Course in the Heart of War: 46 new captains, 39 captains and 7 female captains graduate • 3 Haifa residents – 2 officers and a female officer at the graduation ceremony of the 150th class of captains' course at the naval base in Haifa
Difficult, difficult and challenging days continue to pass through us all, with 515 days still to go and 59 hostages still held captive by the Hamas terror organization since that Saturday, October 7th. Today (Wednesday, March 5.3.2025, 4.3.2025) in the shadow of the war, a ceremony will also be held to exchange chiefs of staff and appoint a new IDF chief of staff, Major General Eyal Zamir, who will replace Herzi Halevi. Alongside this, routine life also continues, and as evidenced by this, last night (Tuesday, March 150, XNUMX) at the Haifa Naval Base, an exciting graduation ceremony was held for the XNUMXth class of the Naval Wing's captains' course, who were trained within and at the heart of the war. The ceremony was held in the presence of the Commander of the Naval Wing, Major General David Sa'ar Salama, the Commander of the Naval Wing's Training Base, Lieutenant Colonel S., commanders, soldiers, guests and invited families of the graduates.
Meanwhile, it should be noted that when the graduates of the 150th class of the captains' course, which ended tonight, enlisted in the captains' course, they did not imagine that they would experience commanding various vessels during a war, not a simulated war, but a real war, and this was even before receiving their new ranks on their shoulders. In the first weeks of the war, they jumped aboard the IDF's vessels, the IDF's submarines, and continued their practical training at sea, in operational missions to defend the country. The war hardened them greatly, the continuity of the course combined with incessant fighting, which posed quite a challenge to the new captains. Starting today, the naval officers are joining the chain of command of the naval branch and will serve as combat commanders on the branch's various vessels.
So this is the time and this is also the moment, come and pay tribute to the cadets who completed the 150th Captains' Course while engaged in operational activity. The three, two officers and a female officer.
Let's get to know them in as much detail as we can, below:
Come and meet the new captain: Lieutenant Y., 21 years old, born and raised in Haifa, successfully completed the captain's course in the 150th class. After about two and a half years of intensive training, she was awarded the rank of lieutenant and the coveted captain's pin.
During the course, the new naval officers joined the operational activities of the Naval Wing in its various units and took a significant part in the offensive and defensive efforts in all theaters of war, starting with attacks in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and in the Red Sea theater, the Naval Wing served as a force multiplier for the sky defense mission. Lieutenant Y. is a graduate of the sailing major and was assigned to the "A"i Oz", a Saar 6 model submarine. During her high school studies, she expanded her physics and Arabic and volunteered in community kindergartens in Haifa. Y. was a professional ballroom dancer and even won awards in Israel and abroad. Meanwhile, it should be noted that Y.'s love for the sea began at a young age thanks to her father, who himself served as a captain in the Naval Wing, and as she says: "My father was the first captain I knew and he was the one who made the role accessible to me. Since then, it has been clear to me that this is what I want to do. "I aspire to continue to be a significant commander for my fighters." Y. has high values and uncompromising professionalism. "We carried out attacks in various arenas and took part during training in important operational activities to defend the homeland," says Lieutenant Y., concluding by sharing her desire to come and begin her service as a combatant in the Navy.
Come and meet Lieutenant M., 21 years old from Haifa, who successfully completed the 150th class of captains. After two and a half years of intensive training, he was awarded the rank of lieutenant and the coveted captain's pin. Lieutenant M. is a graduate of the sailing department and was assigned to the "A"I Harb, a 4.5 model submarine. Lieutenant M. expanded his physical education and electronic music studies at school. Before his enlistment, he was involved in competitive surfing, and he loves to play the guitar and sing. His brother, Sergeant M., is a fighter in the "Sanfir" unit and currently serves as the unit's training commander. Lieutenant M. took part in operational missions during the training. Lieutenant M. says: "I took part in a number of operational missions that were very challenging. I was part of the attacks in Lebanon and missions to protect the strategic assets of the State of Israel at sea. It was a crazy operational experience and I feel a great privilege to be a part of it."
Lieutenant A., 20 years old from Haifa, successfully completed the 150th class of captains. After two and a half years of intensive training, he was awarded the rank of lieutenant and the coveted captain's pin. Lieutenant A. was involved in sports and swimming and loves to travel in nature. In high school, he expanded his studies in physics and biology. Lieutenant A. talks about the friendships he built during the course and the strong bond that was built thanks to the intensity of the course. Lieutenant A. also said: "We took part in a variety of operational missions in several naval sectors. Thanks to the experience we gained throughout the training and the key events in which I took part, I feel more prepared than ever for service as a combat officer on ships, and I believe that it will be significant."
During the course, the new naval officers joined the operational activities of the Naval Wing in its various fields and took a significant part in the attack and defense effort in all theaters of war, starting with attacks in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and in the Red Sea theater, the Naval Wing served as a force multiplier for the sky defense mission.
The new sailors did their last regular security in front of the Gaza coast on the ships Steel and the Deborah. Mainly their operational activity was against fishing boats that left Gaza towards Israel, when their activity was in cooperation with the air and ground forces, covering the fighters and also shooting at Gaza, thus They helped a lot with the ground maneuvers and in the fighting in Gaza. They accumulated many operational sea hours - that they will always be the rabbi of the hidden over the visible! The combat and the course prepared them well for the job, they and they will be commanders who trust them and them together.
During the ceremony, the "Sea Officer" pin was unveiled to the 46 graduates who successfully completed the course and were awarded the rank of lieutenant. Among the graduates were also 7 new female sea officers.
As you know, the seaman course is a voluntary and prestigious officer course that trains the future generation of naval commanders, who will be in command of the advanced vessels, including the missile ships, the ongoing security vessels and the submarines. All the graduates of the course will be placed in the coming days on the operational vessels of the sea arm in a variety of operational command positions, and will be part of the overall strengthening of the arm in the "Saar 6" model defense ships, the "Dakar" generation of submarines and other new vessels.
The course lasts two years and four months and consists of three majors, sailing, machine and electronics and includes training for the position of combat officer at sea. Upon completion, its graduates receive lieutenant ranks, a captain's pin, a skipper's license and also a bachelor's degree in political science from Haifa University, which they study during the course.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Naval Forces Commander Major General David Saar Salama delivered moving remarks, saying: "Dear graduates, on October 7th you were trainees in the heart of the training, you learned in real time chapters about pain, about surprise, about quick, sharp and decisive recovery. You also learned about the heroism of fighters, about personal resilience, about professionalism, about mission and sacrifice. This was unique training, training in war, on the naval battlefield, in which you took an active part, you learned how to intercept enemy aircraft, how to bombard enemy shores with artillery fire, how to significantly damage the Syrian fleet. You learned about operational activity in the Red Sea, what strong protection of strategic assets is and how to participate in the IDF's victory," he continued, "You also learned lessons about command and leadership. Amid the turmoil of the sea, you understood what it means to be a fighter, the meaning of a team, the meaning of a commander. "Starting tomorrow, you are the leaders, you and you are the commanders in the naval arm of the State of Israel."
In conclusion, as the words of the mythological song of the Navy Band go: "Come to us, to us, to the sea, to the wild, exciting sea, to this sun, to the strong winds, for the sea is open to all of us! ... "And most importantly, as the well-known song says: "May the sea be quiet!"
The "Hai Pa" news corporation website team wishes the new officers, graduates of the 150th Captains' Course of the Navy's Naval Wing, much success in their new roles. You are the top of the top, the best, the toughest, we are proud of you. We trust you. The entire State of Israel, an entire country trusts you. Go out, sail, drive and always return safely to your home port!"
Indeed, pride for the city of Haifa. Continued lovely evening.