Page 125 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Fall 2014

have integrated medical aid, and the wounded, including Orde All unit warriors are trained as combat medics or paramedics.
Wingate himself, where evacuated to the nearby hospital. The The unit also operates with many physicians (mainly surgeons,
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first organized SF units of the HAGANA (“defense”), the main intensive care and emergency physicians, or anesthesiologists).
Jewish underground in Palestine, where founded in 1939 and Those physicians are also trained as flight surgeons and in pre-
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included a medical unit. This was followed by the founda- hospital emergency care. Commonly, the unit basic operation
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tion of the regiment PALMACH ("strike forces") in 1941. This squad is composed of one physician, one paramedic, and com-
elite fighting force specialized in guerilla warfare and included bat medics, and it is trained to operate under fire. Currently,
different "special platoons,” like the “German platoon,” com- the unit commonly operates with the collaboration of the Air
posed of German-language speakers that were designed to op- Force helicopter wings of CH53s or UH60s. Other units such
erate as a guerrilla force under German occupation in Palestine as YAMAM, the border police counterterrorism unit for hos-
or the “Maritime platoon,” later to become the IDF navy com- tage rescue (SWAT), and Duvdevan, a unit for undercover op-
mando unit and more. Initially, the PALMACH operated in erations, are also relatively “young” units, founded in 1974
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cooperation with the British intelligence, both in Palestine and and 1986, respectively. Both units operate with physicians,
abroad, and even created the group of “Jewish Parachutists of paramedics, and medics who practice tactical medicine.
Mandate Palestine,” a unit of Jewish volunteers from Palestine,
who jumped behind German lines in Europe to organize and
support local resistance. PALMACH not only provided SF Current Concepts of SF in Israel
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combat experience to many of the latter IDF leaders but also Missions
established the foundation for tactical medicine, by including The core Israeli SF missions are very similar to traditional SF
combat medics in its units and developing the concepts for ini- missions worldwide, including intelligence operations, long-
tial lifesaving measures under fire and evacuation. 20 range reconnaissance patrols, commando and direct action
operations, counterterrorism, counterinsurgency operations
After the Independence of Israel and SWAT, as well as search, rescue, and evacuation and an-
tidrug operations. However, unlike other forces, IDF SFs usu-
The IDF was created in 1948, as the national unified armed ally do not conduct extended operations. Although there are
service for the new state, by the unification of all different inherent difficulties for Israel to recruit allies in the Middle
paramilitary and military units. Its first dedicated SF units: the East, the mission known worldwide as “winning hearts and
Navy Commando (“Flotilla 13”) was established soon after, minds” is also important for its SF. 31
as the first IDF SF unit. The unit operated explosive-loaded
speedboats and then expanded its activities to include subsur- Specialized Units
face military activities as well as ground operations. Samp- Due to the small size of the Israeli force and its centralized
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son’s Foxes was probably the first reconnaissance company nature, some special tactical functions, like explosives and de-
22)
of the IDF, operated by using “recruited” civilian Jeeps, and molition or “working dogs” (K9), were developed in special-
was engaged in battle, mainly at the southern front of Israel. ized units. Medically, those units are covered by specialized
The name and the inspiration were based on the biblical hero medical staff.
Sampson and his 300 foxes. After the end of the war of inde-
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pendence, the IDF reorganized and, as a response to insurgency
activity on Israel’s borders, founded in 1953 “Unit 101.” The Command
unit was active only for a short time before it was integrated The IDF is unique in its SF command structure. While some
into the IDF paratrooper regiment. However, it was a source of the units reports directly to the office of the chief of staff,
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of great influence for the IDF and its commander major (at others report to a force service (such as the Navy or the Air
the time), Ariel Sharon, is considered as one of the founders of Force) or a corps (as the Intelligence Corps). Some units report
the Israeli SF. One of the core values they established is that to a territorial commands, and some, even a brigade. Differen-
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“injured soldiers should never be left behind,” a core value tiation between “Tier One” and “Tier Two” units does exist,
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later adopted by the IDF as whole and specifically by its medi- although cooperation between units is common. The latest es-
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cal coups (MC). Following those pioneer commando units, tablishment of a new command-the IDF “Depth Command”
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several more dedicated units were created. Some of them are may help to close the gaps in this complex unit puzzle.
active today, while others were incorporated into formal IDF
regiments. The Hebrew name “Sayeret” (reconnaissance unit) Gender
is used to describe almost all types of IDF SF units. However, Although female warriors took active part in all nonregular
Sayeret MATCAL (General Staff Reconnaissance Unit) that fighting forces before the declaration of Israel, females usually
was founded in 1957 is considered as the IDF ground forces did not become part of the IDF SF warriors and consequently
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“Tier One” unit. Physicians were integrated into its combat were not included in its SF medical crews. However, this was
teams some years after its formation and have taken part in all changed as during the past years, the IDF promotes female
operational activities since then. The medical evacuation mili- physicians and paramedics to its SF units.
tary unit, Unit 669, is among the younger SF units of the IDF,
funded in its actual format only in 1974. 29,30 It operates under SFM in Israel
the Air Force and serves as a search-and-rescue aerial medical
evacuation unit, for both short and long distances. The unit is Medical System
responsible for most of the military evacuations at wartimes, During the first years of the IDF, medical coverage for the
as well as in peace time and for some civilian emergencies. different SF units was based on integrated medics, while

Special Forces Medicine in Israel 117