Combat Intelligence Collection Corps

The Israeli Combat Intelligence Collection Corps (previously known as Field Intelligence 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. Due to the need for collecting combat intelligence and in maintaining observation networks, it is in the midst of expansion.

Field Intelligence Corps
Flag of the Israeli Combat Intelligence Collection Corps
Active2000–today
CountryIsrael
BranchGOC Army Headquarters
TypeCombat Intelligence
RoleReconnaissance and intelligence gathering close to and behind enemy lines
Part ofIsrael Defense Forces
Motto(s)"Hatzofeh Lifnei Hamahaneh" ("The Scout Ahead of the Camp")
ColorsSand-colored Beret, Black Boots, White & Yellow Flag
Commanders
Current
commander		Brigadier General Eli Pollack
Female Combat Intelligence Collection soldiers during training

Structure

The corps consists of the following units:

Each battalion includes foot soldiers, soldiers that use specially designed 4×4 vehicles, and women that control different cameras from a control center.

Training

Two weeks after drafting, training commanders decide where each soldier will serve (either Infantry Forces or Mounted Forces) based upon the psychological, physical, and motivational state of the soldier. The best qualified soldiers from the Infantry Forces can then try out for the Combat Intelligence special forces. The training base is in the southern region of the Negev Desert, close to Eilat.

Infantry Forces
  • Basic Training 16 weeks (Rifleman 05) – Combat Intelligence School
  • Advanced Training 20 weeks (Scout 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 8 weeks (Rifleman 03) – Combat Intelligence School
  • Advanced Training 8 weeks (Scout 05) – Combat Intelligence School
  • Unit Training (here each unit has its own training that takes around one month) – Northern, Southern and Central command

History

Israel has a long history of intelligence units and operations, dating back to the Palmach's "German Platoon" (aka the Middle East Commando). After the creation of the IDF, field intelligence units were formed on an ad-hoc basis, by the Regional Commands.

In 1993, the first dedicated field intelligence unit meant for operating in any front, the Yahmam (abbreviation for Target Field Intelligence, 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 GOC Army Headquarters 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" from "Field Intelligence Corps", to emphasize its combat nature and to dissociate itself from the military intelligence directorate to which it was previously professionally subordinate to.[1][2] The name was changed in November 2009.[3] Additionally, the corps' beret color was changed from dark green (which is associated with military intelligence) to yellow.

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

Chief Combat Intelligence Officer

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

NameYears
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
Mordechai Kahane August 2015 – November 2017
Dan Neumann November 2017 – July 2018
Amir Avstein July 2018 –

References
  1. Cohen, Gili (July 24, 2009). "Start Learning: Instead of Field Intelligence – Combat Intelligence Collection Corps". Bamahane (in Hebrew). No. 2998. p. 15.
  2. Ben Dror, Arnon (March 25, 2009). "With God's Help: Field Intelligence Corps will be Renamed to Combat Intelligence Collection Corps" (in Hebrew). Israel Defense Forces. Archived from the original on April 6, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
  3. "Redesigned Combat Intelligence Collection Corps Aims High" (in Hebrew). Israel Defense Forces. November 23, 2009. Archived from the original on May 21, 2011. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
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