Border infantry (Caracal, Bardelas, Lions of the Jordan)לוחם/ת חי"ר גבולות (קרקל, ברדלס, אריות הירדן, לביא הבקעה ופנתר)
What the Border infantry (Caracal, Bardelas, Lions of the Jordan) role asks for, and what it holds
Border infantry soldiers serve in light infantry battalions of men and women that guard Israel's borders.
CombatGround ForcesProfile 72+MenTry-outYellow camouflage
The role asks for a medical profile of 72 and up, a Hebrew score of 5 and up and a body mass index between 17 and 35.
The medical profile runs from 21 to 97.
The Hebrew score runs from 1 to 9.
- Kind of role
- Combat
- Branch
- Ground Forces
- Open to
- Men
- Medical profile
- 72 and up
- Hebrew score
- 5 and up
- Body mass index
- 17 to 35
- Try-out
- For women
- Training place
- the Border Defense School
The IDF's page also names a lowest score in 4 traits.
The IDF's page lists these traits among the role's requirements, each with the minimum score the role asks for.
- Effort and persistence2
- Maturity2
- Sustained attention2
- Teamwork2
This is what the work of the role holds.
Men and women in these battalions carry out operational missions together to protect the country's borders. The work includes patrols, ambushes, pursuits, observation and guarding communities.
The aim of the light infantry is to prevent hostile attacks along the borders and to fight serious crime at the border.
This is how the IDF's page sets out the way into the role.
- 1Women only: the women's combat screening for all combat roles, held before enlistment.
- 2Women only: a screening preparatory course that opens on enlistment day and lasts about 2 weeks.
This is how the training for the role runs.
Training starts with basic training at rifleman 05 level, about 4 months at the Border Defense School on the Sayarim base, covering weapons, fitness, teamwork and army rules. It goes on with two and a half months of advanced training in the operational sectors, where the platoon trains to fight as a unit in different settings, and ends with rifleman 06 qualification.
Where it trainsthe Border Defense School
This is what service in the role looks like.
Soldiers are placed in one of 5 border infantry battalions on bases across the country: Bardelas and Caracal in the Paran Brigade, Lions of the Jordan and Lavi HaBika in the Jordan Valley Brigade, and Panther in the Ephraim Brigade. Women commit to compulsory service as long as men's and to active reserve duty.
The role also asks for a few more things.
- The role is open to men and women.
- Women must pass the women's combat screening.
- Women commit to compulsory service as long as men's and to active reserve duty.
After the role, the IDF's page names these paths.
- A command track.
- An officer track, including a dedicated track to the Hanit officers' course.
- A track for women tank soldiers on the borders.
- Suitable soldiers can take professional courses such as combat medic, combat driver and physical training instructor.
The Border infantry (Caracal, Bardelas, Lions of the Jordan) role belongs to these units in the guide.
More roles to read about in the same branch.
- Oketz combat soldierCombat · Profile 82+
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- Armored Corps instructorCombat support · Profile 72+
- Tzayad (Digital Ground Army) instructorCombat support · Profile 45+
- Physical training roles (Ground Forces)Combat support · Profile 72+
- Parachute maintenance technicianCombat support · Profile 45+
Frequently asked questions
What does the Border infantry (Caracal, Bardelas, Lions of the Jordan) role ask for?
The role asks for a medical profile of 72 and up, a Hebrew score of 5 and up and a body mass index between 17 and 35.
Who can serve as Border infantry (Caracal, Bardelas, Lions of the Jordan)?
The role is open to men.
Is there a try-out for Border infantry (Caracal, Bardelas, Lions of the Jordan)?
Yes, for women. The IDF's page sets out the selection this way. Women only: the women's combat screening for all combat roles, held before enlistment. Women only: a screening preparatory course that opens on enlistment day and lasts about 2 weeks.
What does the training for Border infantry (Caracal, Bardelas, Lions of the Jordan) hold?
Training starts with basic training at rifleman 05 level, about 4 months at the Border Defense School on the Sayarim base, covering weapons, fitness, teamwork and army rules. It goes on with two and a half months of advanced training in the operational sectors, where the platoon trains to fight as a unit in different settings, and ends with rifleman 06 qualification.
This page was written from the IDF's pages for future soldiers, read on 6 November 2026.
- The role's page on the IDF's site: Border infantry (Caracal, Bardelas, Lions of the Jordan)
The requirements and screenings change from time to time, and the IDF's page for each role is the one that counts.
Photo credits
- IDF Spokesperson's Unit photographer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons