Israel inducts its first female flight squadron commander

Lt. Col. G. will be the first female flight squadron commander in the Israeli armed forces.

By World Israel News Staff

The first woman to assume the role as flight squadron commander took up her new position on Tuesday in a ceremony attended by Israeli Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin.

Lt. Col. “Gimel” (the IDF commonly refers to commanders by their rank and initial of their first name for security reasons) will take command of the “Nachshon Squadron” (122).

Lt. Col. “Gimel,” who is 35, enlisted in 2003 to the 151st IAF pilots’ course and graduated as a cargo aircraft pilot.

When she was nominated for the position in August 2018, Lt. Col. “Gimel” said “It is both a great privilege and a great responsibility. The real work is still ahead of me. I am proud to serve in the IAF”.

At the end of the course she was assigned to the 135th Squadron (“Tzofit”, “Hofit” and “Kukiya” aircraft) and moved on to the 131st (“Karnaf”) Squadron to fulfill a range of command positions in the IAF flight academy and in the 135th Squadron.

Between 2015 and 2017 she served as Deputy Squadron Commander of the 122nd (the “Nachshon”) Squadron, to which she will now return as Squadron Commander. In August 2017 she attended the IDF “Alon” Command and Staff Course, which she completed in July 2018. In 2019 she served as a Branch Head in the IAF HQ.

Commander of the Israeli Air Force, Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin said, “Lt. Col. “Gimel,” a mother of two boys, you are a role model and an object of admiration to thousands of women in the State of Israel.

“I believe it is in our duty to harness female potential. We are far from accomplishing this, but I am certain that this move, which is done only by the power of your actions, will enhance the placement of women in positions of commanders and combat troops in the IAF and in the entire IDF.

“Well done, the first commander of an operational squadron in the IAF, we have been waiting for this for 71 years.”

Women are gradually making strides in the Israel Air Force. According to the IAF’s website, “Last November [2018], the Commander of the IAF appointed the first female Deputy Fighter Squadron Commander as well as two female Deputy Squadron Commanders in the RPAV (Remotely Piloted Aerial Vehicle) Division.

“Last October, the first female Aerial Maintenance Squadron Commander was appointed, and in September, two female Lieutenant Colonels were promoted to the rank of Colonel, one of them being the first female acting as Head of the Budget & Control Department.”