Troops in IDF’s Haredi Hasomonean Brigade complete first part of officers’ course

The first-ever cadets in the IDF’s Hasmonean Brigade for ultra-Orthodox soldiers completed the first part of their officers’ course this week.

Following training and a 12-kilometer (7.5 miles) march in the Golan Heights, the cadets received their platoon commander pins on Wednesday, marking the end of the first half of the officers’ course.

The cadets will continue training for another four months, some of which will take place at the Bahad 1 officers’ school in southern Israel. After that, they will receive their ranks and be assigned officer roles within the Haredi brigade.

The military says the course took place “in accordance with the IDF’s professional standards” and included all the content normally delivered at Bahad 1, “while fully maintaining the Haredi way of life.”

The establishment of the brigade is part of the military’s efforts to expand the enlistment of ultra-Orthodox men, as it faces personnel shortages caused by the war. It also aims to demonstrate, despite opposition to enlistment from leading Haredi rabbis, that military service can go hand in hand with ultra-Orthodox observance.