Israeli Combat Engineering Corps

Israeli Combat Engineering Corps
Israeli Combat Engineering Corps insignia
Active1947–today
Country Israel
Allegiance Israel Defense Forces
Branch Israeli Ground Forces
TypeCombat Engineering
RoleCombat Engineering, EOD, counter-NBC
Part ofManeuvering Corps
GOC Army Headquarters
Nickname(s)"Muhandesim", "Palasim", "Ksoofim"
Motto(s)"Rishonim Tamid" ("Always First"), "Rishonim BaHazit" ("First in the Front"), "Lech Beyekvot Haksufim" ("Follow the Silver ones")
ColorsSilver berets
March"Handasa Kravit Theme"
Mascot(s)Panther
EngagementsAll of Israel's wars, notable are:
DecorationsIsrael Defense Prize
Commanders
Current
commander
Brigadier General Ido Mizrahi
Notable
commanders
Emmanuel Shachar, Elchanan Klein, Avishay Katz, Shimon Daniel, Moshe Sheli
Insignia
Emblem
Flag

The Israeli Combat Engineering Corps (Hebrew: חיל ההנדסה הקרבית, Heil HaHandasa HaKravit) is part of the Israel Defense Forces with responsibility for mobility assurance, road breaching, defense and fortifications, counter-mobility of enemy forces, construction and destruction under fire, sabotage, explosives, bomb disposal, counter-weapons of mass destruction (NBC) and special engineering missions.

The Combat Engineering Corps beret's color is silver and its symbol features a sword on a defensive tower with an explosion halo on the background. The Combat Engineering Corps mottos are "Always First" (ראשונים תמיד Rishonim Tamid) and the unofficial "The hard, we shall do today; the impossible, we shall do tomorrow".

In addition to Combat Engineering Corps sappers, each infantry brigade has an engineering company trained with basic engineering and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) skills (called פלח"הן). Combat Engineering Corps sappers and heavy equipment operators are often attached to other units (such as armored or infantry brigades) in order to help them breach through obstacles and handle explosive threats.