IDF Resumes Elite Operational Shooting Instructors Course with Expanded Anti-Drone Training

The IDF's Shooting Division within the Marom Brigade has resumed its prestigious operational shooting instructors course for elite units after a prolonged pause due to the ongoing war. This month-long program, designed for reconnaissance and commando battalions, returns in an expanded and more professional format, incorporating lessons learned from recent combat across various fronts. For the first time, trainees are acquiring skills to operate specialized weapons and ammunition against drone threats, alongside advanced machine guns, sights, and aiming devices.

Lieutenant Colonel S, commander of the Shooting Division, explained that the division oversees the entire weapons system chain from specification to field implementation. He emphasized the course's role as a critical force multiplier, stating that certified graduates become instructors within their units, enabling continuous knowledge transfer and rapid integration of new weaponry without disrupting IDF operations. Regarding the drone threat, Lt. Col. S highlighted that the division proactively developed and expedited solutions based on operational experience and enemy analysis, significantly improving the IDF's capabilities against drones compared to two months ago.

Major A, the division's chief instructor, underscored the course's upgrade, noting that it is now taught by the IDF's top instructors who have recent combat experience. He stressed the importance of quickly adapting to evolving threats like drones, with personnel closely connected to frontline realities testing various countermeasures and ensuring their practical implementation.

As part of the IDF's broader effort to restore training routines and enhance force readiness, the Shooting Division plans to expand this course in the future to include regular battalions, other military branches, and reserve units, further strengthening the army's operational effectiveness.