In the interview concluding the position of Lt. Col. Y., Deputy Commander of the Commando Brigade, how the brigade will operate in the next war • On the classified operations: "You have not seen anything yet" • Special
Commando fighters // Photo: IDF Spokesman
"The IDF has focused on the commando this year when it comes to readiness for war, in understanding the use of force, on the question of where to put the money in quotes in front of the operational delta. The battle days in the north in recent weeks have proved that the operational delta that the brigade knows how to give to the IDF and the State of Israel is something completely different, "says Lt. Col. Y., the deputy commander of the commando brigade, who is leaving in a job interview.
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Lt. Col. Y. is a veteran combat fox. He performed most of his military service in the Duvdevan elite unit, including the position of deputy commander of the unit, and later served as commander of the Givati Reconnaissance in Operation Cast Lead, deputy commander of the southern brigade in Gaza during the exposure of the tunnels and events on the fence. In Bismalach, the battalion that trains the commanders in the Oz Brigade and the patrol battalions. In the past year, he served as deputy commander of the commando brigade, and among other things, worked to establish the commando school in his new residence at the Adam facility.
The "Game of Thrones" exercise of the commando brigade in Cyprus // Photo: IDF Spokesman
"The brigade has existed since 2015, nothing in terms of brigades if you look at Golani, paratroopers, etc. We took three very magnificent, strong and independent units - Magellan, Cherry and Walnut, and turned them into one body. This is not a trivial event. Each such unit was independent. In front of a level in charge and today they are one body, while each of the units maintains its ethos. "
About a week ago, the commando school was inaugurated in its new home in a human facility, after a year of activity at a nearby house. A unique school for combatants and commando commanders means more focused and meaningful combat training in an elite unit. "This is a very important training project," explains Lt. Col. Y.
At the end of a year of activity as the brigade's deputy commander, Lt. Col. Y. looks back with satisfaction. Last December, the brigade's briefing took place in Cyprus under the title "Game of Thrones,” and at the same time the brigade units carried out various operations that contributed to state security and readiness for future war. "The 1969 is a huge event in the readiness of the division for war, and we also carried out work on the force building - infrastructure, complex training and more. There is no doubt that the commando brigade is more prepared for war today, from the combatant in the unit to the commanders of the companies and units. As time goes on, we will see the division improve even more. "
During the tensions in the north of the country in recent weeks, in light of Hezbollah threats, the brigade was active in the Galilee and Golan Heights. In early August, Magellan unit fighters proved worthy of the mission, eliminating a squad of terrorists who placed explosives near the border. Lt. Col. Y. hints that this is not the only activity carried out by the brigade's fighters. "In the last four weeks, one can see, from what can be revealed, the brigade's capabilities. This is what we have been trying to say for the last five years since the division was established. The event in the Golan is a relatively simple event, a small-scale force that acted against a specific event. The brigade is now deployed throughout the Galilee and there are forces in other places in the country. "
But with all due respect to individual events, the commando brigade is preparing mainly for a future war, in the north or in the south. "That is what we are aiming for and that is what the IDF is 'paying for'. In a future war, the brigade will be able to carry out tactical action, whether at the front or in the depths of the enemy, and bring a strategic achievement to the State of Israel, which will place us in a completely different place in terms of war results. This is the great advantage of the division, in the capabilities it can bring. "The brigade trains for every operational sector the IDF has, with the main ones being Gaza and Lebanon. The fighter can find himself on standby in the north for a moment and then jump into activity in the south."
These days we are marking six years since Operation Eitan, in which, among other things, the commander of the Givati Patrol, Banya Sarel, who was a commander of Lt. Col. Y. in Operation Cast Lead, was killed. Unfortunately these are the prices of war, and therefore the relevance of the commando brigade. It can be activated even before the large IDF is activated and bring about a greater and more significant achievement. The bottom line is that a tactical action by the commando brigade can bring about a more significant achievement than the entire IDF at certain stages. "
"The commando brigade is the spearhead of the IDF and its ability to be anywhere and anytime, with the best fighters there and a headquarters that knows how to handle the required shell, is the one that will bring a very significant achievement in any arena - more than any other body in the IDF. Very much for the decision makers. "
Along with the good events in the brigade, a disturbing incident took place in the Magellan unit last June. Officers and fighters tied a rookie in the unit on duty as an initiation ceremony. Water and tahini were spilled on another soldier during the soldiers' free time. Lt. Col. Y. condemns the incident outright and clarifies that it is an exceptional incident. "This is a one-time incident that will be investigated and we have learned the lessons. Unfortunately there are occasional exceptional events, and not just in our division. We have worked to ensure that such an event does not happen again. "
In the near future, Lt. Col. Y. will begin his new position as the Air Force Officer of the 36th Division (Gaash) stationed in the Golan Heights, and its forces include the Golani Brigade, the Etzioni Brigade and two armored brigades (188 and 7). The veteran officer, who already has quite a few combat roles behind him, will now concentrate on the northern front, which in recent years has known quite a bit of activity in the battle between the systems. It is not inconceivable that in the future he will work with the commando brigade under his new role. "I am leaving the brigade but I believe it is a different tool and different from anything the IDF has," he concludes.
