This week (Tuesday), IAF Commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin decided to promote Maj. A', the first Druze WSO (Weapon Systems Officer) in the IAF, to the position of the IAF Headquarters Academy Commander. Maj. A' will be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, thus becoming the first Druze aircrew member to attain the rank.



Maj. A', the first Druze WSO | Archive Photo

Maj. A', the oldest son of three, was born in a village in northern Israel. He studied at a Jewish school in Haifa, acted as the chairman of his village's youth council and had the role of captain in his village's football team. His father served in the Israel Border Police and his grandfather was the first Druze officer in the IDF. Maj. A' successfully graduated from IAF Flight Course 148 and thus became the first Druze WSO in the IAF – later on, two additional Druze graduated from the course and became WSOs as well.

Family Values

"Serving in the military has always been a main value for our family", said Maj. A'. "I dreamt of being a combatant in Shayetet 13, but I received a summons to the Flight Course and decided that I would try. I felt really good after the check flights and realized that it's something I wanted to do – since that moment, graduating was my dream. In addition, I wanted to take part in the IAF's operationality".



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During the Flight Course, he didn't feel different. "I didn't feel inferior. They didn't make feel 'other' and the commanders and cadets accepted me just like anyone else. I didn't want to prove myself just because I was a Druze. It wasn't an issue during the course, and I grasped the scope of it all only when I understood that I was to be the first graduating Druze. When they wrote about it in the news and the rest of the Druze community became excited – that's when I realized that I did something unique".

Breaking the Glass Ceiling

Maj. A' graduated from the Flight Course in 2003 and became the first Druze aircrew member. "My family was proud, but we couldn't say too much because my position is classified. Suddenly, important Druze in society came to our house and greeted me – they held a large event at the sheikh's house and the IAF Commander came as well".



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"I slowly realized that I had the opportunity to influence other young Druze and encourage them to join the Flight Course or other elite units", he added. "I broke the glass ceiling. It gave me an incredible sense of vocation alongside a need to prove myself, learn, improve and be as professional as possible".

Deep In Lebanese Territory

When the course ended, Maj. A' became an operational fighter jet WSO at the 109th ("Valley") Squadron, which operates "Barak" (F-16C/D) aircraft from Ramat-David AFB. He served in the squadron for three intense years, during which he fought in the 2006 Second Lebanon War.



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A certain sortie flown during the war was specifically memorable for Maj. A'. "We received intel regarding a Hezbollah rocket launcher which had just fired at northern Israel and was about to fire again", he recalled. "We took off without knowing what to expect, but we knew we could handle anything. When I finally destroyed the launcher I realized that I was protecting my home and my family. It's not just a rehashed slogan, but a sublime feeling of doing something significant".

Maj. A' served in various positions in the IAF, including instruction at the Flight Academy. He relocated to Hatzerim AFB with his family at his side and asked to transfer to the 107th ("Knights of the Orange Tail") Squadron, which is located in the base and operates "Sufa" (F-16I) fighter jets. He participated in 2008-09 Operation "Cast Lead", 2012 Operation "Pillar of Defense" and 2014 Operation "Protective Edge".



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Bridging Over the Gaps

How is he treated in the IAF as a Druze? "The fact that I'm a Druze is a non-issue in the force. Nobody looks at me differently, and I attained my positions thanks to my capabilities alone. I see myself as a messenger for the Druze people. Wherever I go, I try to tell people about the Druze people and bridge over the gap".

Over the past months, Maj. A' has participated in operational activity in the Gaza Strip and the northern theatre. The Syrian civil war has taken many casualties, and Maj. A' has kept his eyes open for the things happening to the Druze on the other side of the border. "As a Druze, I ache when I hear about the events in Syria", he said. "One of our religious obligations is to help our brothers in trouble, but I'm here defending Israel, my country. Luckily, Druze are tough and stubborn, and they are holding out in a way that's inspiring to see".



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Nowadays, Maj. A' is a department head at the IAF Headquarters' Teleprocessing Department, and is on his way to being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. And ten years from now? "I want to move ahead in the force – in ten years, I see myself already out of the army and in the field of education. Maybe even managing a school".