Combat Intelligence Collection Corps

Israeli Combat Intelligence Collection Corps
Flag of the Israeli Combat Intelligence Collection Corps
Active	2000–today
Country	Israel
Branch	GOC Army Headquarters
Type	Combat Intelligence
Role	Reconnaissance and intelligence gathering close to and behind enemy lines
Part of	Israel Defense Forces
Motto	"Hatzofeh Lifnei Hamahaneh" ("The Scout Ahead of the Camp")
Colors	Sand-colored Beret, Black Boots, White & Yellow Flag
Commanders
Current commander	Brigadier General Eli Pollack

"Racoon" Recon and observation vehicle of IDF's Combat Intelligence Collection Corps

The Israeli Combat Intelligence Collection Corps is the newest of the IDF GOC Army Headquarters' five corps, created in April 2000 and tasked with collecting combat intelligence. It is responsible for intelligence units from the battalion level and up to the entire force. Accordingly, it is professionally subordinate to the Military Intelligence Directorate. Due to the need for collecting combat intelligence and in maintaining observation networks, it is in the midst of expansion.

Structure

The corps consists of the following units:

• The Shahaf (Seagull) 869 Battalion (Northern Command – Lebanon Sector).
• The Ait (Eagle) 595 Battalion (Northern Command – Syria Sector).
• The Nitzan 636 Battalion (Central Command).
• The Nesher (Vulture) 414 Battalion (Southern Command - Gaza Sector).
• The Eitam 727 Battalion (Southern Command - Negev Sector).
• The Combat Intelligence School, also known as the Center for Reconnaissance and Intelligence
• The Unit Command, in The Central Command Of IDF in Tel-Aviv

Training

Two weeks after drafting the training commanders decide where each soldier will serve (either Special Forces or Mounted Forces) based upon the psychological, physical, and motivational state of the soldier.

Foot Infantry & Special Forces

• Basic Training 4 months (Rifleman 05) – Combat Intelligence School
• Advanced Training 4 months (Collecting Fighter 07) – Combat Intelligence School
• Unit Training (here each unit has its own training that takes around 2 months) – Northern, Southern and Central command

Mounted Forces

• Basic Training 3 months (Rifleman 03) – Combat Intelligence School
• Advanced Training 3 months (Collecting Fighter 07) – Combat Intelligence School
• Unit Training (here each unit has its own training that takes around one month) – Northern, Southern and Central command

History

In 1993, the Yahmam (abbreviation for Target Field Intelligence) unit, also known as the Nitzan Commando, was created. The unit was designated to provide intelligence in real time and sighting enemy targets. It was appended to the Artillery Corps and its soldiers wore black berets, even though they were under the direct command of the General Staff. During the 1982–2000 South Lebanon Conflict, it operated as an elite outfit tasked with collecting combat intelligence. After the February 4, 1997 Israeli helicopter disaster, in which the unit lost two men out of a total of 73 killed, the Supreme Court of Israel instructed to reveal their names, and consequently, the unit's existence was revealed to the public.

The unit was created as a corps in April 2000, under Amnon Sufrin. In late 2008, the GOC Army Headquarters decided to rename it to the Combat Intelligence Collection Corps, to emphasize its combat nature. The name was changed in November 2009.

Chief Combat Intelligence Officer

The Chief Combat Intelligence Officer is a Brigadier General appointed by the head of GOC Army Headquarters in coordination with the Military Intelligence Directorate. As of 2009, the Chief Combat Intelligence Officer is Eli Pollack.

Name	Years
Amnon Sufrin	2000–03
Yuval Halamish	2003–05
Guy Lipkin	2005–07
Ariel Karo	2007–09
Eli Pollack	2009–2012
Guy Bar-Lev	2012– 2015

External links

• Combat Intelligence Collection Corps at the GOC Army Headquarters website (Hebrew)