The ground combat officer’s course concluded yesterday (Thursday) with a ceremony held at Bahad 1 at the “Laskov” base in Mitzpe Ramon. The event, led by Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, was attended by the Commander of the Ground Forces Major General Tamir Yadai, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Defense Minister Yoav Galant. During the ceremony, 535 new officers received their ranks and are expected to take on key roles in the IDF’s combat units.
The ceremony took place during wartime, with some cadets having participated in battles on various fronts before joining the course, and some even having been wounded or lost comrades during their service.
The Chief of Staff gave a speech, noting the combat experience gained by the cadets over the past year and the importance of leadership and command over soldiers: “A commander must know heroism. A hero, it is said, conquers his own will—not erasing it, nor letting it run free—the hero expresses the balance between them and the right measure.” The Chief of Staff also emphasized the need to listen to subordinates and the ability to make sound decisions in the field while setting a personal example.
