Battalion Shimon, the first reserve battalion of the Hashmonaim Brigade, is taking part in defensive operations in the northern sector for the first time. The battalion's soldiers are graduates of the "Stage B" track, bochurim who enlisted for reserve duty after previously receiving draft exemptions.
The soldiers completed full combat training adapted to the chareidi lifestyle at the Hashmonaim training base. They are now deployed alongside Battalion Yonatan, the brigade's regular battalion, which has been operating in the sector for more than half a year.
The IDF said that since the start of the war, dozens of new battalions have been established in both the regular army and the reserves, part of a large-scale effort to expand the ranks of those serving and reduce the burden on existing reserve and regular soldiers.
