They Learn to Shoot Before They Learn to Drive
In Israel, the minimum driving age is 17, but military service begins at 18 — and weapons training starts in the first weeks of basic. Many young women find themselves qualifying on the M16 rifle or Tavor assault rifle before they've ever had a driver's license. The IDF takes marksmanship seriously: every soldier, regardless of role, must demonstrate basic proficiency with their assigned weapon.
For women in combat roles, weapons training goes far beyond basic qualification. Advanced marksmanship courses include shooting while moving, engaging targets at various distances, night shooting with and without optics, and firing from vehicles. The progression from "I've never held a weapon" to "I can hit a target at 300 meters under stress" happens remarkably fast in the IDF's training pipeline. It's a transformation that still surprises the women themselves — and their families back home.
