Despite the IDF’s decision to permit women to join combat units, the air force and the navy, women are not going to be permitted to serve in the armored corps. The decision was reached by the General Staff and the military’s Medical Corps.
Ynet reported that the medical experts examined the demands of members of the tank corps, determining it would be harmful to women. The report adds that the physiological trials that were conducted determined the abilities of an average young female adult and it was determined that women are not suited for some of the essential tasks. This includes the tank driver who must press down the pedal, which reportedly requires significant strength.
Aside from physical demands, it was also determined the since a tank crew may be locked inside close quarters for a number of days, there are issues of modesty for a women having to live under such conditions which they felt were unacceptable.
Ynet adds the experts examined other armies that have integrated women into their armored corps including the US.
The IDF is now determining if women will be permitted to operate heavy equipment in the engineering corps such as the massive D9 bulldozer. A final determination is yet to be announced.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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Dangerous IDF Experiment’ on Female Soldiers Alleged
Forum head repeats warnings of long-term injuries to female combat soldiers, terms mixed units ‘a dangerous experiment.’
By Maayana Miskin
First Publish: 10/6/2013,
The IDF’s mixed male-female combat units are causing permanent damage to many female Israeli soldiers, says Col. (res.) Raz Sagi, head of the Forum for a Strong IDF (FSIDF).
“We interviewed dozens of young women, and we did not find a single one who didn’t complain of injuries suffered during military combat service which prevented her from living a normal life,” Sagi told Arutz Sheva. “Unfortunately, the IDF is conducting a dangerous experiment on these girls in the name of feminism.”
Common injuries include hip stress fractures, ruptured discs and uterine prolapse, he said. “Combat service just shatters them,” he concluded.
The IDF lowered the physical requirements for female soldiers to allow them to join combat units, “and still, twelve percent suffer injury, compared to zero percent of male soldiers,” he reported. Those injured include former female athletes, he added.
Sagi has made similar claims in the past. He challenged the IDF to release its data, which he said will prove him right.
“I demand that the IDF be required to reveal the percent of women who suffer life-long injuries, compared to male soldiers in combat roles. When it is published, there will be a public outcry and committees of inquiry,” he accused.
Sagi took part in Knesset discussions in the Equal Share of the Burden Committee, which is weighing the issue of hareidi-religious army service.
His goal, he said, is to keep the IDF strong and to make sure that combat ability remains the foremost goal. “I’m trying to protect the backbone of the IDF from bizarre decisions that have nothing to do with state security,” he explained.
The more women are placed in the combat units, he explained, the lower their combat-readiness level. For 12 years running, he said, the IDF was unable to get more than 530 women to volunteer and be accepted into combat service annually.
This number shot up to 800 in 2014, according to Sagi – not because more physically fit women volunteered, but because the “gibush” phase of basic training, in which those unfit for combat are weeded out, was cancelled, and replaced with a preparatory course that does not weed out anyone.
Sagi noted that the US military also opened its doors to women in combat units, but did not lower admissions standards. As a result, no women have been able to make it into the SEAL, Ranger and Marines units.