The IDF is placing more women in combat units, less in clerical jobs

The first mixed-gender combat unit will be introduced in the March 2017 enlistment beginning Tuesday, the IDF has announced, with women to serve in different types of combat roles. At the same time, the number of clerical jobs filled by women is cut by one third. The new unit will be assigned to surveillance duty in the Jordan Valley border region. A five percent rise is reported in female conscripts asking to serve in combat units compared with last year. Altogether 80 percent of the women reporting for compulsory military service say this is their highest preference.