Photo: svoboda.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has warned of a significant staffing crisis that could have a significant impact on the operational readiness of the troops in the coming years. Against the backdrop of the war and the growing burden on the army, the IDF is forced to take new measures to address the shortage of personnel. As it became known, the army plans to extend compulsory service for regular army soldiers to three years, and all reservists will perform military duties for an average of 70-72 days next year, TimeUkraineIsrael portal reported, citing Israel’s Channel 7.
The growing personnel crisis in the IDF
The IDF has stated that in 2025, reservists will be required to serve an average of 72 days, a significant increase compared to previous years. In 2023, reservists served an average of 136 days, with some tank and infantry units having a workload of up to 250 days. In this regard, the army is calling on the government to provide the reservists with grants and benefits exceeding NIS 8-9 billion next year.
It is also noted that this year the army has returned to the reserve about 70,000 soldiers who were discharged from service before the war. However, a significant number of reservists, about 40,000 people, did not join the service for various reasons, which leads to a reserve level of only 85%.
Ultra-orthodox recruits: new challenges and recruitment strategies
One of the biggest problems for the IDF is the recruitment of the ultra-Orthodox community for military service. This year, in the first months, the army issued 3,000 summonses to yeshiva members, and 900 of them failed to comply with the call, resulting in arrest warrants. As a result, the IDF is attempting to employ new strategies to integrate ultra-Orthodox into the military.
According to the army, new routes for recruiting ultra-Orthodox recruits have already been opened this year, and it is planned to issue 7,000 draft notices in 2024. These recruits will have to undergo specialised service and become part of separate units created to integrate the ultra-Orthodox military.
The IDF also reported success in recruiting ultra-Orthodox soldiers this year. In the first three months, the army managed to recruit more than 900 people, which is about 85% of the planned number of recruits. In 2023, the IDF was able to recruit only a fraction of the desired 1,300. All these efforts are aimed at making the recruitment process more accessible and understandable to this part of society.
Looking to the future: adaptation and new approaches to recruitment
According to the IDF, the process of integrating ultra-Orthodox recruits requires special attention and adaptation to their specific requirements. The army and government authorities are seeking to create new opportunities for the development of this segment of recruits, taking into account the peculiarities of their religious life and lifestyle. In turn, changes in legislation and the system of benefits should provide more favourable conditions for this process.
Forecast for the future: goals and challenges for the army
Israel is facing a serious personnel crisis in the context of a prolonged war. The IDF is actively working to improve recruitment and integration of various groups, including ultra-Orthodox. However, despite significant efforts, further steps are needed to improve personnel policy and increase the level of support for soldiers to ensure full readiness of the army and the effective functioning of the reserve.
The Israeli army will continue to work on improving its personnel policy, especially with regard to recruiting ultra-Orthodox soldiers, to ensure that it can perform its duties as effectively as possible in the future. At the same time, innovative approaches need to be implemented to attract new reservists and improve the conditions of service for existing soldiers.
