History and Structure
The battalion was founded in 1999, and originally contained only 30 soldiers. It was started after about 18 months of discussions between a group of Haredi educators led by Rabbi Yitzhak Bar Chaim and the IDF. As of 2009, the battalion had grown to over 1,000 soldiers, and has reached the status of a fully functioning battalion. The battalion recently marked its 20th draft.
Netzah Yehuda's official battalion number is 97.
The battalion runs like every combat unit in the IDF. Training in the battalion is that of IDF infantry: four months of basic training followed by an additional three months of advanced training.
Today, at any given time, the battalion holds close to 1,000 soldiers, including two full companies in training, one company commencing active service, and two combat units: Palchod (Recon/ First Company) and Mesaiat (Rifleman Company). A third combat unit, Mivtzayit, was created in October 2009, due to the large number of soldiers joining the battalion in the most recent drafts. In the past there was a small special forces platoon (Machsar) composed of soldiers from the battalion but this was disbanded shortly after Lt. Colonel Dror Shpigel became commander of the battalion.
A volunteer all-Haredi computer unit has also been created within the Israeli Air Force. This, and the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, are seen as models for the possible future incorporation of haredi conscripts into the IDF should the present draft exemption for the Ultra-Orthodox community be lifted.
Read more about this topic: Netzah Yehuda Battalion
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