Sky is the limit
Tamar Ariel was a combat-tested jet navigator who died in avalanche in Nepal; now R. is following in her footsteps in becoming only the second religous woman to ever finish the course.
Tamar was killed by an avalanche in the Annapurna mountain range in Nepal in October 2014. "The meeting between Anat and R. was very emotional," R's mother Shira said.
"150 people came just for her, and we all wore the shirts we had made specialy for the ceremony. We met with Anat and her family, who sat with us, and were our guests," she said.
"The ties between our families will last forever because Tamar was a very influential person in R's life. Ever since Tamar's death, she always walks around with a picture of her in her pocket, and she never forgets her – not even for a moment." Shira concluded.
Lieutenant R. (22), the eldest of three children, grew up in the Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood of Jerusalem. She studied at the Or Torah school, and continued on to Pelech girl's high school. The first time she met Tamar was in flight school, when Tamar was her commander during the course's entry trial. Once R. was accepted and started the course, Tamar -- who was already a combat navigator -- stayed in touch with her, and even gave her the uniform skirt that was sewn especially for her, as the first religious woman in the course.
R. took the news of Tamar's death very hard; however, it strengthened the ties between the two families. "The moment we met at the ceremony was very emotional," Anat added.
"We hugged each other strongly for a few minutes; I was so excited for her. It was especially touching when I saw that R. had a picture of Tamar in her pocket, it just shows how much she influenced her. I wish her the best of luck, and I praise all the graduates."
The ceremony is held after three years of intense officer training, including; pilot training, and an academic degree from Beer Sheva University.
Placement of the new air crew members in IAF squadrons will begin next week, and the graduates will start the operational phase of training in their respective fields as pilots or navigators.
Among the graduates Thursday was N., a 22-year-old woman from the town of Reut, who was commended as the Prime Minister's outstanding cadet in the combat division – the first woman to do so in the course's history.
Another standout graduate was R., a graduate of the combat track, and the course's overall outstanding cadet.
The ceremony was held in the presence of President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Netanyahu, the Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot, and the Air Force Commander Amir Eshel.
"In the last year the air force was called to action, and had to prove time and again, its quality and that it is as a force- more relevant than ever," Eshel said.
