The Wings Ceremony, during which officer ranks and flight wings were awarded to graduates of Flight Course No. 191, was held today (Wednesday) at the Israeli Air Force Museum at Hatzerim Airbase.
As of today, 35 new aircrew members , 31 men and 4 women, join the ranks of the Israeli Air Force, forming part of the operational and strategic spearhead of the IDF and leading the Air Force’s missions in the years ahead.

The ceremony was conducted under the leadership of the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir, and in the presence of the President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog, the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, the Commander of the Israeli Air Force, Major General Tomer Bar, additional  commanders, and the families of the graduates.

The Wings Ceremony marked the completion of three years of training, during which the cadets were trained as combat officers, aircrew members, and academic degree graduates of Ben-Gurion University.

The training was led by operational aircrew members who took a significant part in Israeli Air Force missions during the multi-arena war over the past two years, including Operation “Rising Lion,” in which the aerial domain played a central role in safeguarding the security of the citizens of the State of Israel, both defensively and offensively.

Remarks by the President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog:

“I wish to express my gratitude, on behalf of the citizens of Israel, to you—the servicemen and servicewomen of the Air Force. Those who operate in the skies of the Middle East, those who carry out their vital work on the ground, those responsible for the critically important air defense, and those entrusted with rescue and extraction on the battlefield—Air Force soldiers in both mandatory and reserve service—I salute you today with thanks and appreciation.

To the Commander of the Air Force, Tomer: your leadership—carried out quietly, responsibly, and with confidence, through the determined pursuit of professionalism, learning, and above all the deep sense of mission you instill in the women and men of the  Air Force, serves as an example to the entire people Israel.

This is also the opportunity to wish success to Brigadier General Omer Tischler upon the approval of his appointment as Commander of the Israeli Air Force. I am confident that his capabilities and experience will continue to advance the Air Force to new and promising heights.
Graduates of the course, you are completing your training at the threshold of a significant period for the State of Israel and the entire region. I hope and believe that through the strength of the Air Force, foundations will be laid for changing the reality in our region, toward better, safer and more prosperous future, grounded in the expansion of peace and normalization in the Middle East.”

Remarks by the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu:

“Israel’s air superiority in the Middle East is a cornerstone of our national security. We will continue our effort to equip our outstanding pilots with the best tools—and I add, to prevent those who must be prevented from obtaining them.
Despite the display of power that resonated throughout the region around us, we do not let our guard down for a moment. Our enemies seek to rearm and strike again. We do not seek confrontations — but we remain vigilant to every possible danger.

Graduates of Course 191, I know that you are equipped with the finest skills to succeed in the mission of defending the skies. I am confident that you possess full awareness of the challenges you will encounter along the way. When you hear the command, you will be required to be in position within seconds. when called upon, you may find yourselves alone in the cockpit, in a small crew. But I want you to know you are never truly alone. The entire IDF and the entire nation stand behind you. The entire nation hopes for your success and places its trust in you. Protect us, protect yourselves, and return to us safely, with God’s help, crowned with success and victory.”

Remarks by the Minister of Defense, Israel Katz:

“I read the reports regarding Iran, where we struck severely, together with our American partners, during Operation ‘Rising Lion’. The defense establishment is closely monitoring developments, and naturally I cannot elaborate beyond this. But one principle is undisputed: what was before October 7 will not be again. we will not allow threats of annihilation against the State of Israel. 
Just as it is clear, certainly after the last two years both by our enemies and our allies around the world: the exceptional capabilities of the Israeli Air Force will continue to form the backbone of Israel’s freedom of action, and which we will continue to preserve in the future. 
Graduates of Course 191, I have one request of you: look to the outstanding pilots, both in mandatory and reserve servic, who operated in the skies of Sana’a, Tehran, Beirut, Gaza, and Damascus. Who embodied the powerful Israeli striking abilities against our enemies. Take them as your example and inspiration, and do everything to continue in their path alongside them to preserve Israel’s qualitative advantage against all the challenges that lie ahead.”

Remarks by the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir:

“Over the past year I have met Air Force personnel in briefing rooms, command centers, and the control pit. But one moment, from the weeks preceding Operation ‘Rising Lion’, is particularly etched in my memory. We embarked on missions knowing that the unknowns were many and that a safe return was not guaranteed. Yet in the briefing room, not far from here, I received in those days an unforgettable lesson in the strength of our people. I knew that with this spirit—with the pilots in the air and the maneuvering forces on the ground in Gaza and Lebanon—we would defeat any threat.
Since the failure of October 7, the Air Force has operated alongside the ground forces with unprecedented intensity across near and distant arenas, fundamentally changing the regional security reality.
From the great rupture, the Air Force and the IDF as a whole are conductions inquiries, examining ourselves with courage. Systemic lessons learned and their implementation in the field are a fundamental, existential matter.
In the IDF, in the Air Force, and across all formations, we are jointly implementing the lessons and moving in one direction—forward; improving while fighting—and moving from failure to victory. 
Graduates of the 191st Pilot Course, soar to the skies and return safely to your bases, for your poses great strength; within you are wings of spirit and strength, wings of the mighty eagle. Demand them, and they will rise to meet you.”

Remarks by the Commander of the Israeli Air Force, Major General Tomer Bar:

“We operate throughout the Middle East with full freedom of action, removing existential and emerging threats. We will not allow plans for Israel’s destruction to move from intent to execution. We are prepared for any scenario. 
The Air Force is a national, values-based, and moral force. We will continue to remain united, strong, and focused on the carrying out every mission in the best possible manner. We will do so time and time again, wherever and whenever required and to whatever extent required. 
In recent hours we were informed that the Minister of Defense approved the appointment of my successor, Brigadier General Omer Tischler.
I welcome the approval. Tischler, there is no one more suitable than you to lead the Air Force in the coming years in the face of future challenges. 
On behalf of all the servicemen and servicewomen of the Air Force, I pray for the return of Master Sergeant Ran Gvili, of blessed memory, the last of the hostages in Gaza, and we will continue to hope for the return of our Ron Arad from his mission, to which he was sent.
Graduates of Course 191, as of today you are officers in the IDF. I place my trust in you—aircrew members committed to victory.”

The full speech of the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir:

The President of Israel, Mr. Isaac Herzog, and his wife,

The Prime Minister, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, and his wife,

The Minister of Defense, Mr. Israel Katz,

The Commander of the Israeli Air Force, MG Tomer Bar,

Mayors, heads of councils, and kibbutz communities, Cadets,

Dear commanders, Dear families, And most important of all, graduates of the 191st Pilot Course,

In recent months, two former Commanders of the Israeli Air Force have passed away. The IAF’s fifth commander, Major General Dan Tolkowsky, of blessed memory, and its twelfth commander, Major General Herzl Bodinger, of blessed memory.
I was also fortunate to have known Major General Bodinger personally, when I spent time at his home, where I learned the value of humility.
May their memories be a blessing.

On the night between the twelfth and thirteenth of June, I presented to the Government of Israel’s cabinet the final plan for the strike in Iran. It was a dramatic meeting. The Cabinet Secretary recited a prayer for the safety of IDF soldiers. The tension was palpable, and there was a feeling in the air of the crowded room that something historic was about to happen. Hands were raised, and the operation was approved. We traveled quickly from Jerusalem to the IDF Headquarters, at top speed, straight to the command bunker.

There, at this historic moment in time, I found a group of devoted officers operating with composure and professionalism, issuing orders to dozens of pilots circling in the air like eagles in the skies of the Middle East, waiting for their final order. At the last moment, targets shifted. The skilled intelligence teams continuously updated the situational picture, and the pilots in the air swiftly completed new missions. Tomer and I looked at one another; the authorization was given. At 02:55, dozens of strikes hit their targets with great precision. Operation “Rising Lion” 2 set out on its way. And all that followed from that point on - with refueling aircraft, intelligence, helicopters on standby for evacuation and strikes, special forces and ground crews - will be told at length in the history books.

But I will tell you the bottom line: the Israeli Air Force, the long-range strategic arm of the State of Israel, was at its very best. Dear cadets, a long and arduous journey is reaching the finish line at this very moment. Three years of training in one of the most complex and demanding tracks in the IDF will be sealed when the wings are pinned to your uniforms. And from that moment onward, the next operational mission - and with it the great responsibility of removing existential threats to Israel and ensuring the continued existence of the Jewish state - will be yours.

Over the past year, I met Israeli Air Force personnel in hardened aircraft shelters, in briefing rooms, and in the command center. But one moment, from the weeks preceding Operation “Rising Lion”, is etched in my memory in particular. We set out on the mission knowing that the layers of defense were complex and that many unknowns lay ahead, and that a safe return was not guaranteed. Yet in the briefing room, not far from here, I received an unforgettable lesson in the strength of our people. “You are aware of the risk. Some aircraft will be shot down and some of you will not return”, I told them. “We are ready for the mission. You can rely on us!” all the pilots replied. I knew that with that spirit, with the pilots in the air and the troops operating on the ground in Gaza and Lebanon, we could defeat any threat.

Since the failure of October 7th, and alongside the Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force has been operating with unprecedented precision and scope, in arenas both nearby and distant - and has changed the security reality in the Middle East. Following the great rupture, the Israeli Air Force and the entire IDF are conducting inquiries, reviewing ourselves. Systemic lessons learned and their implementation in the field are a fundamental and existential matter. We have no other choice: we will learn from the failure, but we will not sink into it. 

We in the IDF, in the Israeli Air Force and in the other formations, are implementing the lessons together and moving in one direction - “forward”; we are adapting while operating — and moving from failure to victory. IDF soldiers and commanders, even during these times, know that the security of the State of Israel is not guaranteed. Alongside threats that have been removed, new threats are emerging, and after operations have concluded, new preparations are carried out. The message is clear: “The Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.” In response to any attempt to harm us, we will act according to the principle, “If someone comes to kill you, rise early and eliminate him”, and we will strike the enemy. We will act decisively to remove any threat against us.

Dear families, many wish for it yet few are privileged enough to reach this moment. You are partners in their achievement - in every takeoff and landing, in every sleepless night, and in every moment of pressure and rising above in this demanding course. On your day of celebration, we salute not only the new graduates, but also you, the families - the steadfast home front, the stable ground, and the home from which they draw the values of the call of duty, excellence, and spirit that give the strength to take flight. Tomer, I wish to express my deep appreciation to you and to the Israeli Air Force commanders - the base and squadron commanders, the career and reserve personnel, and the technical teams on the ground, without whom no aircraft could take off safely. You navigated and demonstrated leadership in the longest and most complex war in our history, and you continue to lead the Israeli Air Force to impressive and unprecedented achievements.

From here, I wish to send my congratulations to the incoming Commander of the Israeli Air Force, BG Omer Tishler. You grew from this parade ground and advanced to the most operational and strategic roles in the Israeli Air Force and influenced the shaping of the most difficult moments faced by the IDF throughout your years of service. I am confident that you will know how to lead the Israeli Air Force in the face of the challenges that still await us in the future. Commanders and dear course staff, throughout this course you stood before a demanding and dual challenge. With one hand you led complex operational missions in enemy skies at the height of war, and with the other you continued to shape, educate, and train the future generation of the Israeli Air Force to uncompromising standards. Your ability to command, educate, and train under fire is a model of Israeli leadership at its finest.

We carry with us the memory of the fallen, heroes of the war, whose legacy is the compass that shows us the way. We salute the injured, who carry in their bodies and souls the scars of the mission, and we are committed to supporting them in the prolonged struggle of rehabilitation and return to everyday life. The mission will not be complete until SFC Ran Gvili is also returned to rest in Israel.

Graduates of the 191st Pilot Course, soar upward to the skies and return safely to your bases - for you possess great strength; within you are wings of spirit, wings of the mighty eagles. Demand them, and they will find you .

Go forth and succeed!

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