"Soldiers need to get much more as an expression of appreciation and recognition for the risks they take. There needs to be a 'blood line' dividing those who are fighters and those who aren't a fighter can kill or be killed, and they deserve to get more," Paratroopers Brigade Commander Col. Amir Baram told Israel Hayom on Thursday. In a special interview following the March 2013 paratrooper enlistment, Baram was referring to a plan to raise salaries of combat troops as part of the coalition agreement of the emerging government. Baram also spoke about recruiting ultra-Orthodox soldiers to his brigade. "If there is a haredi draft it will influence everyone. The military has a national responsibility. If the army turns to me and asks me what I will do with it, I certainly think that haredim can find a place in the paratroopers." The Paratroopers Brigade is currently stationed around the Gaza Strip, once considered Israel's most active front, which is now relatively calm. "The troops will always want action and things to do, but the real test is not whether the soldiers are happy but rather whether the civilians are happy and if the calm can be sustained. We are doing our best to stick to the protocols for this front, but are prepared to attack at any moment if necessary. I am not sure whether the calm will hold, this is the Middle East, everything can change. But as of now it looks like things are working as they should and are calm." After the paratroopers finish their operational deployment in Gaza, the brigade is set to go through a period of large scale exercises and training, including a brigade level parachute jump. Like a similar jump carried out a year and a half ago, "it was decided the parachute jumps must stay relevant," Baram said.
"It was not a one-time event. [Brigade level jumping] is a technique that will continue to develop in coming years. Of course wherever possible we will prefer to be flown in and not para-dropped, but it is not always possible and therefore we must improve this capability in the coming summer training."
