IDF unit — Combat Engineering Corps / Handasa Kravit (חיל ההנדסה הקרבית) and Yahalom (יהל"ם): demolitions, breaching, D9, tunnels, profile, training, olim

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_Combat_Engineering_Corps; https://draftidf.co.il/units/ (requirements); https://garinmahal.com/gibushim-tryouts · 2026-09

What it is

Combat engineers make the battlefield passable for everyone else: breaching obstacles and minefields, demolitions, clearing explosives and booby-traps, operating armored D9 bulldozers, building fortifications, and locating and destroying tunnels — plus CBRN (chemical/biological) defence. Since 2023 the corps has been central to fighting in Gaza (tunnels, demolitions) and Lebanon. Beret: silver (grey).

• Regular battalions: 601st “Asaf” (with the 401st Armored Brigade), 603rd “Lahav” (with the 7th), 605th “HaMahatz” (with the 188th), plus engineering companies attached to infantry brigades, and the Sayfan CBRN unit.
• Yahalom (“diamond” — Special Operations Engineering Unit) — the corps’ special-forces unit: bomb disposal (SAP/EOD), Samur (counter-tunnel), Sayeret Yael (commando engineering/reconnaissance), robotics, maritime sabotage, precision demolitions. Yahalom operators wear the Yahalom tag on the silver beret.

Requirements

• Medical profile: minimum 82 (some sources list 77–82 for certain engineering roles; heavy-equipment operators can be accepted at 72 — confirm with Meitav).
• Gibush: none for regular battalions — request on the manila. Yahalom is entered via Gibush Yachatiot (3 days) and generally wants a 97 profile and high DAPAR.
• Hebrew: no formal score; olim scoring 6 or below do Michve Alon first.
• Gender: male in regular combat engineering battalions; women serve in Sayfan (CBRN) and some engineering roles.

Path in and training

1. List Handasa Kravit (or Yahalom) on the manila.
2. Training at the Engineering school (Bahalatz, Negev): about 4 months basic + 3–4 months advanced (~7–8 months) covering infantry skills plus explosives, mine warfare, breaching, D9/heavy equipment for those tracks, ending with a beret march and the silver beret.
3. Yahalom: ~15 months including advanced infantry training, EOD school and the unit’s own course.
4. Operational service alongside armored and infantry brigades on all fronts.

Service length

• 32 months for male combat soldiers.
• Olim arriving at 22–27 who volunteer for combat: 24 months minimum.
• Reserve duty afterwards; engineering reservists are in high demand.

For olim

• A realistic combat request for an oleh with an 82 profile who wants a technical, hands-on role. Engineering skills (EOD, heavy equipment, explosives licensing) translate to civilian work in Israel.
• Yahalom is one of the more reachable elite units for a strong oleh because it is entered via Gibush Yachatiot without multi-year keva — but it screens hard on Hebrew and DAPAR.
• Common lone-soldier placement; Negev bases.

Contacts

• Meitav: 1111 · Lone Soldier Hotline: *6563
• NBN Lone Soldiers Program: army@nbn.org.il