|
 |
The Israeli army is a citizen’s army. Service is compulsory and most men and women are drafted at some stage. In addition to their obligatory service, most men will continue to be called up for Miluim (reserve duty) for a large part of their lives.
In considering when to make Aliyah, it is important to take into account the question of the army. Many Olim have a desire to serve, seeing the army as an important part of the absorption process. These Olim tend to have high motivation to succeed, are more mature than the average recruit and have a tendency to be excellent soldiers.
There are certain limitations to the units that Oleh soldiers can get to due to security clearance. A new Oleh is unlikely to be accepted to the pilot’s training, certain Intelligence units and the top commando units such as Sayeret Matkal. The Israeli army does have other elite units, many of which have recently accepted new Olim although this may require signing on for additional periods of service.
Other Olim prefer not to go to the army or to serve for as short a time as possible. In this case, it is important to take into account their age upon arriving in the country as set out in the eligibility for army service section.
This section aims to give an overview of some of the things that an Oleh should be aware of with regard to the army. If you are interested in army service it is worthwhile to talk with as many people as possible – everyone has a different opinion on where the best place to be is! |
|
|
