Best Battalion Award for 2001 Goes To Druze Volunteers
IDF Spokesperson 28 January 2003
On a chilly January morning in the Druze village of Rama in the Galilee, the Herev Brigade pursues its community work with excellent humor.
These young men spend four months with the IDF "Nahal" infantry brigade, a period of time after which they are considered to be "fighters". Captain Halabi Rafaat emphasizes that: "The Druze are educated from a young age that they are an integral part of Israeli society, and thus, they must contribute to the IDF, like every other Israeli citizen and provide service to their country". He adds, "The IDF gives all the religious freedom required by the Druze minority."
Human Mosaic
The Druze minority in the IDF is bursting with motivation and 87% of young Druze fit IDF criteria and enlisted in 2003.
Three enlistments take place every year and 200 Druze enlist at every enlistment. It is to be noted that a large percentage of the soldiers who volunteer to the Herev Battalion become officers and make the army a career. The Brigade is divided into four fighter Brigades and one commanding Brigade.
The Herev Battalion was stationed in the Gaza Strip at the beginning of the current conflict. "We were at the heart of all the events for over a year and a half". The Battalion was transferred to Khan Yunis: "After much success in the field, the Battalion won the 2001 prize for best Battalion".
This year, the respected Herev battalion was re-assigned to the Northern Command after soldiers requested to serve closer to home. Today, the Battalion operates on the Northern Border. One of the division commanders spouted enthusiastically: "If only all soldiers could be like the soldiers in the Herev Battalion".
Several soldiers proudly expressed their satisfaction at the link between their military and social activities. Constructive competition between the soldiers means that more decide to go out to the officer's course. The soldiers also feel the pride of being able to do social work in the heart of their own villages for their own families.
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