Yael Kidron is 21 years old and a combat soldier in the Israeli Defence Forces’ mixed-sex Karakal Battalion, based in the Negev desert. She argues that it is only fair to allow women to take on physically challenging army roles.
"I decided to come and serve in a combat unit, because for one thing I grew up with five brothers and I needed something physical. It’s not just sitting down and doing paperwork. I wanted to do something more challenging, and this is why I am here.
“It’s a very, very, very cool experience, to shoot a gun - I love it!”
Yael Kidron
I came to serve in Karakal. It’s a girls and guys unit. You basically do everything like the guys, you work hard.
Our base is in the middle of the desert, the middle of nowhere, kind of. We have very nice views here, sunset, sunrise. You’ve got a lot of wide open space here - and a lot of space where they can make you run when you get punished.
We live in tents. The tents are very sturdy, although honestly, to go from a nice cosy bed to a tent, living in these little beds… but it’s awesome, I love it. I think it’s a great experience.
WOMEN AT WAR
The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are the first in which tens of thousands of women have fought alongside men for prolonged periods. This week the BBC World Service is taking an in-depth look at women’s stories from the frontline.
Every day when I wake up in the morning, I don’t say “Ooh what am I going to wear this morning” It’s the same thing every single morning. It’s not a very nice colour of clothing - kind of olive-greenish pants and a shirt.
We actually name our weapons. I named my gun Jack, Jack Black. Why Because it’s black, and I like the name.
Not feminine
It’s an Israeli-made machine gun, it’s got nice, smooth shooting. It’s a very comfortable gun.
The gun is basically on you every single day, even when you sleep it has to be under your head.
And it’s a very, very, very cool experience, by the way, to shoot with a gun. I love it!
It’s not a very feminine weapon at all. It’s actually more manly than some of the other weapons that they have, but that’s the whole point, being in a combat unit, that you’re not feminine.
Only when you go home that’s when you can be a little more feminine, in your own time.
Snipers
What we end up doing, after all the training, when it comes to an actual war, we guard the borders and we make sure nothing goes in.
WOMEN IN THE IDF
- The Karakal Battalion, which guards Israel’s borders with Egypt and Jordan, is 70% female
- Women have served in combat roles in the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) since the mid-1990s
- During the 2006 Lebanon conflict, women fired artillery, served on warships, and piloted aircraft
- All Israelis except Arabs and ultra-orthodox Jews are conscripted
- Women serve for about two years, unless they volunteer for a combat unit - then they serve three, like men
It’s a very important job, because honestly you can’t do without your support group, and that is what we basically are for the men.
I think that Israel having girls going into combat units is a good idea. I think it is only fair that they let us be part of the actual physical, challenging jobs that they have.
I told my dad that I wanted to go into paratroopers like my brother, and he started laughing at me. He said, “You know there’s no girls in paratroopers.” So that was kind of a let-down.
Women in the army right now, in the combat units, they can be snipers, combat doctors, officers. There are also women who go into the pilot unit.
The rest of the world should also consider having girls in the army, because we have a lot to offer.
I think it’s vital for the army. It makes it better.
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You can listen to the BBC World Service series on Women at War onWorld Updateall this week until Thursday 18 February.