“Chen”-The Women's Corps

"The Army is the supreme symbol of duty, and as long as women are not equal to men in performing this duty, they have not yet obtained true equality. If the daughters of Israel are absent from the army, then the character of the Yishuv will be distorted."

--David Ben­Gurion

The Defense Service Law of 1959 defines and regulates the obligation of service in the Israel Defense Forces. According to the Law, all citizens and permanent residents of the State of Israel are required to perform military service. All women between the ages of 18 and 26, who are physically fit, unmarried, have not borne children, and have not objected on religious grounds or grounds of conscience must fulfill their military obligation.

Women currently perform compulsory military service in the IDF for a period of one year and nine months (as compared with the three years required of male conscripts). In 2001, eligibility for women reserve soldierswas extended until the age of 38, with an exemption for pregnant women or mothers. To promote equal opportunity for women, the IDF plan calls for expanding the types of roles for women during reserve duty.

History

The role of women in Israel's defense has a long tradition reaching back to the biblical days of Yael and Deborah. Women played a vital role in the underground struggle for Israel's independence, including participation in signals and combat roles in the pre­state military cadres: Haganah, Irgun, and Lehi.

In 1948, the IDF began to reorganize its front­line brigades, and the issue was raised as to whether women should be integrated into men's units, or whether separate battalions of women should be formed that would serve in the brigade while remaining independent of it.

The second option was decided upon, and the Women's Corps was thus founded on May 16, 1948. Within a year, however, the Women's Corps was restructured, and female soldiers were dispersed throughout various units. From then and until today, servicewomen come under the direct command of the commander of the unit to which they are assigned, but the Women's Corps constitutes a professional support system for women in the IDF.

Though women can serve in support and combat support roles in the IDF, they have, until recently, been prohibited from engaging in actual combat. The rationale for this policy was that should a woman be captured by the enemy, the effect on national morale would be devastating. This situation has changed following a recent Supreme Court ruling.

Women's Service in the IDF

All young women with Israeli citizenship are sent their first draft notice at age 17. During the year preceding their induction, they are classified and processed. The initial selection process includes the preparation of a medical profile, a psychotechnical examination and verification of formal education and personal background.

As a result of improvements in the selection process, a large percentage of female candidates for military service are assigned postings before their actual conscription. A considerable number of women volunteer for pre­military courses, taken on their own time (as civilians) before their induction. These courses prepare candidates for military service in specific military occupational specialties. These options are important to both the needs of the IDF, which is interested in making maximum use of the ability of its recruits, and to the recruit, who is personally involved in establishing the course that her military service will take.

The first stage of IDF service is basic training. During this period, which lasts two and a half weeks for female conscripts (or a week and a half for women who are pre­posted), recruits gain basic knowledge of the IDF organizational structure, weapons handling, first aid and more.

Over the course of the years, the number of military occupational specialties open to women in the IDF has expanded and today most jobs are open to women. Women have long served in technological positions, intelligence, operations and training. Likewise, women can be found servicing IDF computerized systems, working as computer programmers, smart weapons systems operators and electronics technicians.

Following a recent Supreme Court ruling, which upheld the petition of a servicewoman (Alice Miller) to be allowed to apply for Flight School, the Defense Service Law was amended in 1995 to enable servicewomen to attend Flight School, and woman recruits to serve in units outside the IDF ORBAT (women may thus serve in the police force and in the border police). In 2001, the first female fighter pilot graduated the Israel Air Force flight school. In 2003, the first female combat helicopter pilot was due to graduate.

All women have the opportunity to participate in an officers course, providing they have met stiff criteria and have demonstrated their ability while in the ranks. Becoming an officer is voluntary, and those who successfully complete the officers course must sign up for an additional nine months of career service.

Structure and Objectives

Recognizing the uniqueness of women's service, the IDF established the Women's Corps as a parallel administrative system to the command system. Its main tasks are to formulate policy relating to the service of female recruits, to advise commanders on the issue of women's service, and to command the Women's Corps units. The objectives of the Women's Corps system are:

1. To help realize the potential of women in the IDF, in accordance with the needs of the IDF and policies of General Staff.

2. To advise commanders and servicewomen on specific issues pertaining to the military service of female soldiers.

3. To be responsible for the instruction and training of female recruits, NCOs and officers.

The Women's Corps is commanded by a Brigadier General who has, under her command, professional Women's Corps officers and NCOs.

This network performs a large number of functions ranging from advising at the General Staff level to handling matters of individual servicewomen at the personal level, establishing guiding principles for the service of female soldiers, professional training, terms of service, integration of various professions and duties, inter­sex tension and women's health issues.

The Corps Disbands

On August 1, 2001, the existing Women's Corps was incorporated into the General Staff rather than acting as an independent unit. Changes in the IDF are supposed to give female soldiers new opportunities and allow them to be part of all units, including combat units. The Commander of the Women's Corps, Brig.-Gen. Suzy Yogev, was appointed to serve as Advisor on Women's Issues to the Chief of Staff.