IDF armor chief Ohad Najamahits back at land forces critics
“W
elcome to Pum Alon,” says Colonel Ohad Najama, using a nickname for the Israeli army’s officer training school outside Tel Aviv, where he is a senior office. “Truth is, you’re a rare sight around here.”
A rare sight?
“We don’t see many chareidim around here,” he explains. “I’m waiting for the day when the Golani Brigade will have a chareidi commander. It hasn’t happened yet.”
Colonel Ohad Najama is a tall man with a commanding presence and a firm handshake. We meet in his officer’s quarters, which are simple and spartan. Over his 20-year career in the IDF, Col. Najama has held a number of important positions, arguably the most important of which was his command of the 401st “Iron Tracks” Armored Brigade. He also previously served as battalion commander in the 401st and led his troops into battle during operation Cast Lead in 2008–2009. In October, he will assume command over the entire IDF tank corps.
Pum Alon is where the future commanders of the IDF are trained. In addition to teaching officers battle tactics, the school also teaches the officers how to command troops in the field and in the barracks.
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