Israel
Female trials begin across two elite IDF combat Units
It comes amid plans to expand front-line roles for women after recruits threatened legal action
January 4, 2023 11:30
It comes amid plans to expand front-line roles for women after recruits threatened legal action
January 4, 2023 11:30Trials for female recruits across two frontline IDF units began this week as part of a long-term move to admit more women into male-dominated combat roles.
Trials will take place for Unit 669, the Israeli Air Force’s search-and-rescue unit, and Combat Engineering Corps’ Yahalom Unit responsible for counter-terrorism operations and destroying smuggling tunnels.
It is anticipated that this year’s Yahalom Unit trials will involve a cohort of 130 potential female recruits. Successful recruits will be enlisted either in April or November 2023.
A total of 11 female candidates have been approved to undertake the Unit 669 admission trials after undergoing a review of their medical and physical state.
Soldiers practice in the shooting range as part of their daily combat training on July 6, 2016 in Nitzana, Israel (Ilia Yefimovich/Getty Images)
The military stressed that a number of recruits had been permitted to partake in the trials after receiving evidence "that they were close to meeting the physiological requirements”.
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