The Caracal Battalion female soldiers last moments with the M-16 assault rifle. Archive Photo: Yoni Markovitski, IDF Spokesperson

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The Caracal Battalion will get to use the Israeli Tavor assault rifle for the first time. The Caracal Battalion is an infantry combat battalion that is composed of male and female soldiers. The new recruits of the battalion shot the rifle last week for the first time during their basic training course. The battalion's shift to the new assault rifle is part of the process in which all IDF infantry corps will use the rifle. The Caracal Battalion has been using the M-16 assault rifle up till now.

The commanders of the new recruited soldiers were sent for a week of training to learn about the Tavor rifle, in order to train their soldiers. "Soldiers of the Shooting Department of the brigade’s training base, who are familiar with the new rifle, trained the commanders," explains commander of the Givati Brigade Base, Lt. Col. Yossi Drori. :"The commanders shot the Tavor rifle for the first time with their soldiers after their training week. The brigade training base has a lot of experience with this weapon. Therefore it's only natural for the Caracal Battalion to make the change."

The Tavor rifle has many advantages, despite it being heavier than the M-16 rifle. Its sight is more precise because of its optic aim that is easy to use. "There wasn't any difficulty with the weapon up till now and don't expect there to be," noted Lt. Col. Drori. "There is difficulty exchanging weapons because of the psychological block, however there is no problem once you get over it. The Tavor assault rifle is an excellent weapon and the transition is the right choice."  The weapon’s full assimilation is expected to happen in the next few years.