The IDF revealed Sunday evening that it is currently dealing with a manpower deficit of roughly 12,000 troops, including an estimated shortage of between 6,000 and 7,500 combat soldiers, as the military continues operating on multiple fronts simultaneously.

Military officials warned that the shortage could become even more severe if plans to shorten mandatory military service to 30 months move forward. According to security officials, the proposed reduction would create an even larger gap in combat forces, combat support roles and technical positions needed by the army.

The IDF said the demands created by fighting across seven separate arenas have forced regular soldiers to remain in near-continuous operational activity throughout the year. At the same time, reservists have repeatedly been called back for dozens of additional reserve duty days beyond what had originally been planned.

Despite the heavy burden, the military said enthusiasm among young Israelis for significant combat service remains strong among both male and female recruits.

In an effort to confront the worsening manpower shortage, the IDF’s Manpower Directorate has spent the last two and a half years advancing a wide-ranging strategic initiative focused on maximizing available personnel and broadening recruitment pathways.

As part of those efforts, the army established nine new standing armored companies over the past two years. Additional formations created during that period include an engineering battalion, a Home Front Command battalion, an air defense and combat intelligence unit, and a new charedi battalion intended to reduce pressure on reserve forces.

Alongside the expansion of regular forces, the military also built a broad reserve framework that has been incorporated into the 2026 operational plan. The framework includes 25 battalions from the “David” brigades, four battalions from the “Hashomer” brigade, the 500th Armored Brigade, Division 38 and 49 additional armored crews.

According to the IDF, these units were formed through the return of volunteers, the reactivation of individuals who had previously received exemptions under command authority, and the use of manpower reserves that had not previously been utilized.

The military also emphasized the increasing role women are playing in combat positions. Over the last decade, annual female combat enlistment numbers have climbed from roughly 500 recruits each year to approximately 5,000, substantially increasing women’s presence within combat units.

Among the new programs introduced to combat attrition is a nationwide initiative funded with 70 million shekels that is designed to prepare teenagers for military service while strengthening resilience before enlistment.

The IDF said that non-clinical mental health difficulties are responsible for approximately 80% of military attrition cases, with nearly one-third occurring at the very beginning of service.

The initiative operates in two phases. One stage targets 11th-grade graduates and focuses on building resilience and shaping attitudes toward military service, while the second is geared toward 12th-grade students approaching enlistment and seeks to close readiness gaps before induction. Approximately 450 students participated in the pilot program, and an expanded version launching in June is expected to include around 8,000 candidates.

Additional reforms include a system allowing recruits to receive their final assignments earlier in the enlistment process based on recruitment data, while selection procedures continue simultaneously.

The military also runs programs aimed at helping soldiers maximize their service potential, offering second opportunities for officer training and assisting populations considered at higher risk of dropping out during service.

At the same time, other initiatives are focused on retaining soldiers expected to continue into career military service. One such program reportedly increased acceptance rates into technological tracks for candidates from Israel’s geographic and social periphery by 22% between 2023 and 2025 through intervention efforts beginning already in middle school.

The IDF said major efforts are also underway to increase charedi enlistment, though current recruitment figures remain far below operational requirements.

According to army data, approximately 80,000 individuals are presently listed within draft evasion proceedings. Military officials estimate that roughly half are definitively charedi, while another quarter are believed to come from the charedi sector.

As part of attempts to formalize charedi recruitment, the Chief of Staff signed a dedicated General Staff directive outlining service conditions for charedi recruits. In July 2025, the IDF also ordered draft notices to be issued to all eligible charedi men while modifying the enlistment process to better accommodate the sector’s needs.

{Matzav.com}