Combat soldiers (archives)
Photo: Tsafrir Abayov
IDF retirement age to reach 50 by 2029
Finance and Defense Ministries agree that retirement age for non-combat soldiers will be at least 48 by 2020; retirement age for combat soldiers to remain at least 42
The average retirement age from the Israel Defense Forces will gradually rise to 50 by the year 2029, according to an agreement between the Finance and Defense Ministries and in accordance with a government decision on the matter, Calcalist reported Tuesday.
Based on the agreement reached by the two sides, the average retirement age for standing army troops will rise gradually to 50 over the next 19 years, and by the year 2020 the retirement age for non-combat soldiers will be at least 48. Retirement ages in the IDF's technological units will be lower.
The lowest retirement age for combat soldiers will remain unchanged at 42. At present, the average retirement age from the IDF is 45.5, and the lowest retirement age for all IDF soldiers is 42.
Close supervision of IDF salary system
The Finance and Defense Ministries also agreed that within the framework of the defense establishment's streamlining process, by the year 2020 some 750 staff and Homefront Command positions will no longer be held by soldiers, meaning that some employees may be fired and others could be mobilized to other positions.The outline was approved based on a government decision on the biennial budget, which determines a change in retirement age from the IDF.
Alongside the shift in retirement age, the defense budget for the next two years was cut. In exchange the Treasury gave the Defense Ministry a pass on a number of other cuts intended in the Economic Arrangements Bill, such as annulling the tax break IDF officers enjoy on cars and closer supervision of the military salary system.
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