File photo
Photo: IDF
Company commander refuses order, allows soldiers more hours of sleep
GOC Northern Command decides to oust company commander who refused an order so his soldier could have more hours of sleep, emphasizing: 'Refusing such orders is an exception to the norm.'
The GOC Northern Command, Maj. Gen. Yoel Strick, decided Sunday to dismiss Maj. (res.) Meni Eitan, a commander of a reserve company who refused to send his soldiers to a battalion exercise after claiming they had not received enough sleep.
Strick noted in his investigation the long-standing contribution of the company commander, but emphasized the refusal to obey orders of this type is an exception to the norm expected of the commander of a combat company and pointed out lessons to be learned from the incident.
(File photo: IDF)
Maj. Eitan refused to participate in a reservist battalion exercise two and a half weeks ago after claiming his soldiers had not received enough sleep.
Despite the fact his superiors stressed to him this was in accordance with the army's orders, the company commander decided not lead his soldiers into the exercise. The other companies in the battalion continued their training as planned.
According to the superior officers, the soldiers were to receive the remaining hours of sleep during the following day.
