Female troops in action
Photo: Anat Barshkovsky
IDF presents: Female reserve unit
Unusual scene: Dozens of female soldiers gather at IDF base as army prepares to set up new unit comprised entirely of female reserve troops
(VIDEO) Woman power: Anyone who happened to be visiting the IDF's northern Eliyakim base would have been witness to an unusual scene – the first training session ahead of the creation of an army reserve unit comprised entirely of female soldiers.
Dozens of female reserve troops gathered at the base, most of them arriving with a smile and taking the opportunity for a trip down memory lane.
Female troops back in uniform (Video: Anat Barshkovsky)
"Over the years, we had quite a few female instructors who served here and constituted the basis in all matters related to preparing troops for a variety of actions," one officer at the base told Ynet. "We always used to call up some of the females for a short reserve stint, but this was never organized under one roof."
"The IDF instructors deal with a variety of areas, including shooting practice, mortars, and various aspects related to infantry and armored corps forces," he said. "We realized we needed to set up an orderly unit so we can always call up the required instructors and not undermine regular training sessions."
"We certainly see the girls are motivated," the officer said.
'The principal was dumbfounded'
The troops in question are soldiers who for the most part were discharged from regular army duty in the past six years. By law, they are expected to perform reserve duty until the age of 38, coming in for two weeks every year. In practice, they will be exempt from reserve duty at an earlier age. Those who are truly uninterested in continuing to shoot, crawl in mud, and sleep on army beds, would be able to get their exemption once they become mothers.
Rachel, a special education teacher, says the school principal was surprised to hear about her reserve duty.
"The principal was dumbfounded, and so were the students," she says. "They don't know what to do with me…the principal told me she never had a female teacher who did reserve duty."
Hadas Putshnik, 25, an MSc student, was in the midst of the degree's final experiment when she was forced to put on the green IDF uniforms again.
"If something happens to my experiment I don't know what I'll be doing," she said. "This is a research project that took several years and everything can go to waste because of an IDF whim."
Roselyn, who was discharged a year ago, said: "I, as opposed to the other girl, am the youngest in the group and am not yet a student, but this coming Sunday I'll be taking the university entrance exam. Instead of sitting at home and studying here I am playing with weapons."
Meanwhile, Liz Cohen recalled some unpleasant memories. "The first time I fired in the army I was teary-eyed. Today when we fired I had a terrible migraine because of the smell of gunpowder, but I recovered quickly."
