Some women served in various positions in the IDF, including
infantry, radio operators and transport pilots in the 1948 war
of independence and "Operation Kadesh" in 1956, but later the
Air Force closed its ranks to female pilots, and women were
restricted from combat positions. There is a draft of both men
and women. Most women serve in non-combat positions, and are
conscripted for two years (instead of three for men). A landmark
high court appeal in 1994 forced the Air Force to accept women
air cadets. In 2001, Israel's first female combat pilot received
her wings. In 1999 the Caracal company was formed, as a non
segregated infantry company. In 2000 it was expanded into a
Battalion (called The 33rd, for the 33 women killed in combat
during the War of Independence) since then, further combat
positions have opened to women, including Artillery, Field
Intelligence, Search and Rescue, NBC, Border Patrol, K-9 Unit
and anti-aircraft warfare.