Trends in military education in the IDF: A case study of the Tactical Command College

The Tactical Command College (TCC) represents a meaningful change in the training of commanders in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) Ground Forces. It provides comprehensive academic military education, as preparation for being commissioned to a company commander position. This paper examines how the TCC is perceived by commanders in the Israeli Ground Forces (IGF). The findings reveal disagreement between a practical approach, one that emphasizes commanders' experience, and a system approach, which emphasizes long-term professional development. These attitudes influence the approach to military education at the TCC and the assessment of the importance of practical, technical, and moral elements in the role of commander. The first approach views academic training as taking place at the expense of practical soldiering qualities, while the second approach sees practical soldiering and military education as complementary. The article concludes that a new professionalism of the IDF combat officer might be emerging, one broadening the accepted description of the Israeli officer as a practical soldier. Changes that are likely to contribute to new developments in the military profession in Israel are discussed.