IDF unit — Egoz (אגוז, Unit 621, Commando Brigade): guerrilla and anti-guerrilla warfare, northern border, Gibush Yachatiot, profile, training, olim
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egoz_Reconnaissance_Unit; https://garinmahal.com/gibushim-tryouts; https://draftidf.co.il/units/ · 2026-09
What it is
Egoz was re-established in January 1995 inside the Golani Brigade to fight Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, and moved to the 89th “Oz” Commando Brigade in December 2015. It specialises in guerrilla and anti-guerrilla warfare: combat in dense, wooded and mountainous terrain, fieldcraft, camouflage, long ambushes and special reconnaissance — historically the northern border, and since 2023 Gaza and southern Lebanon. It has its own ordnance platoon that develops improvised battlefield solutions. Battalion-sized.
Requirements
- Medical profile: 97 as a rule (82 occasionally admitted).
- Kaba / DAPAR: high.
- Hebrew: high.
- Gibush: Gibush Yachatiot (about 3 days), reached via Yom Sayerot or direct invitation from Tzav Rishon scores.
- Gender: men only.
Training
Roughly 14–16 months: basic and advanced infantry training (historically with Golani, now within the Commando Brigade framework alongside the Paratroopers), followed by Egoz’s specialist course — fieldcraft, camouflage, navigation, ambush and raid tactics, counter-guerrilla warfare, marksmanship — and a final beret march. Egoz soldiers wear the Commando Brigade tag; the beret follows the brigade.
Service length
32 months conscription; no general keva requirement for the operator track (command tracks add time). Confirm at the gibush.
For olim
- Reachable through Gibush Yachatiot without a multi-year signing, so more realistic than Matkal/Shayetet for a strong oleh candidate.
- Strong Hebrew still needed; Michve Alon graduates are rarely invited but can ask the placement officer.
- Egoz’s terrain-heavy role suits candidates who are strong at long marches under load rather than pure sprinters.
- NBN’s Lone Soldiers Program can submit a screening request (army@nbn.org.il).
Egoz vs Maglan vs Duvdevan
Same brigade, same gibush. Egoz = guerrilla/anti-guerrilla, dense terrain, north. Maglan = deep operations with advanced weapons/technology. Duvdevan = undercover urban counter-terror in Judea & Samaria.
Contacts
- Meitav: 1111 · Mitgaisim: mitgaisim.idf.il
- NBN Lone Soldiers Program: army@nbn.org.il, 02-659-5800