The reception of the ‘silver beret’ is something the engineers of November 25 will surely never forget. But there are a few more moments, or rather a week, that will accompany them for years to come. This is, of course, the grueling combat series, which represents the peak of training, making them worthy of the beret and ready to advance to advanced training.
“After eight months during which they specialized in demolition, mining, and armored personnel carrier (APC) professions, the combat series comes to test everything they have learned so far,” explains Captain S., a training company commander in Battalion 605. Unlike the war weeks that passed throughout the course, this one was built in advance to simulate a long and challenging war – without breaks or concessions.
It opens with the combat procedure and preparations phase, where the platoons organize for an operational sortie under complete fog and uncertainty. “The soldiers don’t know what they will encounter, for how long they are going out, or exactly when the order will be given,” explains Captain Y., a training company commander in 607. “Just like in real combat, when the order to move forces comes as a complete surprise and the final objective sometimes remains vague.”
In the second and central phase, the forces practice dealing with the threat of explosives or the capture of areas and locations, above and below ground. There, they are tested on their ability to identify tunnels and how to deal with each one – from initial investigation to destruction. Finally, the soldiers practice encountering explosives during a search, which develops into a casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) scenario where they are required to rescue trapped individuals from buildings and treat the wounded – under fire.
“The threats from drones, explosives, and underground structures have escalated several levels in the current fighting in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip,” says Captain R., a training company commander in 601, who arrived at the training base after two years of maneuver on the front. “We brought engineering vehicles and explosives to the field that accurately simulate what awaits them outside, so that the training is as realistic as possible and adapted to the enemy we have encountered ourselves.”
In order for the exercise to simulate the reality of the multi-force operations of the past two years, commanders need to think more broadly: although the training itself remains battalion-level and focused on engineering, during the combat series, the company commanders simulated operations alongside armored and infantry forces, which already prepares them for the teamwork they will encounter in the field.
The third and final phase is the concluding individual assessment, where the soldiers leave the platoon framework and are tested individually. They move between stations of advanced shooting, communications and APC operation, casualty treatment, and also demolition tasks. “The professional level of the soldiers relies, among other things, on the ability of the commanders to mentor and correct them in real-time, during the exercises,” explains Captain H., a training company commander in 603.
At the end of the series, the soldiers possess mastery in both worlds – control of the infantry profession of taking over buildings and searching for threats, and in the complex field of demolition and underground operations. “Today, when they march in the beret hike and finally receive the silver beret, they will no longer be the recruits who arrived at the training base; they are advancing to advanced training as sharp and skilled soldiers,” boasts Captain H.
