A record seven women on Sunday completed the Border Police's officer training course, two of them cited for outstanding performance.

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The seven women were among a graduating class of 23 candidates, who will now join the Israel Police.

The Border Police was a trailblazer in terms of integrating women in combat roles. As early as 1995, for the first time in the country's history, women were assigned to combat duty, and ever since the Border Police has taken significant steps toward breaking the glass ceiling.

Border Police commander Deputy Commissioner Amir Cohen has established a clear policy of integrating female fighters in command positions and promoting them throughout the corps. Several months ago, a female officer was assigned to command a combat company in the Border Police's Coastal District. In the coming weeks, female officers will be appointed to lead combat companies in Judea and Samaria, a company in the north and to train recruits.

As stated, seven female candidates finished the recent officer training course, two of them receiving citations for outstanding performance.

One of them, Inspector Maayan Sadeh, said: "I'm more than proud to be serving in a corps whose values are based on equality of opportunity, and I feel I'm fulfilling my potential as a fighter and commander in the Border Police. I learned and developed a lot during my training as an officer, and I'm waiting to begin in my new assignment and make an impact."

Inspector Reut Nahmias, who was also cited for her particularly exemplary performance in the course, said: "I'm thrilled to wear the officer's ranks, which for me symbolize the long path I've been on. It's a given today and natural for women to be officers and fighters just like the male officers and fighters, and here, in the Border Police, female fighters are assigned to key command positions in the most challenging places."

Continuing and even surpassing its path of equal opportunity, the Border Police's current class of officer cadets includes 16 women.

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A directive issued this week informs the manicure-conscious that in addition to the currently permitted pearl white, light pink, and French manicures (white nail tips), female officers and NCOs will be allowed to sport polish in shades of light purple, light brown, light gray, classic red, and burgundy while in uniform.

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The directive stressed that neon nail polish and sparkly nails are still prohibited, and that all a woman's fingernails must be painted the same color.

"One color of nail polish must be used, and each nail must be completely painted, and not include nail decorations," the directive reads.

Brig. Gen. Michel Yanko, head of the IDF Personnel Directorate, said the military had decided to change its nail polish policy after repeated request from female officers.

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