Caracal Battalion

Caracal Battalion
250px Beret doffing ceremony at Masada
Active	2000–Current
Country	Israel
Branch	Ground Forces
Type	Infantry
Role	Infantry
Size	1 Battalion
Part of	512th Brigade ("Sagi territorial brigade"), Southern Command
Motto	"The winning combination"
Colors	Light green beret, Orange & Bordeaux Flag
Engagements	Al-Aqsa Intifadah; 2005 Gaza withdrawal; 2006 Israel-Lebanon War;

The Caracal Battalion (Hebrew: גדוד קרקל‎) is an infantry combat battalion of the Israel Defense Forces, one of only two fully combat units in the Israeli military that is composed of both male and female soldiers. It is named after the Caracal, a small cat whose sexes appear the same. As of 2009, approximately 70% of the battalion was female.

History

File:Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Becoming A Soldier of the Caracal Battalion (21).jpg

Swearing in of the Caracal Battalion

Prior to Caracal's formation in 2000, women were barred from serving in direct combat. The unit has since been tasked with patrolling the Israeli-Egyptian border. It took part in Israel's unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2005.

Caracal Battalion engaged in combat on September 21, 2012 on the Egyptian border, following the infiltration of a group of terrorists. Responding to a radio report of the attack, in a fire-fight a female Caracal infantry soldier killed a terrorist, who was carrying an explosive belt.

In October 2014, a jeep of the battalion was attacked by militants from the Egyptian border with gunfire and an anti-tank missile. Two soldiers were injured. One of the injured, female officer, Captain Or Ben-Yehuda, nonetheless dismounted from the jeep and returned fire killing one militant in the fire-fight.

While Caracal is a mixed gender battalion, it has been 70% female since 2009. It is part of the 512th Sagi Brigade of the Southern Command. The unit badge incorporates the Sagi Brigade badge with the addition of the Caracal cat.

Training

Female soldiers taking part in Caracal Winter Training

New recruits in the Caracal Battalion are issued the Israeli-made Tavor assault rifle. Battalion members partake in a four-month basic training period that includes physical training and weapons training at the Givati Brigade training base.

Battalion recruits are required to sign up for a third year of military service.

Notable recruits

Second Lieutenant Noy, who is serving in the Caracal Battalion, was the first female officer to command a sniper platoon.

Elinor Joseph, who has also served with the Caracal Battalion, is the first Arab woman ever to serve in a combat role in the Israeli Army.

See also

• Gender-blindness
• Gender Equality
• Women in the Israel Defense Forces