Posted on 06/28/24
| News Source: Arutz-7
The 188th Israeli Air Force (IAF) Pilots Course Graduation Ceremony took place at the “Ovda” Air Force Base on Thursday, during which graduates of the course received their flight wing insignias and were awarded officer ranks.
36 combat aircrew will join the ranks of the IAF starting on Thursday, will constitute the operational and strategic spearhead of the IDF and will lead the IAF’s missions in the upcoming years.
The ceremony was held in the presence of the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi, the Commanding Officer of the Israeli Air Force, Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, other commanders and the families of the graduates. Fernando Marman, who was rescued from the Gaza Strip about four months ago in Operation "Golden Hand", in which the IAF took part, and who maintained continuous contact with the squadron that rescued him, was also invited to the ceremony.
The graduation ceremony was held following the conclusion of the three-year long IAF Pilots Course, during which the cadets were trained as combat officers and graduated with a degree from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
The ceremony takes place during the war, in which the aerial dimension plays a significant and central role in maintaining the security of Israel's citizens, both in defense and offense.
Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said in his remarks, “About a week ago, I met with the dear people of Nir Oz. We toured the kibbutz, house by house. Time froze on October 7th, and the difficult scenes are etched together with the words, the stories, and the pain.”