Fast Draw – Neglect in the IDF

Fast Draw – Neglect in the IDF

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Arie Egozi

Those who know the security system even a little, weren’t surprised one bit from the serious report by the soldiers’ complaints commissionerabout the poor state of the IDF store units.

The commisioner examined the treatment of NCOs, who are in charge of emergency storage units meant to store equipment for wartime.

The commissioner, Major General (res.) Yitzhak Brick, strongly criticizes the military’s treatment of NCOs stationed in the war reserves store units. The reports states that when the units’ fitness is lacking, and that they suffer from a substantial lack in manpower. During a press conference Brick said that he alerted the IDF commanders, the chief of staff and the minister of defense six months ago, but an inspection a month ago show that the situation has only worsened.

Brick stated in the report that he found the NCOs in the war reserves store units are “in a state of collapsing”: Budgets were cut with no consideration to the consequences, which include damaging the units’ capability. “The low pay, job insecurity, unreasonable work hours due to low manpower, the bad image, bad treatment of NCOs, difficulties handling soldiers on mandatory service – all these and more highly affect the motivation of NCOs in the war reserve store units,” the report states.

The fact that these alerts made no difference is no surprise either.

Somebody has forgotten about this equipment which is so important during a war. Tanks, APCs and other equipment may not have the flare that fighter jets and helicopters or a billion dollar submarine has, but they are just as important for the country’s security.

It’s highly worrying and not at all surprising that nobody at the ministry of defense or the IDF realizes that it takes skilled reserved soldiers to maintain the level of these units. It’s no surprise that a lot of similar matters are left unattended.

If my estimation is correct, this report will be talked about for two days and nothing will change. This is how you prepare material for the next state inquiry committee about the next failure.