The Alpenists are just waiting for the first snow to climb Mount Hermon • Combat unit tells about the intensive training in Israel and abroad and the challenging and exciting reserve service in the cold

• Fighter in the unit // Photo: Reuters

In most parts of the country, inclement weather is mainly reflected in large amounts of rainfall, and perhaps a single day's snow in the mountainous areas of central Israel. However, in one of the most sensitive places in the country - Mount Hermon, winter creates a special challenge in the form of snow that falls in large quantities.

This reality prevents most of the IDF field units from functioning properly, and this is also why in 1974, just a year after the Yom Kippur War, a special reserve unit of fighters specializing in snow-fighting conditions was established.

Photo: IDF Archives at the Ministry of Defense

This is a dedicated patrol company that functions within the patrol battalion that secures the Hermon, and that performs spatial defense training, attack and rapid-motion surfing, using advanced ski gear, high-speed ski motorcycles and special snow cats. The fighters are armed with assault rifles from the M4 carbine, Tabor, Negev machine guns and M24 and SR-25 sniper rifles. It consists of reserve personnel who served regularly in the special units of the IDF (many of them from "Walnut" and "Golani Patrol" whose area of ​​specialization is the northern border).

"Most of the unit's fighters are from the Golani Patrol, because they undergo regular training that includes survival and snow fighter," says Adv. Shachar Hatzroni, who has served in the unit since 1998. "The fighters enlist immediately upon release from the unit, usually as organic teams."

When the snow begins to fall for the first time, the fighters take on the challenging role. "The fighters are enlisted to enable continued operations in the sector, as they are capable of moving and fighting in the most severe snow and cold conditions, including blizzards." Despite their special training in cold conditions, the unit's fighters are capable of fighting all seasons, and the unit's snipers, under A's command, are known in the IDF as those who hit the most distant targets and harsh conditions.

"With the first rain, all the unit fighters come to life and ask if the rain is already on their way. Everyone is waiting for a lottery to determine when their team will climb the mountain," says Hazroni. "At the mountaintop every fighter receives his equipment, which includes combat equipment, suitable clothing, ski equipment and snow gear and combat equipment. Of course, each team takes care to bring its own coffee machine to the rooms, the coffee roasters and the barbecue and meats. In the end, there is nothing like a steak on the barbecue at the end of the day on the mountain, even if it is done in inclement conditions a few degrees below zero.

Training from the best snow fighters in the IDF // Photo: AFP

The average reader probably thinks that the routine activity of the warriors on Mount Hermon pastoral is considered particularly easy, but that is not the case. "Mount Hermon and its affiliates glide across the borders of Lebanon on one side and Syria on the other. In recent years, especially since the war in Syria, when the snow covers the mountain, the unit takes part in operational activities in cooperation with various units in the IDF as well as with various security forces, all to ensure Peace and security even during the harsh winter days, which, as far as unit fighters are concerned, are blessed. "

"The unit's activities include training from the best snow fighters in the IDF, including instructors and foreign army officers from snowy countries most days. For decades, the unit has been accompanied by someone who has been trained as an alpinist in the Swedish army and we have been honored to receive it as a fighter and part of the training team. "

It should be noted that when joining the unit, most fighters have no prior skiing experience. Therefore, they undergo many series focusing on snow activities that include navigation, camouflage, extraction, snow movement, survival, use of dedicated weapons, shooting and fighting in harsh conditions, survival, etc. Various units are also conducted abroad, especially at the Alps. Switzerland.

"Most of the unit's fighters also volunteer at Erez, a non-profit organization that has been operating on both the mountain and ski resorts around the world for 15 years to teach the IDF disabled to surf despite their disabilities," says Hatzroni. "Erez also operates hundreds of children each winter who suffer From various illnesses (cancer patients and even the most severely disabled) to a fun day that includes, among other things, snowmobiling, dog sledding and just having fun in the snow. "