המורשת שלי היא ישראלית גאה. סבא שלי למד ביום הכיפורים ב-73'. אני חושב שסיפור הפסח מהדהד עכשיו כי אנחנו חייבים לשחרר את האנשים שלנו. חג פסח שמח לכל חיילי צה"ל, לבני הערובה ולמצולקים במלחמה. ככל שאני שומע יותר שקרים והשמצות, כך יש לי יותר נחישות להתגייס לחיל הרגלים של צה"ל ולהביא גאווה ולהגן על הערכים שלי. בתור צעיר ישראלי-אמריקאי, הלוואי ויכולתי להיות בישראל לתמוך בחיילים ולחלוק כבוד.

Hi,

I’m 23 years old and hoping to draft through mahal in August. I am about to graduate college with a great degree in finance and I have a very nice job lined up for myself.

However, I’m having this calling to join the IDF and serve in a combat unit, I have lots of family out there and it’s a heart feeling that something I need to do.

I know I will lose the momentum from graduating, for the job market I was wondering if anyone has any experience of what it looks like post army at around 25 to 26 years old already with a degree looking for a job either in Israel or America.

I'll be 27 in a month. I'm a dual citizen, but born and only lived in the US. I'm in great shape and healthy as a horse, physically and mentally. My spoken Hebrew is like a 7/10 and my written Hebrew is maybe a 5/10, but would very swiftly improve with immersion. I have a degree in IT, and some years in the tech industry. My parents were both IDF before immigrating.

First question: Who do I talk to? I've emailed every address that is listed on the contact page (https://www.idf.il/en/mini-sites/how-to-join-us-and-voluntary-programs/how-to-join/). and so far no response. I plan to leave in June sometime and it would help tremendously to have a contact ahead of time to make the process smoother.

Second question: How likely am I to get a unit that I want? I want a naval unit above all else. I'd rather clean toilets on a ship than be an IT monkey on some base somewhere. I have experience sailing private vessels - docking, standing watch, maneuvering the ship, etc. I'm scuba certified. I was in my university's NROTC program for 2 years (but did not commission). I understand that this experience isn't all that much, but the point of mentioning it is that I'm comfortable at sea. I'm familiar with the rules that govern seafaring and maritime law. I could fairly easily come up with a convincing lie about how I've spent the last 10 or so years with respect to my professional career, but should I? I really can't overstate how much I *don't* want to be an IT monkey.

Third question: Since I am a citizen of Israel and I have lots of extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) that live in Israel, do I count as a loan soldier? Is this some kind of gray area? What rights do I have, if any? Am I even technically making Aliyah?

Thanks so much in advance, עם ישראל חי

Hi it's been a month since they lowered my profile in michve alon for psychological reasons from 97 to 64 (I'm not here to explain why ) anyway I want to ask for an army lawyer( a good one) that can help me and also how much can he charge me for this service ?

I did mahal and my choger says it expires in 2 years 8 months which is a mistake. Who could I ask to check the official release date that’s on the system?

Basically, I'd like to be able to undergo the training needed so as to make me a functional part of the war machine, so as to be able to fight in case of war. However, spending 3 years in another country serving in the military full-time in my mid-twenties, especially if it ends up being some BS job, is not something I'm willing to do. If I were 18, I'd be much more open to the idea.

As I understand, basic training takes 4 months. The difference between 4 months and 28 months, of course, is night and day. 4 months is a summer off university, so to say. 28 months is coming back and having to relearn everything I've just gone over in university.

On a website, I see that for those ages 22-27, it is written:

Volunteer service: Minimum 18 months

When I'd start my service, I'd already be less than 3 years away from the cutoff of 27, btw.

What exactly is volunteer service? Is it possible to have a ordinary military job for a period such as 18 months?

Just to clarify: If a part of the service was full-time (training), and the rest were to be part-time, that'd be fine. My problem is specifically the idea of putting my whole life on pause for 3 years just as I finish university, start my career, try to find a wife, etc.

Any insight would be helpful.. thanks in advance.

Looking for a custom sling to purchase and ship to Canada.

Hoping for Tzanhanim wings and maybe Mesayat (202) insignia.

Thanks !

Hi everyone, I’ll be volunteering with Sar-El in late May/early June. Wondering if there’s any particular hotel that most volunteers stay at on weekends?

I am an only child, but I want to do combat. I don't have a good relationship with my mother and almost no contact. So it would be difficult to get a copy of her Passport or a signature on the "only child combat permission document" (I don't know the correct word). What options do I have in Israel, so I can still get combat?

I have an IDF job that I like and find very meaningful. I originally had a shibbutz for a kravi unit but was moved because I went to therapy as a kid and lost appeals to change my lowered profile and because I came in with a college degree from the states.

They gave me a job that is related to my degree- w/o going into detail, it’s very involved in the back end of the Gaza front, me and my 8 person team meet with top army and political figures regularly, in short I think what I do is important and meaningful.

However, because it is not kravi I feel like I don’t get respect. Especially as a man, I feel like I’m looked at like a pussy even though what I do I feel like is very cool and important.

TLDR: I feel like there’s a disconnect between how I view myself and my job and how I feel others view me and my job, and idk if anyone else has felt that way too

Can 82 still go to commando units? Just barred from SF?

Any help would be amazing.

how much in advance should i sign up if i want to do summer ‘25

Hi. I was injured in Gaza two months ago, after which I got surgery, and have been told by my doctors I will not return to the army (I am formally released in July). That being the case, I’d like to push for my release early. I would really appreciate information people have about getting an early release on the grounds of injury. Specifically, how does the medical committee that determines the profile work? Do they base it on letters from doctors or do they have a consultation with you to determine if you can continue? How hard is it to get a medical release (a profile lowered to 21) from the medical committee?

I was looking at their official page and they say that they operate in the southern commando and in Samaria, but not in the north. And it is strange given the situation today with Hezbollah rockets destroying houses in the Galilee.

Hi, I'm thinking about drafting. Im from an overseas country with a citizenship, allied with Israel though. (Apologies, I'm being purposely vague). I am also an Israeli citizen.

I have been told my profile would likely be a 72 on account of a previous (but grown-out-of) condition.

I am hoping to get into an intelligence unit because of my professional experience. I am wondering a few key things:

1. How is it joining the army at an older age of 26/27? Do you find your age heavily impacts your experience? Are you an outcast?

2. What is the likelihood of being a jobnik for a foreigner with a not-so-good physical profile? I'm not handicapped, and I'm not unfit, I've just been warned about my likelihood of getting into a combat unit. I should note that I have a Bachelor's degree in a field very relevant to intelligence.

• one of my main fears is throwing away my life in my current country to become an army cook, or a driver or something.

3. I have been told the likelihood of getting into intelligence as an oleh chadash is very low. Is this true?

4. My Hebrew is fluent speaking-wise, no foreign accent either, but my written Hebrew is not exactly academic, though I'm sure I could learn in time. Would my less-than-academic Hebrew be an obstacle to getting into a desired unit?

Thanks in advance.

Hello chaverim!

I collect IDF insignia, badges, patches, pins, kumtas and was thinking of starting a page to display and discuss the items. What are your thoughts about opsec? I know most things are available online nit def wouldn’t want our enemies to have anymore info.

Also if anyone is interested in selling or donating (😉) let me know

Toda raba

Hi there, I was wondering if anyone can help me out. I can’t exactly get a clear understanding so I thought I should ask here. I was born into a short family, so I’m only 5.1 1/2, and I’m also around 48 kg. Does this prevent me from getting into combat units, such as general infantry as a paramedic (for context, I’m a girl). Thank you for any help! :)

Hey, I'm a Daati Chayel Boded drafting to Kravi (Netzach Yehuda) through a Hesder yeshiva very soon. I'm so confused on how many shirts i need for the army!

I go to the Sayeret store, and these people working there are saying they recommend buying 10! Then I ask young adults who were in the army, and they say dont bring any, the army will give you. Everyone source says a drastically different amount. How is this happening?!

I've heard the arguement that the young adults I'm talking to are saying since I'm Daati, the army will give me Tzitziyot, which I will wear instead of a shirt, as I dont want too many layers over the summer. If so, how many regular shirts will I want in addition to Tzitzit?

Theres people that argue about how many times in a row you'll wear it, and that depends on how many shirts you'll bring. Going to Kravi, is it expected to change your shirt everyday? How often does an event happen that will make your current shirt NEED to go to the laundry without a second day?

I've been speculating maybe it's based on Kochavim, that are fairly recent, and thus a lot of the past soldiers are talking about what was in their days in the army which did not use them, and now that the army uses them, they dont give out as much stuff

Theres the option of dry fit or not, and I'm not sure which is needed. Theres the question of green or white.

I'd very much like help, If anyone is willing

My mashakit tash told me I get a benefit called האד to my salary as a lone soldier living with grandparents, she will check the amount later … does anyone know how much it is?

TYVM

BZ"H I will draft into Michve Alon in August through Machal. I understand the purpose of Mahal is for Jews who want to do the 18 months and return home however I am intent on attending uni in Israel post service (I don't feel safe attending a diaspora college if I intend on serving) and it makes the most sense to make aliyah instead of renewing my visa 3-4 times before I finish service + get my diploma.

I already had an NBN application open and had all the documents ready (Mahal and NBN asked for the same documents). Now that I'm doing Mahal would it be impossible to submit my aliyah request during training/ before my background check expires?
At the Mahal interview should I tell them I plan to make aliyah while in service?

I’m drafting in August and was wondering if i’m able to join magav after graduating michve. I’m a 19 year old american and i already understand basic hebrew. How practical is it for me to get in and how would i do that?

Ahead of the upcoming offensive in Rafah, we've heard a lot of rhetoric about how Rafah is Hamas' last stronghold and taking Rafah is the last step to defeating Hamas as a military organization, but isn't it the case that there are two other Hamas battalions remaining in Deir Al Balah, in addition to the four in Rafah? How come these are not being talked about? Why haven't we seen more action in Deir Al-Balah and the rest of Central Gaza? Can we expect it in the future?

I am Soon enlisting into the IDF and I would be interested in joining the Combat engineering corps. I am aware that it is always difficult to really have a say in where you want to be placed, but I still wanted to ask, is it hard to become a לוחם צמ''ה? Like, is it a position many people try to get into and that is difficult to be placed in?

Also, as far as I understand the only requirement is a profile 82-97, right?

Also, can you even ask to be placed there or can you only wish to be placed in combat engeneering in general?

I’m currently in college and will be finished when I’m around 23/24. Is this too old to join the Idf? How long would I serve for? Where can I find information about this? Thank you

Hey just did an eye test, turns out I have moderate astigmatism, can I still get a 97? My goal is a commando so hoping this won’t affect that

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Drafting this summer what watch should I get ?