Brig. Gen. Ofer Zafrir officially became the chief officer in charge of the development of the IDF's tank power, in a ceremony held yesterday
Date: 04/07/2012, 12:08 PM
Author: Iddan Sonsino
Brig. Gen. Ofer Zafrir officially became the Chief Armor Officer of the IDF in a ceremony held yesterday (Tuesday, July 3) at Latrun, becoming the commanding officer in charge of the development and training of the Armored Corps.
Brig. Gen. Zafrir replaced Brig. Gen. Yigal Slovik, who had served in that position for two and a half years. During the latter's term, he initiated projects including the Trophy active protection system, which protects tanks against incoming missiles.
"The spirit of the period and our place in the world require us to constantly maintain alertness and preparedness. The Armored Corps is in an advanced state and is prepared for the next war," Maj. Gen. Sami Turgemann, Commander of the Ground Forces, said at the ceremony. He also discussed the extensive activities undertaken by Brig. Gen. Slovik to strengthen the Corps, crediting him with achievements including "soldiers' increased motivation to enlist in the Corps, the high-quality organization of force-multiplying projects, care related to the loss of soldiers, [and] the reorganization of the Armor Academy at Shizafon, which has led to significantly improved training."
"Between the wars and before each multi-year plan, there are discussions on the importance of the Corps," Brig. Gen. Slovik said. "I have no doubt that the ground maneuver centered on the Armored Corps is capable of winning the war. An advanced and skilled Armored Corps – with great durability, determination, and the most advanced defense systems – is the key. We will build a prepared and skilled Armored Corps ready for the next war – prepared for the challenges that we will soon face, as well as for those that we can't even see yet."
"We must continue to improve our tanks, to perfect our weapons," said Brig. Gen. Zafrir. "The changing enemy presents many challenges for us, and that requires us to prepare in the present so that in the future we will always have the upper hand. We will design a fighting force that will constitute the cutting edge with a sense of mission."
Brig. Gen. Zafrir entered his new post after 26 years of service in a variety of roles within the Armored Corps. Brig. Gen. Slovik will now serve as head of the Human Resources Division of the Ground Forces.