Military Academies Program: Israeli Air Force Attaché Visits U.S. Air Force Academy

On October 15, Israel’s Air Force Attaché to the United States Colonel Shai Katav visited the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs as part of JINSA’s Military Academies Lecture Series. More than 20 cadets and faculty members attended the discussion intended to familiarize the cadets with the challenges facing Israel today.

On October 15, Israel’s Air Force Attaché to the United States Colonel Shai Katav visited the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs as part of JINSA’s Military Academies Lecture Series. More than 20 cadets and faculty members attended the discussion intended to familiarize the cadets with the challenges facing Israel today. The visit came after the cadet’s summer program to Israel, the Military Academies Program (MAP), and provided an opportunity to discuss issues encountered during their visit.

During the discussion, Col. Katav discussed Israeli Air Force philosophy and shared many examples from past operations including the use of “Knock on the Roof” tactics during intense fighting in urban combat zones such as Gaza. He also addressed several of the current challenges facing Israel, such as the Israel-Palestinian conflict and the recent wave of violence, IDF soldiers confronting Palestinian civilians at checkpoints, the Russian intervention in Syria, and much more.

According to Col. Katav, “These kinds of meetings of Israel’s military personnel with their U.S. counterparts contribute a lot to the common understanding of U.S. interests in Israel and the Middle East, as well as providing [sic] an understanding of the actual reality in Israel and in the region.”

JINSA’s Military Academies Lecture Series is part of the Military Academies Program, which is designed to build bridges for future associations between the U.S. Armed Forces and the Israel Defense Forces. During the course of the program, cadets and midshipmen from each of the U.S. military academies engage in activities and discussions with young Israeli military officers, highlighting the role of the military in democratic countries, and similarities and differences in officer development.