Problematic commander-soldier relations
'IDF reservists’ training problematic'
IDF Ombudsman says most soldiers’ complaints could have been settled if commanding officers were more attentive and committed
The training IDF reserve soldiers receive ahead of settlement protection missions in Gaza does not comply with army protocol and presents a serious and systematic problem, an annual report drafted by IDF Ombudsman Brigadier General Avner Barzani said.
Barzani looked into the matter after receiving a complaint from an army reserves soldier who said the training he receives before being sent off to secure settlements in Gaza is insufficient.
All in all, IDF soldiers submitted 5,943 complaints in 2004, a drop of 585 complaints from 2003. The overall decrease is mainly due to a drop in the number of complaints submitted by reservists, but the number of complaints by compulsory service soldiers has increased by 7 percent from 2003.
About 25 percent of all the complaints in 2004 were related to commander- soldier relations, and 50 percent of those were found to be justified.
These complaints dealt primarily with excessive strictness and abusive and humiliating behavior displayed by commanding officers.
“In many cases I find that the soldier’s problem could have been resolved easily with a bit more attention and sense of commitment from the commanding officers,” Barzani said in the report.
