Jerusalem, August 09: Citing fears of kidnappings and sexual assault, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) are mulling to launch a special course for female soldiers to train them in self-defence skills. “This course will be aimed at providing female soldiers with self-confidence to travel around the country in the framework of their military service as many of them need to,” said a senior officer in the IDF”s Ground Forces Command.
Most female soldiers serve in non-combat positions and undergo a very low-level basic training without any self defence skill. “Very few female soldiers are given an introductory class in hand-to-hand combat but not enough to know how to fight off an attacker,” the officer was quoted as saying by ”The Jerusalem Post”.
The plan is the brainchild of Col Avi Moyal, who heads the IDF”s Combat Fitness Division, and he has discussed it with Brig Gen Gila Klifi-Amir, the General Staff”s Adviser on Women”s Affairs, the report said, adding the two officials are now hoping to secure a budget for the programme. .
—PTI–