Reserve soldiers leave Lebanon (Archives)
Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Office
Fifth of IDF reserve combatants not ready for war
Between 15 to 20 percent of reserve battalions suffer from poor operational fitness and are in need of basic training, data collected by IDF Ground Forces Command reveal
A fifth of reserve combatants in the Israel Defense Forces suffer from poor operational fitness and are in need of basic training, according to data collected by the IDF Ground Forces Command.
The IDF began investigating the issue since the intensive training of reserve forces began in November 2006.
The data revealed that between 15 to 20 percent of reserve battalions lack knowledge of elementary exercises, which are usually taught when new units are established.
Military sources defined the fitness problem as "a gap of a whole military lifecycle, four years of lack of skills." The data point to the extent of the neglect of reserve soldiers' training.
The problem was particularly noted among the armored, artillery and engineering units. Reserve troops in the problematic battalions are being taught how to work as a team and as individuals and how to use weapons.
Dozens of reserve soldiers are expected to undergo training in the Ground Forces Command's central training facility this year.
A committee headed by Major-General Avi Mizrahi, which looked into the performance of reserve units during the Second Lebanon War, recommended that reserve troops undergo at least 10 days training a year. However, due to different constraints, reserve soldiers will only receive five days of training this year.
