If there is one thing that must be stable, competent and ready, 7/24 is the IDF - and here it must not be blinked • Damage to the continuity of training constitutes double damage • Not only do we impair the readiness of the forces, but even retreat their competence During this period • Interpretation
Since February, 99 percent of public discourse has concerned the corona plague.
This is when in the background political instability, possible elections, and also, among other things, tense alertness in the north, while in the south uncertainty continues to persist.
The IDF is required to deal with all of these challenges - even without being shot, the reality in which the IDF operates during this period is one of the most challenging we have had.
Photo: IDF Spokesman
Corona's involvement affects the IDF in a number of dimensions: dealing directly with the epidemic by operating the home front arena, including the chain of amputation. The need to continue to build and operate the force in the absence of an annual and multi-year budget. But also in the Judea and Samaria sector, and further on, also the need to protect manpower from infection with the virus itself. This is a particularly challenging period for the IDF.
The lack of a budget does not allow the IDF to issue action plans for implementation as required - the intensification plans defined in the "momentum" plan, procurement, construction, operation - one must understand what this is all about. The army has to deal with continued force building We go in. In addition, dealing with the Corona virus poses difficult dilemmas, one of which is training - do you continue to train as usual? What do you do with the reserve forces? Long or not?
This discourse has been very poignant in recent days, following the statement of Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi about the implementation of a major exercise in the north.
And there are already those who criticize corona infection during the exercise, as if the risk does not justify the price.
It is worth remembering - our security challenges did not change during this period.
On the contrary, they are even larger, not only is the military required to respond through the home front to fight the virus, the forces are required to be prepared at the borders, and the decisive formations are required to continue to be fit for a possible war.
I do not remember anyone solving the army from these challenges.
This criticism is also heard against the background of a number of contagion incidents in the IDF, for example in HD 1, Otzav Kfir, or Camp 80 - incidents that were not committed to reality.
so what are we doing?
Practicing and risking infection?
Or postpone to the future?
It is worth understanding that in the reality of budgetary fog any event that is postponed becomes irrelevant.
Literally.
It is impossible to summon soldiers because suddenly there is a budget.
Procrastination means long months, sometimes even years without training.
Injury to the continuity of training is a double damage - not only do they impair the readiness of the forces, but even retard their competence.
The military will go and play, and when required, the response will be accordingly.
This is an unacceptable reality.
Therefore, despite the dilemma of infection there are things that must exist.
That their non-existence entails much greater damage, which will take years if at all to repair.
Moreover, what image do we create towards our enemies if we cancel military training as a result of "fear" of Corona?
Can we afford such a thing?
What an image it produces for our society, which even then does not surpass itself in this period in contexts of solidarity.
If there is one thing that must be stable, competent and ready, 24/7 is the IDF - and here it must not be blinked. The chief of staff is right when he insists on the existence of significant training of paramount operational importance.
It is right to take a risk while learning from the disciplinary glitches that have been in several units.
It is right to continue to train our army, because the opposite is unthinkable.
In the Middle East, we learned, stagnation is paid at compound interest.
Here, it is also appropriate to spur decision-makers in budgetary contexts - the whole of Israeli society is eagerly awaiting this.
Public bodies literally depend on it for breathable air.
And when it comes to the military, all the more so.
The budget farce must be resolved - it is no longer a political matter, it is a matter of life and death.
The author is a former commander of the Armored Brigade, currently a military-social relations researcher, author of the books "The Man in the Tank" and "Clear Direction".