The IDF announced on Thursday that it held its first Arrowhead agility test in three years, bringing back the multi-brigade fitness competition after a lengthy break.

Troops from the Paratroopers Brigade, Givati Brigade, Golani Brigade, Nahal Brigade, Kfir Brigade, Lotar Unit, and Refaim Unit competed in multiple events, including running, shooting, and Krav Maga.

The competition serves as one of the final fitness evaluations the soldiers will complete before concluding their training courses.

According to the IDF, this year’s event featured a new format modeled after realistic field conditions.

This year, rather than running on a flat course, soldiers navigated a route through forest and sand dunes while carrying 20 kg of weight. They also practiced running while transporting stretchers as a team.

At the end of the run, troops immediately took part in shooting exercises.

The second part of the competition included two Krav Maga practice scenarios. In one, soldiers defended against a fellow soldier acting as an attacker attempting to seize their weapons and stab them.

The second Krav Maga segment involved direct hand-to-hand combat.

At the end of the tests, each brigade receives scores based on running times, shooting accuracy, and Krav Maga skills.

The overall winner of the competition was the Paratrooper Brigade, with the Givati Brigade in second place and the Lotar Unit in third.

Arrowhead competition adjusted to reflect modern battlefield conditions

The head of the IDF’s Training and Research at the Combat Capability Directorate, Major M., said that changes to the competition format were made to ensure soldiers were prepared for battlefield conditions before deployment.

"These changes are rooted in drawing lessons from prolonged combat," he explained. "We realized that the things we were tested on in the past no longer illustrate what happens on the battlefield in the best way."

Commander of the Combat Fitness Division, Col. (res.) Avi Dahan, further elaborated that the activities were designed to occur in quick succession to test the troops' physical and mental resilience.