By Ryan Jones
The Israel Defense Forces are made up of the following branches:
- Homefront Command
- Air Force
- Navy
- Infantry
- Armored Corps
- Medical Corps
- Women’s Corps
- Ordinance Corps
- Education & Youth Corps
- Chaplainry Corps (Military Rabbinate)
- Spokesperson’s Unit
- Liaison Unit
- National Defense College
The Homefront Command is responsible for civil defense during war and peace time, maintains an information system and distributes vital supplies to help protect Israel’s civilians. The Homefront Command also maintains a highly effective search and rescue unit whose purpose is to perform distinct search and rescue missions in the country as well as abroad, in times of both war and peace.
The HFC Search & Rescue Unit has most notably participated in the rescue efforts in Nairobi, Kenya in 1998 following the bombing of the US embassy there, and in Turkey in 1999, after a massive earthquake left thousands dead.
The Israel Air Force, or IAF, is perhaps the most feared and respected air force in the world, and certainly in the Middle East. The IAF has consistently achieved air superiority over Israel’s enemies in every major conflict, and continues to maintain this level of dominance over other regional air powers.
The primary missions of the IAF are to defend Israel’s air space as well as the IDF’s operational areas, to attack enemy targets, to achieve air superiority over Israel’s enemies, to aid and assist all branches of the IDF in any number of ways, and to perform air search and rescue missions.
The least known and recognized branch of the Israel Defense Forces is Israel’s navy. Though it’s achievements have not been as widely hailed as those of the air and ground forces, the navy has consistently maintained a high level of operational success down the years. In every major conflict and in times of peace, the navy has been able to effectively defend Israel’s coast as well as achieve a level of superiority over enemy naval forces.
The Israeli Navy is comprised of a flotilla of fast attack missile boats and corvettes, a highly trained naval commando force, a small, recently upgraded submarine fleet, and squadrons of coastal patrol boats. During the Yom Kippur War, Israel’s fleet of missile boats succeeded in defeating the naval forces of Syria and Egypt and effectively taking control of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea Basin.
Infantry
- Golani Brigade
The most highly decorated infantry unit in the IDF, the Golani Brigade has been at the forefront of every major conflict. The brigade was formed in 1948 with the primary purpose of defending the northern regions of the country. - Paratrooper Brigade
With a well-earned reputation for discipline, courage, initiative and dedication, the Paratrooper Brigade is today recognized as the most elite of Israel’s infantry brigades. The operations and missions of Israel’s Paratroopers are renowned around the world, and regularly studied at top military colleges. The brigade was officially established in 1948. - Givati Brigade
The Givati Brigade has played a major role in defending the Negev region and it’s many isolated settlements during Israel’s many wars. The War of Independence saw the Givati Brigade succeed in defeating seasoned Arab forces and secure the Tel Aviv area as well as the Jerusalem Corridor. Formed in 1948, the brigade’s primary theater of operations is the desert and and southern regions of Israel. - Nahal Brigade
Nahal is a Hebrew acronym for Noar Halutzi Lohem – Fighting Pioneer Youth. The brigade is unique in the world’s fighting forces in that it combines military combat duty with civilian service in kibbutzim and moshavim (collective and semi-collective agricultural settlements). The brigade was formed in the true spirit of Zionism, training young pioneers to fight and defend their newborn nation while simultaneously teaching them to settle and work the land.
The IDF’s armored forces are world famous. They have fought and won some of history’s largest tank battles, and have consistently dominated the far more numerous armored forces of Israel’s enemies. The IDF’s tank brigades now boast the most advanced main battle tank in the world, the Israeli-made Merkava (Hebrew for Chariot).
Israel’s medical corps exists to provide top grade medical care and health services to the nation’s soldiers during times of war and peace, and to maintain military infirmaries and field hospitals throughout Israel. As was the case during the 1999 major earthquake Turkey, the IDF Medical Corps sometimes finds itself establishing and maintaining field hospitals abroad too.
Though women serve in all units throughout the IDF, the IDF Women’s Corp exists as a parallel administrative system to the main command system in order to provide an effective support structure for the unique needs of women serving in the forces.
The Ordinance Corps is responsible for developing and maintaining IDF combat materials as well as providing technical support to IDF units.
The purpose of the Education & Youth Corps is to ingrain new soldiers with a sense of calling, a belief in the righteousness of his/her path, a recognition of Israel’s military heritage, a better understanding of the conflicts and battles faced by Israel, and overall “strength of spirit”. In a nation with such a high rate of immigration, an organized and effective education corps is essential to the success of the military establishment.
Chaplaincy Corps (Military Rabbinate)
Established in 1948 with the recognition of the need to reconcile religious legal problems with the rigors and conditions of military training and life, the IDF Chaplaincy was also established to attend to the personal spiritual needs of individual soldiers. The Military Rabbinate is the highest religious authority in the IDF and stands separate of the civilian Chief Rabbinate of Israel.
The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit is responsible for advising the Chief of Staff on all matter of communication and information, and for formulating and implementing information policy.
This unit represents the IDF and implements IDF policy before foreign forces stationed in the area. The Liaison Unit exists to maintain contact, reduce friction and produce a fair working environment between the IDF and foreign forces.
The National Defense College’s primary goal is to develop a level of excellence and professional skill in it’s students so as to properly equip them for senior positions in the IDF and government establishment.
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