Number of males drafting into the IDF on the decline
A recently released IDF report records a decrease in the number of males enlisting in the army and serving in combat roles; IDF proposes a number of solutions including more integrated combat units, shortened length of service and lowering combat profiles.
The number of men drafting into the IDF has decreased while the number of women has remained largely the same, according to enlistment statistics released by the IDF.
In 2004, more than 77% of men drafted into the IDF, while today, that number has decreased to slightly less than 72%. More than half of the men who don't draft manage to avoid their mandatory service by taking advantage of the ability to study Torah as an alternative to enlisting in the IDF, while a quarter of those who don't enlist do so for medical reasons.
According to data, the rate of interest in combat service stood at 70.3% in November 2013, 70.8% in November 2014 (after Operation Protective Edge), 71.9% in November 2015 and 69.8% in November 2016. The most desired combat units are Golani Brigade and the Paratroopers, the data shows. IDF officials noted that many more young people are showing more interest in units handling cyber security, intelligence and computers.
Among the solutions put forth by the IDF to deal with the decrease in motivation for combat units is more integration of women into combat roles wherever possible, such as in the Armored Corps. Additional solutions include shortening the duration of service, adding combat jobs for Haredim, lowering the minimum combat profile to 64 (out of a possible 97) and expanding roles for women in the Border Police.
Among total number of women who do not draft into the IDF, 83% cite religious reasons for not doing so. All in all, more than 40% of young, military-age women do not draft into the IDF. However, there is a steady increase in the amount of young religious women enlisting for military service. In November 2010, 935 religious girls served, while today that number has grown to 2,159.
In addition to the growing number of religious women serving in the army and the number of female combat soldiers has also risen as a result of the establishment of integrated units. From 2005-2010, there was not a significant trend in the data, but in the last six years, the number of women in combat units has swelled from 514 to 2,100.
