Next week, Lt.-Colonel Tzion Shenkor will become the first IDF battalion commander from Israel’s Ethiopian community. He will command a Shimshon battalion in the Kfir Brigade.

On Sunday, Major Shenkor was promoted to lt.-colonel in a ceremony in the army’s Central Command in the presence of the commander of the Central District, Major-General Gadi Shamni. Next week, he will assume command of the battalion.

Shenkor began his military career as a paratrooper, assigned to Kfir after completing officers training. He has served as a platoon commander, company commander and deputy battalion commander. His last assignment was operations officer for the northern Gaza battalion, carrying heaving responsibilities during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza’s northern area.  (Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)