Everyone knows about the Israel Defense Forces’ elite units, which protect the state against its enemies. But have you heard of the new mounted volunteer force that KKL-JNF has created in order to protect its forests? They carry no deadly weapons, and are armed instead with generous hearts and a desire to volunteer and contribute. They do not conquer the land with tanks, nor do they soar skywards in warplanes, but their horses can reach every corner of the forest and sometimes appear no less determined than their riders. At a festive ceremony held in Ben Shemen Forest on April 25th, the first group of 35 rangers received their diplomas.