The IDF is concerned about the continued trend of voluntary departures of career soldiers – precisely when the military needs to increase the number of conscripted and career officers to handle the exponential growth of its tasks in light of the ongoing state of war.
Although currently, many soldiers report a sense of purpose, responsibility, and commitment, understanding that there is no one else who can do their job in this difficult time, senior IDF officers have been alarmed over the discourse among younger soldiers, as well as slightly more veteran career officers and their families, who also report a desire to be discharged from service as soon as the operational situation allows.
Such talk is heard by soldiers who claim that unlike reservists, who receive a warm embrace from Israeli society, the burden placed on them is very heavy, seen as "self-evident", at a time when "there is no light at the end of the tunnel", meaning no expiration date for a return to some normalcy.
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Israel Hayom spoke with quite a few soldiers from various units and corps, who noted that this is the discourse among many soldiers. For example, a combat support soldier serving in one of the IDF's field units told Israel Hayom, "If I go out in dress uniform, they look at me with contempt, if I'm in combat fatigues – the attitude is completely different because they think I'm a reservist. If I'm a career soldier, they tell my family that this is the lifestyle they asked for and knew about, that it's self-evident. And this is even though none of us are accustomed to wars of this magnitude, since the War of Independence there has not been such a long war, with no prospect of ending.
"Even though I'm 'only' a combat support soldier, I don't go home; before the war, I would come home occasionally. My family doesn't receive support from the state, the army, society, or the economy. My wife sees in the media the warm embrace for reservists, but no one strengthens or embraces career soldiers and their families. None of us expect prizes or luxuries, just a kind word, a minimum of respect. Even my wife's income is affected during the war, and unlike reservists, she doesn't receive any benefits from her employer or the state."
Video: IDF Spokesperson talks about humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip / Credit: X/@idf
Another officer said, "career officers and their families are being torn apart. We pay a fortune for a babysitter, not everyone has families who can help. Our children are psychologically harmed, they regress, they worry endlessly because as far as they're concerned, dad is at war, and in war people die. Even some combat support personnel enter and exit combat zones – because they provide logistical support, advise in certain areas, and more."
Nili, the wife of a female combat officer, told Israel Hayom, "We are strong and idealistic women, and we believe in the justness of our cause and in military service. But there is a lack of social, public, and media appreciation for the sacrifice of career officers and their families in war. This comes against the backdrop of years of de-legitimization of career officer, and is evident in every public place 2 among the public, in the media." According to the officers, "When they see that we are invisible, it takes the wind out of our sails, it's demoralizing. There are women who, when they feel that they and their husband's contribution are not seen, it lowers their motivation to keep their heads above water and support their spouse's military service."
The IDF Spokesperson's Office said in response to an Israel Hayom inquiry that, "the IDF's strength lies in the quality of its servicemembers. The IDF appreciates and values the work of its career men and women in routine and emergencies, particularly in war, during which they have demonstrated professionalism and command capabilities that have led the IDF to operational achievements and successes.
"The IDF is working towards proper and fair compensation for its servicemembers in order to retain the best and most suitable ones in its ranks. It will continue to work on improving the personal and family support system, including developing suitable service and training programs, housing solutions, salaries, professional placements, various incentive measures, and more."
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