In this episode of IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz sits down with Captain (Res.) Bar Reuven for an inside look at Unit 669, the Israeli Air Force’s elite combat search and rescue unit. Bar reveals what it takes to earn a place in one of the IDF’s most selective units, where thousands compete for only a handful of spots and training prepares soldiers for everything from battlefield evacuations to underwater, cliff, and aerial rescues. Bar reflects on the unprecedented demands placed on Unit 669 following October 7, its role in evacuating wounded soldiers and assisting rescued hostages, and the split-second, life-or-death decisions its members carry with them long after a mission ends.
From the meaning of resilience to the importance of being prepared to act when others need help, this is a powerful look at the people behind a unit whose mission is simple but profound: save lives.
Captain (Res.) Bar Reuven is an entrepreneur, organizational founder, and former team commander in Unit 669, the Israeli Air Force’s elite combat search and rescue unit, where he continues to serve as a reserve combat officer. He has founded and led multiple startups, including Dishare, which later merged into Cookbash. Bar is also the Founder and Executive Director of AFU669 and previously founded the Unit 669 Veterans Organization. Today, he focuses on building impactful organizations and advising early-stage initiatives at the intersection of purpose, community, and growth.