Last update - 15:45 07/08/2006
IDF reservists: Our missions are unclear, our combat equipment is antiquated
By Amiram Barkat and Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondents
Reserve soldiers are returning from fighting in south Lebanon with harsh criticisms of their operational preparedness and the combat equipment with which they had been supplied.
After three days of combat in south Lebanon, infantry soldiers from the Israel Defense Force's reserve Carmeli Battalion returned Sunday to Israel.
A., a young reservist who spent his mandatory service in the Golani Brigade during the second intifada, said, "
For two days, we barely made any progress. The soldiers simply don't really know what the mission is. You are mostly kept busy with protecting yourself."
Interviews with the battalion's soldiers revealed a picture of complicated fighting under heavy Hezbollah fire in which the soldiers know very little of their mission.
Nearly every reserve unit has complained about a lack of emergency equipment over the past several days.
The soldier's in A.'s brigade operated in the villages of Kila and Bnei al-Awad in the central sector. A. says that things he witnessed in recent days in Lebanon bear no resemblance to anything he saw as a recruit in the Palestinian territories. "We seized a few homes in the village under constant bombardment from mortar shells," A. says. "It is nothing like the territories. During daylight hours, you do not see a living soul. You barely see anything at night either.
There are apparently people who pass Hezbollah information regarding the location of our forces and they fire mortar shells. The shells fall around you and that is frightening.
"
Many soldiers don't have short-barreled M-16 rifles, communications equipment or even tourniquets," "A" said.
Hanan (fictitious name), who serves in an elite reserve unit, said soldiers returning from combat in Lebanon were forced to hand their weapons over to soldiers heading north across the border.
Gili is also a soldier in an elite reserve infantry unit that is supposed to be supplied with the most sophisticated equipment.
One week ago, when his unit was deployed to Lebanon, it became clear that most of their wartime equipment was missing from their emergency warehouses.
"
We are supposed to enter the fray against guerilla fighters who have been training for six years," Gili said Monday. "And our weapons are the only advantage that we have over them. During all the years that I served in the reserves, we had the best equipment but now that we have reached the moment of truth the equipment has vanished."
Soldiers from the Alexandroni Brigade now serving in Lebanon were shocked to discover they were issued equipment dating from the first Lebanon war in 1982.
"
My helmet was manufactured in 1981," said 22-year-old Gal. "It is three years older than me."
The unit's maintenance officer, Eli Altman, said the newest equipment was naturally distributed to combat soldiers in the regular army. Altman added, however, "We could have ensured that the equipment in our warehouses would be useable."
Less deployment, more training
Former chief reserve officer Brigadier General Ariel Heimann said he was troubled by the combat fitness level of reserve soldiers.
It is no secret that the IDF's reserve units were the main victims of budget cuts over the past several years.
"The easiest thing is to cut training hours," Heimann said. "
What is clear is that the reserve units have not been trained enough. The extent to which this lack of training is critical can only be measured during combat."
Against the background of budget cuts, Heimann and others led reforms in reserve service in which it was decided to exempt reserve forces from military operations and limit their days of service to training. Heimann maintains that the current war proves the wisdom of this decision.
Contrary to soldiers in the regular army, reservists are not required to maintain their fitness level.
Before their deployment in Lebanon, soldiers from the Alexandroni Brigade trained for three days. During this short period of time, the reservists were meant to prepare themselves long hikes through steep, rocky terrain while carrying equipment weighing up to 40 kilograms.
Reserve deputy battalion commander Major Ziv Rozelman said their extensive combat experience and their earlier periods of deployment in Lebanon give make up for their lower fitness levels.
Deputy Battalion Commander Major Ziv Rozelman claims that reservists' previous combat experience and the fact that, unlike recruits, they served in Lebanon in the past compensates for their lack of physical fitness. "
There is no doubt that enlisted soldiers are stronger but we are like old bulls: We work slowly but surely and take no risks."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/747356.html
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