According to Israel Air Force officials, one of every five of the graduates from the IAF’s summer 2010 pilot training program was not born in Israel. The graduation ceremony will take place on Thursday, at which time the new pilots will officially receive their wings. In a ceremony today (Monday, June 28th), the pilots received their officer’s rank, 2nd lieutenant.

Some other interesting facts regarding the IAF’s newest pilots:
• One-third speak another language at the level of a mother tongue
• 17% of their mothers are teachers
• 47.5% of the graduates live in northern Israel
• 47.5% live in Central Israel
• 5% live in the southern areas
• 45% of the graduates belonged to a youth organization prior to military service
• 12.5% did a year of community service prior to enlisting

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)