Fifteen female soldiers signed up for the course, and 10 completed it, including four who completed additional training to be tank commanders. Given the tight quarters, and in deference to religious sensibilities, the IDF will not field mixed-sex tank crews. The four female tank commanders will have all-female crews, and will be deployed as part of the coed Caracal Battalion that defends the border with Egypt.

The female tank crew members received no special treatment compared to their male comrades. “We did not budge a millimeter on the requirements, we made...

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