Best of the Best: Givati Commando Course

The idea behind this extraordinary course is to give these soldiers additional training in everything from camouflage, combat in urban terrain, and lots of Krav Maga; thereby developing the next generation of company commanders.

Camouflage, combat in urban terrain, and Krav Maga. Lots of Krav Maga.

Here’s a sample of what these guys have to undergo just to finish the course:

1) Begin with a night navigation exercise, followed by a short combat practice. However, instead of going to sleep, march with 50 pounds on their back up into the Jerusalem mountains.

2) The destination is an old police station specially renovated by Krav Maga instructor Jonathan Abady. In this next exercise, which is usually reserved for elite units, they’ll practice how to “clean out” buildings and neutralize terrorist threats in close combat.  The goal is to move from room to room, neutralizing attackers as they go. Abady, who accompanied the course for three weeks, explains:

“The idea here is that they work under pressure. They’ll come to me and work until they’re completely breathless, then be tackled by more attackers with knives and clubs.”

The last gasp: a stretcher run.

3) The exercise is successfully completed and the soldiers receive their next task: pack up and head out to the Jerusalem mountains. After several hours of hard marching and ambushes, they reach another stopping point–the forth and final part of their navigation training.

“Reach a bridge and booby-trap it with mines in order to prevent enemy forces from crossing. From there return to the first rendezvous point, then continue another 20 kilometers to reach a valley. You have 12 hours. GO!”

4) The soldiers carry 50% of their body-weight, and the muddy ground easily adds an additional five kilos. The walk ends at 6:00 AM and the soldiers earn themselves a few short hours of sleep.

5) When the commander wakes them up, he drags them to yet another mountaintop nearby. From there they receive their final surprise: to complete the last and most difficult part of their walk while carrying stretchers.

The course's trainees minutes after the end of the training

After a very long and hard exercise, the officers have reached their destination, exhausted but very happy. “I really enjoyed it,” says Lt. Noam Cramer, who throughout the entire exercise refused to show any signs of strain.

With the “battle” over, the officers receive the practical equivalent of a graduation pin: a commando knife.  The course commander, Maj. Yaron Simsolo explains: “This represents the basis of being a soldier. You did a great job and you all earned it.”

The fighters and their "graduation pins" - the commando knifes

With the successful completion of the course, the officers have learned lots of skills that will help them become better commanders, and which they can now pass on to their soldiers. Truly the best of the best.

Source:  Mako Pazam