The Nahal Brigade (933rd) is one of the five infantry brigades of the IDF and is under the Southern Command. The brigade is composed of four battalions, including a reconnaissance battalion. A Nahal soldier’s signature look is a bright green beret and red boots.
The Nahal Brigade was founded in 1948 by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion as a program that combined the military service and the establishment of new agricultural communities. The goal of the “Nahal garinim” (small groups of community service-based soldiers) was to supply the IDF with soldiers while providing the basic needs for the founding of kibbutzim and new communities.
The Nahal Infantry Brigade was created in 1982, during the First Lebanon War, due to the IDF’s need for an increase in infantry manpower.
Throughout the following 37 years, the Brigade was involved in operations in Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, and Judea and Samaria. It's in charge of fighting terrorism in the Gaza Strip area, along with other IDF forces.
A few facts about the Nahal Brigade:
- The brigade received a citation from the division commander for its efforts during Operation Protective Edge .
- The Nahal Brigade tag consists of a sword, a sickle, and wheat. The sword represents the value of protection. The sickle and wheat represent working the land and the pioneer spirit, the connection between the Infantry Brigade and the original Nahal legacy.
- The brigade’s symbol includes of four arrows representing the four battalions.
Battalions of the Nahal Brigade: Bazelet Battalion (50th), Shaham Battalion (931th), Granite Battalion (932nd), and Topaz Reconnaissance Battalion (934th)