President, Defense Minister Gantz and Chief of Staff Kochavi attended a ceremony honoring the outstanding reserve units • "Without you, our protective vest is incomplete," Rivlin told reservists
"Israeli society owes you a moral and value debt. And this debt should be reflected in your full training, the reservists, for the day of command. In compensation and retribution," President Reuven Rivlin told representatives of the 18 outstanding reserve units in the IDF for the year 2006.
Archive // Video photography: Tal Oz / Ministry of Defense
At the ceremony, which was held in the presence of Defense Minister Bnei Gantz and Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi, the units were honored for their activities at sea, in the air and on land. "How good it is to see you, the burden bearers, always right, for every call and every task, an elite team of Israelis, a beacon for Israeli society. "The whole thing," the president told the unit.
"Reserve soldiers fought in all the wars and operations," President Rivlin added.
"The reserve soldiers acted and work day and night to maintain ongoing security. And yes, the reserve soldiers, they and no one else, have helped and are helping the State of Israel face the difficult front of the Corona plague - the Corona hotels, logistical assistance, cutting chains - from end to end.
"The reserve soldiers are the ones who, after a short reorganization, will face the traffic light plan and lead Israel, so we hope, to be a green country. There are those of you who have done more than 90 days of reserve this year. This figure has a simple meaning: we rely on you. We need you. "Our protective vest is incomplete. Without the reserve soldiers, the IDF" cannot win. "
Rivlin went on to say: "From reservist to reservist, and a proud pain for boys who have served and are serving - many years in the reserve, I understand that motivation. Anyone like us who has done and is reservist knows one thing: a sucker who is not reservist.
"My dear, Israeli society owes you a moral and value debt. And this debt should be expressed in your full training of the reservists, for the day of command. In compensation and reward. It is not easy to leave family, job, business, studies. In honor, but also in prestige."
Minister Gantz also spoke at the ceremony, referring to the activities of the reserve units as part of the struggle in Corona.
"In recent months, since I returned to the Ministry of Defense, I have met you again - the reserve servants - everywhere I go: in field exercises and at headquarters, in the Home Front Command, and in the front commands. Even now, when the IDF has taken on the task of setting up the anti-epidemic operation The Corona - The reserve forces are leading the mission and the spirit of volunteering, "Ganz said.
He added: "Our security challenges are not diminishing from the corona, they are intensifying - in the north and south, near and far. In front of us is Lebanon, which is kneeling under the burden of Hezbollah, Gaza where Hamas is taking the hostages hostage, and Iran. "We work by various means and mainly through the soldiers and officers, regularly, permanently and in reserve. If anyone thinks he can try us - we have proved to him that he is wrong, and if we have to prove it again, more forcefully."
And these are the outstanding units:
Infantry Battalion 9219 in the "Etzioni" Brigade in the Northern Command, Patrol Battalion 6226 in the "Nesher" formation in the Northern Command, ICT Battalion 7049 in the "Hamfetz" formation in the Northern Command, Infantry Battalion 9203 in the "Alexandroni" Brigade in the Northern Command, Battalion 6217 in the "Oz Brigade" , 941st Infantry Battalion in the Menashe Spatial Brigade in the Central Command, the 6551 Patrol Battalion in the "Arrows of Fire" formation in the Central Command, the 8119th Infantry Battalion in the "Jerusalem" Brigade in the Central Command, 531st Battalion in the "Pillar of Fire" formation in the Southern Command, 466th Battalion in the "Fox Foxes" formation In the Southern Command, 79th Battalion in the "Hachatz" Brigade in the Southern Command, 5031st Battalion in the "Arava" Brigade in the Southern Command, 7475 Rescue and Rescue Battalion in the Jerusalem District and Central Home Front Command, 316 Rescue and Rescue Battalion in the Northern District The Rescue and Rescue 8416 in the Southern District of the Home Front Command, the "First Zik" Squadron of the Air and Space Arm and Squadron 914 at the Haifa base in the Sea Arm.