Once again, the Israeli army is making history by training 13 soldiers who will become the country’s first all-female tank crews. The three female-crewed tanks will serve in defending Israel’s southern border.
But first, these young women must complete an eight-month training course with the mixed combat battalion “Caracal.” Following this training, they will then complete a course with the armored corps and be placed under the command of experienced officers.
For now, the IDF has decided to deploy female tank crews to “non-combat” areas along the borders with friendly states, ie. either Egypt or Jordan.
Putting women in tanks was not well received by all Israelis. Legendary tank commander Avigdor Kahalani, whose unit repelled the invading Syrians in the Yom Kippur War, said there was no operational benefit to training women to operate tanks. There are enough men to do the job.
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