Dumbbells were fashioned from 105‑mm artillery shell casings filled with concrete, each weighing between 18 and 32 kilograms, depending on the casing type and fill level.
By Hezy Laing
In January 2025, an improvised gym built entirely from tank and armored‑vehicle scraps by soldiers of the IDF Combat Engineering Corps’ 603rd Battalion (“Lahav”) became a national talking point after being featured in the Israeli media.
The gym was constructed inside a forward operating zone near Beit Hanoun during the IDF’s extended ground maneuver in northern Gaza.
It was assembled over four days by a small engineering team led by Staff Sergeant Daniel Mizrahi, age 22 from Kiryat Gat, together with Corporal Omer Shalev, a certified welder trained at the Ordnance Corps School in Tzrifin.
Because the battalion’s deployment cycles lasted 30 to 45 days, and standard fitness equipment could not be delivered to the front, the soldiers turned to the scrap piles surrounding the armored maintenance point attached to the sector.
The gym’s main structure was built from Merkava Mk. 4 torsion bars and Trophy APS launcher frames, welded into a squat rack capable of supporting more than 250 kilograms.
Dumbbells were fashioned from 105‑mm artillery shell casings filled with concrete, each weighing between 18 and 32 kilograms, depending on the casing type and fill level.
A pull‑up rig was constructed from Namer APC ramp hinges and reinforced with Centurion “Shot Kal” steel beams salvaged from the 8017 Logistics Center scrap yard.
Kettlebells were created from Merkava track links, each link weighing approximately 20 kilograms, allowing soldiers to perform loaded carries and swings.
According to Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Amit Ben‑Shahar, more than 170 soldiers used the gym daily during the battalion’s deployment, making it one of the most heavily used improvised fitness facilities ever documented in the Combat Engineering Corps.
IDF medical officers emphasized that combat engineers must maintain high strength levels because they routinely carry 25–35 kilograms of breaching gear, including MATADOR anti‑structure rockets, explosive line charges, hydraulic cutters, and protective equipment.
The gym quickly became a symbol of ingenuity and resilience, with Israeli media highlighting it as a vivid example of the Combat Engineering Corps’ ability to adapt under pressure.
Reporters noted that improvised gyms had appeared in previous operations, but the 603rd Battalion’s 2025 creation was the most elaborate yet, demonstrating how battlefield scrap can be transformed into a fully functional training facility supporting soldiers on the front lines.
