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IDF units — mixed-gender light infantry battalions: Caracal (קרקל, 33rd), Bardelas (ברדלס), Arayot HaYarden (אריות הירדן), Cheetah — Border Defense Corps, women in combat, profile, training, olim

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caracal_Battalion; https://draftidf.co.il/units/ (requirements) · 2026-09

What they are

The IDF’s mixed-gender light infantry battalions guard Israel’s long land borders as part of the Border Defense Corps (haganat hagvulot). They are full combat units — infantry training, weapons, patrols, ambushes, incident response — roughly 60–70% women, and were the first IDF units to put women in front-line infantry roles.

Battalion Sector Notes
Caracal (33rd) Egyptian border (Negev/Sinai line), Paran Brigade Founded 2000; named for a wild cat whose sexes look identical. Fought at Nitzana/Sufa on 7 Oct 2023, killing ~100 attackers. Includes the all-female Pere tank squad
Bardelas (“Cheetah”) Southern Jordan Valley / Arava border Founded 2015
Arayot HaYarden (“Lions of Jordan”) Northern Jordan Valley Founded 2014
Cheetah / additional battalions Various The corps has expanded since 2023

Beret: light green (Caracal wears a yellow-camouflage variant). They belong to the Infantry Corps for training purposes.

Requirements

Path in and training

  1. List the battalion on the manila.
  2. About 4 months basic training (Caracal historically at the Givati base) followed by advanced training — roughly 7–8 months to operational, with a beret march at the end. Weapons are M4/M16 carbines; specialties include sharpshooter, medic, Negev gunner, observation and driving.
  3. Operational service on the assigned border: patrols, lookout posts, ambushes, response to infiltration and smuggling.

Service length

Which combat roles are open to women (2026)

Mixed infantry (this chunk) · Border Defense tank crews · Artillery · Air Defense · Search & Rescue (Home Front Command) · Magav · Combat Intelligence Collection (Isuf Kravi) · Oketz · Unit 669 (since 2023) · Navy ship crews · Pilots’ course. Closed: Golani/Givati/Nahal/Kfir/Paratroopers battalions and most special forces.

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