Caracal Battalion
Encyclopedia
The Caracal Battalion is an infantry
combat battalion of the Israel Defense Forces
, composed of both male and female soldiers, of both Jewish and Arab descent. It is named after the Caracal
, a small cat whose sexes appear the same. As of 2009, approximately 70% of the battalion was female. It is part of the 512th "Sagi" Brigade of Israel's Southern territorial command.
from the Gaza Strip
in the summer of 2005.
The unit badge, adopted in 2009, incorporates the Sagi Brigade badge, with the addtion of the Caracal cat.
.
Battalion members partake in a four-month basic training period that includes physical training at the Givati Brigade
training base. Soldiers specialize in various weapons including machine guns, advanced weaponry, grenades, and mortars.
All female soldiers who join the battalion are required to sign up for a third year of military service, the same as their male counterparts. The men are drawn from Nahal
garinim, or have volunteered.
, who has served with the Caracal Battalion, is the first Arab
woman ever to serve in a combat role in the Israeli army. Second Lieutenant Noy, also serving with the battalion, was the first female officer to command a sniper platoon.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
combat battalion of the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
, composed of both male and female soldiers, of both Jewish and Arab descent. It is named after the Caracal
Caracal
The caracal is a fiercely territorial medium-sized cat ranging over Western Asia, South Asia and Africa.The word caracal comes from the Turkish word "karakulak", meaning "black ear". In North India and Pakistan, the caracal is locally known as syahgosh or shyahgosh, which is a Persian term...
, a small cat whose sexes appear the same. As of 2009, approximately 70% of the battalion was female. It is part of the 512th "Sagi" Brigade of Israel's Southern territorial command.
History
Prior to Caracal's formation in 2000, women had been prevented from serving in direct combat positions with the IDF. The unit has since been tasked with patrolling the Israeli-Egyptian border. It took part in Israel's unilateral withdrawalIsrael's unilateral disengagement plan
Israel's unilateral disengagement plan , also known as the "Disengagement plan", "Gaza expulsion plan", and "Hitnatkut", was a proposal by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, adopted by the government on June 6, 2004 and enacted in August 2005, to evict all Israelis from the Gaza Strip and from...
from the Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
in the summer of 2005.
The unit badge, adopted in 2009, incorporates the Sagi Brigade badge, with the addtion of the Caracal cat.
Training
New recruits in the Caracal Battalion, are issued the Israeli-made Tavor assault rifleIMI Tavor TAR-21
The TAR-21 is an Israeli bullpup assault rifle chambered for 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition with a selective fire system, selecting between semi-automatic mode, burst mode, and full automatic fire mode. It is named after Mount Tavor, while "TAR-21" stands for "Tavor Assault Rifle - 21st Century". It is...
.
Battalion members partake in a four-month basic training period that includes physical training at the Givati Brigade
Givati Brigade
The Givati Brigade is an infantry brigade of the Israel Defense Forces, and serves as its amphibious force. Givati soldiers are designated by purple berets...
training base. Soldiers specialize in various weapons including machine guns, advanced weaponry, grenades, and mortars.
All female soldiers who join the battalion are required to sign up for a third year of military service, the same as their male counterparts. The men are drawn from Nahal
Nahal
Nahal is an Israel Defense Forces infantry brigade. Historically, it refers to a program that combines military service and establishment of new agricultural settlements, often in outlying areas...
garinim, or have volunteered.
Notable members
Elinor JosephElinor Joseph
Elinor Joseph is an Israeli soldier who has served with the Caracal Battalion of the Israel Defense Forces since 2010. She is the first Arab woman ever to serve in a combat role in the Israeli army.-Background:...
, who has served with the Caracal Battalion, is the first Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
woman ever to serve in a combat role in the Israeli army. Second Lieutenant Noy, also serving with the battalion, was the first female officer to command a sniper platoon.
See Also
- Gender-blindness
- Gender EqualityGender equalityGender equality is the goal of the equality of the genders, stemming from a belief in the injustice of myriad forms of gender inequality.- Concept :...
- Women in the Israel Defense ForcesWomen in the Israel Defense ForcesWomen in the Israeli Defense Forces are female soldiers who serve in the Israel Defense Forces. Israel is the only country in the world with a mandatory military service requirement for women...