What a disgusting comment!

I had no idea they were paid so little (sorry for my ignorance). They should be paid more.

The low cost for soldiers is what allows the Israeli military industries to invest in groundbreaking technologies

The real value the soldiers receive is the training and experience in various real-life fields that usually stay with them for the rest of their lives. It's kind of like getting "office experience" before starting that corp job.

I wonder if any of the ancient armies of old Israel were ever paid? No one enters the military with dreams of becoming rich, they enter hoping they'll live and love another day.

I wonder if any of the ancient armies of old Israel were ever paid? No one enters the military with dreams of becoming rich, they enter hoping they'll live and love another day.

#5, maybe true in some cases and in elite units, but minus a lot of the beginning training, most of the time people are just standing around doing nothing, unfortunately. Most people I know feel like the army is a huge waste of time. Those that don't are either in aforementioned elite units or psychologically damaged. The army does teach a lot about sleeping wherever you can, living in poor conditions, and following directions. That's about it. Even the MAMRAM graduates coming out don't seem to usually know much of anything. Really sad to see the state of things now, but it's true.

They should get AT LEAST the minimum wage and take the money from the yeshivot and settlements to finance it.

Just for comparison, annual compensation for soldiers is: 1st year Private (USA) = $17,604 1st year Private (Canada) = $31,965 Pay scale increases considerably in the US and Canada after the 1st year. Note: Salaries noted are from 2011

Stop paying child allowances to those that never served! Stop paying pensions to those that never worked. No more welfare t the families of prisoners.

The pay should not be confused with the salary of a enlistee in a volunteer army. It has more of a history in being "cigarette and ice cream" money for young men and women who are still living out of their family home. If you think of it as salary, then you'll have a distorted view of what that money was for. These young people mostly go on to education and career development after army. It is not like the US, where a 22 or 23 year-old who lives on his own might enlist to make an income, get out of town, and maybe get educational and future career opportunities.

I can't agree more with you Jason. I would add that the state of Israel should do much more for IDF. Without them Israel won't survive and our soldiers is our best asset. G.. bless all IDF.

No not all in israel are so sarcastic like you!

glad to hear all of you north american soldiers earn so much. when our kids leave the army they get a ma'anak...a package of money and rights for having served. while they are in, they get different housing and transportation rights etc. my kids were thankful for their time in army...from all units. wish we would quit complaining so much about our country. we could be without again. shabat shalom

The IDF should really increase the pay of Lone soldiers (Chayal Boded). Unlike Israelis who have families to support them, the typical Chayal Boded has to get by on a very meager salary. If you know of a Chaya Boded, please support him directly any way you can. Donating to organizations like LIBI is good but they have huge organizational expenses and overhead.

living this type of life: everything can be snatched from you in a second (because a religious/fascist, lunatic of Islamic persuasion decides so) and at the same time you want to make plans for the future. On top of it our "dear leaders" stink to high heavens with corruption....The list goes on. There are other ways to cope, this one works for me.

They should receive at least $3000.00 a month. It cost $20.00 just to eat at MacDonald's in Israel. Try drafting a US citizen in the American army and tell them your compensation will be $100.00 a month. They will get a big go "F" yourself from 90 percent of the draftees.

800 shkalim doesn't even cover the appartment expenses, not including the rent. Instead of giving them this bs money, provide them with free housing and then brag about it.

So thanks to the budget cuts, the IDF is going to axe the missiles for Trophy system to protect tank crews and interceptors for the Iron Dome, but it apparently has enough money to do this as well as to absorb thousands of Haredim.

Don't take funds from the settlements, I would gladly start an annual donation to Israel. My only support monetarily has been to the "Wings of Eagles" campaign. Outside ofof my church. Helping Jews return home that otherwise have no funds to make the journey.

as a father of a lone soldier who decide to join the idf even thought he was born in USA ,i really discuss ted by the salary my son gets while serving as a lohem in a sayeret which i am not allowed to mention,i don't think its fair that we need to support him while he serving over 2 years so he can go out at night on the rarely occasion the army lets him off.he is on regila now and force to sit home because its too expensive for his budget to go out for a drink with his friends,i hope he finish his service soon and come back home,the people of Israel should protest about the meager salary the government pay his lohamim,because depression leads to mistakes,and mistakes can cause human life.American soldiers can live on their salary,for all i care he should be a navy seal in USA navy instead of being lohem in Israeli sayeret