Hate to be Smart Know all but could not the Army send a Tape and they train on it in Groups getting Extra Pay.They can Teach others.Or train on Models with Instructors contracted out on the Principles of Creative Socialism with Pay.

Of course you have to have soldiers on the ground but they are becoming less and less important due to technological advances. Israel has has around 176,500 presently serving and around 450,00 reservists. It probably doesn't need to keep retraining reserves.

israel CAN NOT EXIST without the IDF/IAF, but can exist without (most) politicians of the likes of livni at al. lets cut them to the bone. israel needs no "air force one", big salaries of do nothing "staffs", big budgets for unnecessary meetings, travels, cars etc. lets set the priorities for survival!

sucksssssss helping enemies end

Why print this this is news for enemies

Yes, it's a pitty to read this in the papers. You have to keep this inside the army, discuss the matter with your officers, they with Gantz and the latter has to shake the tree to wake up some people. I personally don't like that soldiers, sub-officers and officers are going to the media with that issue. Once, in the last war with Lebanon, there was also a lack of organisation and some unities has not enough munition to fight. A family member took me in confidence and told me that the sub-officers and officers (reserve) - I think only some of them - were coming together to react about it. As far as I understood: a sort of mini revolt. I said him shortly not to revolt and to say it to his companions. Afterwards they could always bring the issue to their superiors. After that I never heard something about it, oef! I'm backing the modern technology (drones,...) but, from my opinion: soldiers on the field are very necessary too. If you carefully read some articles - not the spectacular and speculative, but the good and sober ones - it's the same with intelligence: ok, for the technology, but more and more they go back to that old fashion humint. The both can live together!

Simply cap the pensions of retired civil servants to only 20000 NIS a month. This simple step will solve most of Israel's economic problems. Of course, this will never happen because most of these civil servants are Leftists.

I have been busy negotiating with my beloved Peace Partners and I can assure you: with extremely positive results! Love, Uncle "the drool" Simon

Politics aside, there may or may not be money, point being that there is a problem and unfortunately it takes an article in a public paper in order to pressure the top brass to move this issue up on their priority list. Even with this problem, Israels Combat Infantry Men and Women have the heart to stand and DEFEND when called, logistically/training prepared or not. We simply ask our leaders to avoid another Lebanon 06. The main problem has always been that the Reserve is weak in logistical control\management of training and personal, e.g. 2006,2009. On a final note, one, any person who claims that Infantry Personal is becoming less and less relevant is inexperienced in the field of modern warfare, Lebanon 06 is a good example of this. Two, virtual training is fine... but nothing trumps running up hill with 35-48kg or moving room to room street through street communicating with your team and realizing your weakness and learning from them. Leave the Playstation at home for the kids...

Yahoo does not need IDF to be trained. Yahoo and well trained IDF are enemies.

Yes you are correct. Soldiers are less and less important on the ground , but they are still essential to seal the deal. Why do you give figures? The army must learn to keep in its place, the politicians decide and the army does what its told,thats how it works. By the way, pilots are also finding it difficult to understand that they too are less important than they were in the past .The world has changed rapidly!

You may prefer to bury your heads in the sand, but the majority of us want to know! Ignoring a problem does not make it go away. Also, for those of you who do not live here, knowledge of this sort is not a real secret - after all, the vast majority of us are intimately involved in the situation.