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This article explores the emotional impact of canine loss among soldiers in the IDF’s
elite Oketz unit during the Iron Swords war. Oketz is a specialized commando unit
that trains and deploys dogs for operational missions, often in close cooperation with
combat forces. During the war, 24 dogs were killed in action, a loss that deeply affected
their handlers. The unique bond between soldier and dog is framed through Bowlby’s
attachment theory, suggesting that the dog serves as a secure base and attachment
figure, especially in high-stress combat environments.

The grief experienced by these soldiers parallels bereavement following the death of
a close human companion. The article applies the Two-Track Model of Bereavement
to analyze both the functional and the emotional dimensions of this loss. It highlights
the trauma-related aspects of combat death, including symptoms such as anxiety,
depression, and disrupted emotional processing. The study also emphasizes the
importance of ritual and recognition, noting that Oketz conducts formal funerals for
fallen dogs, complete with eulogies, symbolic items, and memorial stones.

The concept of “disenfranchised grief” is addressed, underscoring the societal
tendency to overlook grief for non-human companions. However, within Oketz, the
loss of a dog is acknowledged and honored, providing legitimacy to the mourning
process. The article concludes by advocating for tailored psychological interventions,
including group sessions specifically designed for handlers who lost their dogs in
combat. These interventions aim to validate the emotional experience and support
recovery, recognizing the profound role that military working dogs play in both
operational success and emotional resilience.

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This article presents a pioneering group intervention in the IDF’s Oketz Unit,
supporting 11 soldiers who lost their military working dogs during the Iron Swords
War. Building on prior research on the emotional impact of canine loss, this followup study evaluates a single-session support group initiated at the soldiers’ request.
The intervention was assessed using a modified Two-Track Model of Bereavement
Questionnaire (TTBQ), adapted for animal loss.

The session used the “Photo Album Protocol” by Yoram Ben Yehuda, which aids
emotional expression through symbolic imagery. Thematic analysis revealed eight
core themes: helplessness, emotional flooding, need for recognition, farewell, the
dog’s operational significance, anger, grief processing, and loneliness. Participants
described their dogs as more than tools – viewing them as attachment figures and
combat partners.

Post-session feedback highlighted emotional validation, normalization of grief, and
a sense of shared experience. Soldiers reported increased emotional clarity and
expressed interest in continued group support. The findings emphasize the value of
focused group interventions for disenfranchised grief in military settings.

The study suggests that this model can enhance resilience across IDF units. It
recommends institutionalizing frameworks like the unit’s “Resilience Forum” and
expanding tailored support for soldiers facing traumatic loss. Despite limitations
in scope and sample size, the initiative represents a meaningful step toward
acknowledging the psychological impact of losing military dogs in combat.

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Background: The Iron Swords war (October 2023) led to a mass mobilization of Israeli
reserve soldiers, including many university students. For student-soldiers, returning
to academic life involved emotional strain, physiological disruption, and uncertainty.
This study explored how ongoing uncertainty experience of the student-soldier
affected their transition and functioning.

Methods: A qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews of eight sport
therapy students who served in first-line combat missions. Data were analyzed
thematically.

Findings: Five main themes emerged: (1) lingering traumatic memories affecting body
and mind; (2) persistent uncertainty and loss of control; (3) identity rupture between
combat and academic roles; (4) difficulties in re-adapting to academic routines; and
(5) reframing combat experiences into a professional sense of mission.

Conclusions: The transition from extended combatant service to academic
settings entails complex emotional and identity-related adjustments, and cannot
be characterized as a purely logistical process. Consequently, tailored academic
and psychological support programs are essential for helping reservist students
reintegrate meaningfully into their academic atmosphere.

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Background: Heat injuries range from mild symptoms to life-threatening heat strokes,
which can cause disability and even might be fatal. Most cases occur during training,
and their incidence, particularly heat strokes, appears lower in combat, despite
limited adherence to heat-stress safety guidelines.

Objective: To assess whether the incidence of heat injuries and heat strokes is lower
in combat than during training, and to evaluate measures taken to reduce their
occurrence.

Methods: Structured debriefings were held with brigade and division medical
officers and the head of the Combat Fitness Division. Heat injury data from October
2023 through July 2024 were extracted from the IDF Medical Operations Center,
hospitalization monitoring system (“Qlik-Sense”), the Computerized Patient Record
(CPR), and the Institute of Military Physiology database.

Results: In the first months of combat, exertional heat strokes and moderate heat
injuries were reported less frequently than during training. Key factors included
maneuver characteristics, operational risk management, motivation and peer pressure,
the Logistics Directorate’s cooling-equipment program, and heightened awareness
among commanders and medical staff led by the Surgeon General HQ. Nonetheless,
debriefings highlighted that heat stress significantly impaired performance, causing
fatigue, reduced concentration, and discomfort. Existing cooling methods offered
partial relief, but more effective solutions are needed.

Conclusions: Heat injuries primarily happen during training, particularly during
marches. Training protocols should integrate combat-derived lessons, with emphasis
on awareness, early recognition, and treatment by commanders. Applying combatlevel cooling measures to training, alongside novel approaches, may reduce risk.
Findings are specific to Gaza operations and may not apply to other geographical
areas, where combat and logistical conditions differ.

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Moral injury is a term that relates to the lasting psychological, biological, spiritual,
behavioral, and social impact of perpetrating, failing to prevent, or bearing witness to
actions that transgress deeply held moral beliefs and expectations, or experiencing
the betrayal of trusted others in high stakes situations. This article reviews the
characteristics of this phenomenon, as well as the similarities and differences between
moral injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. In addition, the treatment methods
for this disturbing syndrome are presented, and several practical recommendations
are reviewed. Considering the high rate of moral injury and its impact on mental and
physical health, clinicians in the military, as well as commanders, should familiarize
themselves with it and consider strategies to reduce its rate.