Trainees practiced complex scenarios, such as extracting wounded soldiers from behind enemy lines and evacuating from armored vehicles or helicopters under simulated combat stress.
By Eliana Fleming, JFeed
Yesterday, 32 new warriors of the IDF’s elite 669 search-and-rescue unit completed their grueling 20-month training at the Air Force Special Forces School (Wing 7), receiving their coveted “cat” pins in an emotional ceremony at Hatzerim Airbase.
These recruits, Batch 52, join the ranks of Israel’s premier casualty evacuation force, known for its daring operations, including cross-border rescues during the ongoing “Swords of Iron” war.
Unlike standard training cycles, their program unfolded against the backdrop of intense conflict, with trainees deployed for short stints in active combat zones like Gaza, gaining critical operational experience.
The training, conducted at the IDF’s Bahad 1 and Wing 7 bases, included basic infantry training, unit-specific boot camp, squad commander courses, combat medic training, and specialized modules in parachuting, diving, survival, rappelling, and extraction under diverse conditions; land, sea, urban environments, and aircraft.
Trainees practiced complex scenarios, such as extracting wounded soldiers from behind enemy lines and evacuating from armored vehicles or helicopters under simulated combat stress.
Captain Y., the training course commander, explained, “Our goal is to ensure fighters arrive in the field with maximum experience to operate in real situations. We expose them to nearly every possible scenario to expand their toolkit as much as possible.”
The war, which began October 7, 2023, saw 669 evacuate over 2,000 wounded, prompting adjustments to the training to fast-track integration.
“We adapted the course to reinforce the unit’s ranks quickly, giving trainees a chance to contribute to the war effort from day one,” Captain Y. said.
Instructors, including Y., balanced active combat duties, such as during Operation Rising Lion against Iran, with mentoring.
“You can’t afford not to be part of it,” he said. “During Rising Lion, we were at peak readiness, prepared for extreme scenarios. It’s a feeling like no other.”
Social media posts on X praised the unit, with one user stating, “669’s new warriors are Israel’s lifesavers, heroes forged in war.”
The recruits, now ready to respond to the siren’s call, embody the unit’s motto of saving lives under any condition.