Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Divisions As a Soldier During The Gaza War Today

 Nadene Goldfoot                                              


5 Divisions (Ugda) -task force in Hebrew for specific operations or during war  were sent into Gaza.  A division is the largest group from 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers.  There must be about 50,000 IDF in Gaza today.  Here's a breakdown of the IDF's divisions, including maneuvering and regional divisions: They usually are made up of 10,000-15,000 soldiers.  This number can fluctuate depending on the specific brigades and support units attached to the division for a given operation. 

They are divided into Brigades made up of about 3,000 soldiers

1. Maneuvering Divisions:
  • These divisions are formed for military operations requiring large-scale maneuver capabilities.The composition of these divisions can vary depending on the specific mission and operational needs.Example: During the 2014 Gaza War, the IDF deployed three maneuvering divisions. 
  • 2. Regional Divisions:
  • These divisions are responsible for specific geographic areas within Israel, including the North, Central, South, Gaza, and the West Bank.Regional divisions are essentially skeleton divisions, meaning they maintain command structures and operational elements, but often rely on brigades and battalions temporarily assigned from other units.They are responsible for area security, infrastructure, and logistics within their designated region. 
  • Examples of Divisions and Brigades within the IDF (from public information):
  • 36th Division: Can be composed of brigades like the 1st "Golani" Infantry Brigade, armored brigades, and artillery brigades.98th Division: Can be composed of regular and reserve infantry and artillery brigades.99th Infantry Division: Comprises various infantry, armored, paratrooper, and logistic brigades, both regular and reserve.162nd Division: In May 2025, was reported to be operating in Gaza with the 401st Armored Brigade and Givati Infantry Brigade, among other units. 
  • Important Notes:
  • The IDF emphasizes a flexible and mission-tailored approach to its division and brigade structures.Brigades are often complex combined-arms task forces with elements from various units, not just from within a single brigade.The IDF's division and brigade structure is subject to change based on operational needs and evolving security challenges.The number of active IDF divisions fluctuates. Public information suggests there are currently seven, similar to the number during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. 
  • In Summary: 
  • The IDF's divisions are operational groupings of brigades, both regular and reserve, formed for specific missions or regional responsibilities, with a flexible structure adapting to the evolving needs of the Israeli military. 
  • In the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), a brigade (Hativa of 3,000 ) is typically divided into several battalions-300-1,000 soldiers (Gdud). 
    Here's a more detailed breakdown:
    • Division:  10,000-15,000 soldiers (5 Divisions sent into Gaza now by Israel) to end the Gaza war

    • Brigade: A brigade is a tactical-level military formation, usually commanded by a colonel, and typically consists of 3,000 to 5,000 soldiers. In essence, a brigade in the IDF serves as an organizational structure that brings together a group of battalions and supporting units, enabling them to operate together as a cohesive fighting force. 
    • Battalions:700 soldiers These are the primary combat units within a brigade, each generally commanded by a lieutenant colonel and ranging in size from around 300 to 1,000 soldiers, depending on the type of battalion and its function (e.g., infantry, armor). A brigade typically has a few battalions assigned to it.  Additional Units: Besides battalions, a brigade may also have other support units assigned to it, such as reconnaissance companies (Sayeret), signals companies, and logistics units. An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) battalion is typically divided into several companies, which are then further divided into platoons, and finally into squads or teams. Here's a breakdown of the typical structure of an IDF battalion:
    • 1. Battalion:
      • The main tactical unit, typically commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel.
      • Composed of several companies and support elements, with a total strength that can range from 700 to 1,000 soldiers.
      • Capable of conducting independent operations of limited scope and duration. 
      2. Company:The size of a company within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) can vary, but it generally consists of 100-250 soldiers. A smaller tactical unit, typically commanded by a Captain.  Composed of three to four platoons, and can have anywhere from a few dozen (24) to 200 soldiers.Can perform a battlefield function on its own. 
    • 3. Platoon A smaller unit within a company, typically commanded by a Lieutenant.  Composed of 2-3 squads, and typically consists of 20-40 soldiers, or 3-4 tanks in the Armored Corps.
            4.  Squad: In the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the size of a squad (known as a "Kita" in Hebrew) and its leadership can vary depending on the specific unit, mission, and operational context, but here's a general overview: 1. Squad Size and Structure:  Typical Size: An IDF squad generally comprises 6-21 soldiers, though the specific number can fluctuate, especially in elite or special forces units.  Sub-Units: Squads may be further divided into smaller sub-units called "teams" (Tzvatim) or "classes" (Kitot), each with its own leader. 2. Leadership:  Squad Leader (Mashak Kita): A Staff Sergeant (Samal Rishon) usually leads an IDF squad.

Several Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) units have gained fame for their accomplishments and operational capabilities. Here are some of the most well-known: Tier One Units (often considered the most elite):
  • Sayeret Matkal (General Staff Reconnaissance Unit 269): This is arguably the most famous and respected elite commando unit, specializing in deep reconnaissance behind enemy lines, intelligence gathering, and hostage rescue missions both within and outside Israel.

  • Benjamin Netanyahu served in Sayeret Matkal, a special forces unit of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He served there for five years after training as a combat soldier. 
  •  They are often compared to the U.S. Delta Force and the British SAS.– the IDF's principal Sayeret unit, is used mainly to obtain strategic intelligence behind enemy lines and to perform hostage-rescue missions on foreign soil. It is directly subordinate to the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate (AMAN).  It's not a squad or a platoon.  An IDF (Israel Defense Forces) Tier One unit is a highly specialized and elite special forces unit, considered the best of the best within the IDF, responsible for carrying out complex and critical missions. Here's a breakdown of what characterizes an IDF Tier One unit:
    1. Elite Status & Stringent Selection:Tier One units are the most elite and prestigious within the IDF, often recruiting from other already elite special forces units.The selection process is extremely rigorous and demanding, designed to identify candidates with exceptional physical and mental capabilities, resilience, and teamwork skills. 
  • Shayetet 13 (Flotilla 13): The naval commando unit, comparable to the U.S. Navy SEALs, specializing in sea-to-land incursions, maritime counter-terrorism, sabotage, and maritime hostage rescue.
  • Shaldag (Unit 5101): The elite commando unit of the Israeli Air Force, specializing in forward air control, aerial and special reconnaissance, and target designation outside of Israel's borders.
  • Unit 669: The Air Force's tactical combat search and rescue unit, responsible for the extraction and medical treatment of injured personnel, including soldiers, pilots, and civilians. 
What do soldiers do in order to exist in a combat zone?  Follow rules:               
  •  In a military setting, soldiers use a variety of options for using the bathroom, including porta-johns, latrines, or makeshift solutions like slit trenches and cat holesDuring operations and training, soldiers may also utilize portaloos or Disposa-Johns.  During Roman days, each soldier was given a small shovel to carry.  Like cats, 
  • they could cover their business.  Hygiene is not a civilian luxury. Napoleon's Grand Army was decimated by disease, specifically typhus, dysentery, and diphtheria in Russia. Bad hygiene invites disease and can directly impact readiness and effectiveness in combat. Soldier hygiene has considerably improved since that time, with the development of hygiene and technological progress, but there remains a lot of work to do.

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