From October 7 Battlefields to Training Bases: IDF Commanders Shape the Next Generation
Three years after October 7, IDF combat commanders who fought in the initial battles are now training the next generation of soldiers, instilling hard-earned tactical lessons from continuous multi-front warfare.
Three years after the October 7, 2023, attacks, four combat commanders who rushed from officer training schools and weekend leaves to defend Israeli border communities are now training the next generation of soldiers. Back then, serving as junior officers and officer cadets, they plunged straight into the chaos at Re'im, Be'eri, Kfisofim, and Nir Oz, evacuating civilians under heavy fire and witnessing devastation that reshaped their lives. Some sustained severe injuries, including Capt. N. of the Paratroopers, who was severely wounded by friendly fire during the initial Gaza maneuvers before returning to duty after months of rehabilitation.
Today, these officers serve as company commanders in elite training bases, including the Givati, Nahal, and Paratroopers brigades, as well as the squad commanders' course. They are passing down hard-earned combat lessons from continuous warfare in Gaza, Lebanon, and Judea and Samaria. With most of their recruits having been school students during the outbreak of the war, the commanders emphasize that instilling operational discipline and preventing complacency is vital to national security.
Reflecting on the mission of defense, Capt. A. from the squad commanders' course stressed that the military must confront its initial failures head-on. "Aside from heroic acts of bravery, there were many professional lessons we must learn so this never happens again," he noted, emphasizing that tactical readiness and constant alertness are non-negotiable. The commanders agree that transforming this blood-forged operational experience into rigorous training ensures the new generation of soldiers remains battle-ready for any future threats.
