process,
female combat soldiers were selected in order to participate in this
historic program.
Sergent Noga
Sergeant
Noga, started out in the Bardelas Battalion and is now one of the first
women to finish tank commanders course. “It's a role that includes very
interesting and challenging training. Furthermore, it is a
one-of-a-kind role for women and opens a new window of opportunities for
a job in which women can partake.”
After more
than six months of training, the combat soldiers began working in the
Sagi Brigade, under the Caracal Battalion, with a special platoon
commander. The combat soldiers selected for the commanders course
carried out operational work for a month and a half, while the rest of
the combat soldiers continued in their operational assignments for six
months. "There are additional operational values that we can achieve in
the Border Defense Array and in the Armored Corps with these combat
soldiers. “The training stage was defined as a success, both in terms of
the training itself and the operational aspect, and all the targets set
for the combat soldiers were achieved,” said Brig. Gen. Hasson.
Sergeant Shiran
Sergeant
Shiran began her service in the Caracal Battalion: "Camaraderie is the
most important thing in the tank. I will never forget my time in the
course, when I was with my crew 24/7. We never gave up. Without the
girls, the entire experience could have been different for me.”
In the
Armored Corps training, five of the 15 soldiers were found to be fit for
the commanders course. "The four remaining soldiers are amazing young
women, professional and determined," said Brig. Gen. Hasson. "I met them
personally, heard what they had to say. Being a pioneer is not an easy
thing."
Their
training consisted of eight weeks of basic training, six weeks of
training at the Shizafon Base, 14 weeks of advanced training, and a
course that was similar to that of combat soldiers. They learned about
tactical intelligence, combat operations, training, and more.
Sergeant Charlotte
Sergeant
Charlotte began her service in the Caracal Battalion. “I believe that
the IDF should give greater responsibility to women in all fields, even
though they are physically different than men.”
"We did not
give up on them, we did not settle for anything less than the best and
they know that," said Brig. Gen. Hasson. "We have to give them credit,
they did it like real combat soldiers."
Sergeant Osnat
Sergeant Osnat
began her service in the Caracal Battalion. Osnat's grandfather was a
sergeant in the 7th Brigade, during the establishment of the State of
Israel. “It’s such an interesting and meaningful service that not
everyone has the chance to experience.”
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