Israel Police bomb squad gets first female sapper
Sgt. Inbal Gawi makes history, becoming the first woman to work as a full-time sapper in the Israeli police force • I was looking for a challenging and unconventional job ... I am fully aware of the risks involved, she says.
The Israel Police marked a historic achievement on Monday, when its first female sapper joined the bomb disposal unit. Sgt. Inbal Gawi, who completed her training for the bomb disposal unit along with 14 men, was awarded her new insignia at the graduation ceremony by Police Commissioner Insp. Gen. Yohanan Danino and Operations Branch head Maj. Gen. Nissim Mor.
Gawi, 26, who served in the Israel Defense Forces' Karakal infantry unit, decided to join the police after she was discharged from the military in 2006. I was looking for a challenging and unconventional role, Gawi said on Monday. I was looking for a place where I could realize my full potential. After seeing that being a sapper is challenging, I immediately began to pursue it. You have to be fully dedicated to the goal of saving people and you are always where the action is.
Police sappers are trained to deal with a wide array of scenarios, involving both terrorism and criminal activity. This ranges from neutralizing suspected car bombs or unattended objects suspected of containing bombs, to removing threats from unused weaponry. Police deal with an average of 80,000 such incidents each year, which can involve witnessing disturbing sights or carry great risk.
Asked if she had thought about the risks involved in such a career, Gawi replied, I have definitely thought about it. My mother and father voiced the concerns you would normally expect from parents, but in the end my family supported my decision.
Speaking of her unique experience as the only female participant in the sapper course, which lasted about a year, she says she was treated as an equal among equals. She was trained to defuse bombs and handle explosives and various weapons.
Gawi will work for the Givatayim Police Department's bomb disposal unit, which is subordinate to the Israel Police Operations Branch.
Israel Police Operations Branch head and veteran sapper Maj. Gen. Nissim Mor said on Monday that he hoped Gawi would be the first of many women to join the organization.
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