[55846] The Chief of Staff's plan to strengthen the IDF: Extending mandatory service and expanding the reserves

[55846] The Chief of Staff's plan to strengthen the IDF: Extending mandatory service and expanding the reserves

The Chief of Staff's plan to strengthen the IDF: Extending mandatory service and expanding the reserves

Against the backdrop of the security challenges facing Israel, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi is promoting a large-scale plan to strengthen the IDF's manpower. According to the report in Hadashot Online, this plan includes extending the duration of mandatory service for combat soldiers and soldiers to 3 full years, alongside expanding the reserve system and enabling the calling up of reservists more frequently, in accordance with changing operational needs.

The issue was also raised for discussion by military correspondent Dr. Amir Bohbot, who noted that he heard the Chief of Staff's warnings on the subject in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Bohbot expressed sweeping support for extending regular service, stating that "this is not a question."

However, Bohbot criticizes the way resources are managed in the army and calls for structural changes within the General Staff itself. According to him, "the utilization of reserve forces is far from reasonable," and there is currently no effective oversight of reserve duty days and their usage. Bohbot suggests reducing the scope of reserves in rear-echelon and headquarters units, and diverting these resources immediately to areas in need of combat soldiers, such as the Judea and Samaria Division.

In addition to the operational aspects, Bohbot raised critical claims regarding internal cohesion in the senior command ranks. He called on the Chief of Staff to act to "consolidate the General Staff," with an emphasis on the environment close to the high command, which he claims is "seething, and not in a positive way."