The Corps is now preparing for the integration of the new female soldiers . Photo: Archives, IDF Spokesperson

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The Ordnance Corps is viewed by many as being very masculine, the hard physical work is usually associated with the male sex, despite the fact that women are a significant part of this Corps for years now and constitute 20 percent of it. This image is expected to fade in the future due to the larger number of female soldiers nowadays. The female soldiers draft is being held in the month of August and nominates 150 recruiters that will integrate in the Ordnance Spatial Units.  
 
The forecast of draftees in the IDF in the years to come shows that the number of female soldiers is increasing, as apposed to the decrease of male soldiers. This is one of the reasons for integration of female soldiers in the maintenance positions. The new female soldiers will integrate in the maintenance jobs for the first time, in addition to other professions that have opened to women in the past. Some of the new positions that women will hold in the Corps include: vehicle electricians, generator technicians and others.  The Corps is now preparing for the integration of the new female soldiers from a logistics point of view such as renovations in military bases to better fit women needs.

The most significant change in the Corps is the shift in the commanders’ way of thinking. They have to realize that women are capable of holding positions that only men used to do in the past. Not only commanders went through preparation for the female soldiers’ enlistment, but also the soldiers themselves. “The girls received assignation that was followed by explanation materials and pamphlets. Our goal was to help them have a better understanding of the integration, the course and the process in the Corps,” explained Lt. Col. Arie Shem-Tov, Head of the Preparation Branch of the Ordnance Corps. 

The soldiers will arrive in the next few months to their bases and in a year from now their integration in the corps will be examined, which will determine if it she be broadened. The success test will be done according to different measures – comparing the level of satisfaction of the soldiers six months into their jobs, to the results of the soldiers currently serving in the corps.