Air Force delays pilot course for two of 15 cadets jailed for potential security leak
The cadets failed to complete a special training program that was supposed to culminate with a weekend at a hotel, under strict conditions requiring them to remain isolated.
The Israel Air Force on Monday announced that it has kicked out two pilot cadets from the current officers’ course due to potential security leaks, requiring them to wait until the next course to continue their training.
On December 7, the IDF announced that it had sent 15 pilot-cadets to military jail for periods of three to six days due to the leaks.
Of those 15, only two have received the more serious punishment of a significant delay in their training.
The pilot cadets course only takes place twice a year, such that the delay will push the two individuals off by several months.
In addition, one of their commanders, at the rank of major, will be court-martialed for his role in the incident.
IAF pilots and crew prepare fighter jets for strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, August 24, 2025 (credit: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit)
Special IDF training for pilot cadets
According to the IDF, the pilot cadets had completed a special, intense training time period that was supposed to conclude with a weekend at a hotel but with the strict conditions of remaining isolated from any civilians at the hotel.
Many of the pilot cadets hosted visitors, including significant others, at the hotel in violation of the rules for the weekend and drank alcohol, creating a risk of leaking classified information.
Some of the stricter punishments resulted from the cadets failing to initially confess to their violation of the rules, with the IDF requiring two separate probes into the weekend until they discovered the full details involved in the incident.
