The army's Artillery Corps will draft ultra-orthodox soldiers to its ranks for the first time in a combat unit created specifically for their needs. It is the second such unit to be established since the forming of the Nahal battalion for ultra-orthodox soldiers twelve years ago. The army's chief artillery officer Brig. Gen. David Suissa who was behind the decision to form the new unit, views the initiative as a national mission. The first 60 recruits will enlist in November and undergo basic training in a separate area at the Negeb training base where they will receive special food with the required kosher certificates and will be allotted time for prayers and religious studies. Last year over 3,000 ultra-orthodox men enlisted into the army the majority serving in non combatant positions in the Intelligence Corps, the Air Force and Teleprocessing branch
