Israel Army
Israel's army and the reforms needed by the Ukrainian army.
In the context of a war of attrition, let us consider the example of the organization of the Defense Forces in a country that has successful experience and conditions similar to our realities. We are talking about Israel, which is permanently at war on its territory. What are the characteristics and specifics of the Israel experience?
Comparative analysis and infographics:
1) Conditions of service
2) Training and selection for positions in the army
3) Punishment for evading service
4) The interconnection between the economy, the army, and education
5) Let’s look at an example of the effectiveness of such an army
Terms of service
Service in Tzahal (Israel Defense Forces)
Military service is divided into conscription, reserve, and permanent service:
– Conscription is mandatory for all Israeli citizens aged 18-29 for men and 18-26 for women.
Duration/term of service: 32 months for men and 24-32 months for women (depending on position).
After completing their service, military personnel are discharged if there are valid reasons or continue to serve under contract or in the reserve.
– Reserve service includes annual retraining for one month. Term of service: up to 40, 45, or 49 years, depending on the position.
In the event of an enemy attack, reservists are called up for 3-12 months, depending on the type of troops and position. However, once the fighting has stabilized, reservists are discharged.
– Permanent (contract) service. Signing a contract is a continuation of a military career, which is only possible after completing compulsory service.
Contracts can be short-term or long-term. For example, 1.5 years for a cyber defense unit, 1.7 years for a special forces unit, but most often Israeli citizens choose a 5-year contract.
In Israel, the term of service is fixed for all military personnel: conscripts, reservists, and contract soldiers.
Service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Military service is compulsory for all Ukrainian citizens aged 25-60. Service is joined either through mobilization or by contract.
However, the right to discharge (except for discharge due to age, family circumstances, health, etc.) under martial law only comes into effect when martial law ends or demobilization is announced.
There are some new developments. First, from 2024, contract soldiers who signed a contract after February 24, 2022, can be discharged if the contract has expired. The decision on discharge is made by the commander of the military unit or higher command. However, a discharged reservist must register with the Territorial Recruitment Center within five days and is again subject to mobilization.
Second, starting in 2025, new contract soldiers aged 18-24 can be discharged into the reserve after the expiration of their contract (from 1 year) and are granted a 1-year deferral from mobilization.
However, at present, all mobilized personnel and most contracts do not have a fixed term of service, with the exception of “new” contracts.
In Ukraine, all mobilized personnel and most contract personnel do not have a fixed term of service, with the exception of “new” contracts.
Training and selection for positions in the army
Israel Defence Forces
Teenagers begin training at the age of 17 in military camps run by the Gadna organization, which is part of the Israel Defense Forces.
Although attendance at the camp is voluntary, it is in high demand, and unwillingness to attend Gadna without a valid reason (such as health issues) is frowned upon by society.
The selection and assignment to a military position are based on the recruit’s profile. The profile includes: a medical examination, an interview at the military registration and enlistment office, KABA and DAPAR tests (cognitive abilities, psychological endurance, etc.) and filling out a questionnaire about the desired position.
After joining the army, all recruits undergo basic military training and specialized training. The latter includes training and education according to position and personal qualities: leadership, mathematical abilities, endurance, etc.
A rigorous selection process guarantees talented individuals a position and career advancement. Training provides the necessary skills for the future position.
Ukrainian Defence Forces
In general, there are several non-governmental training programs for teenagers in Ukraine that teach and introduce them to military affairs and ideology, such as Prava Molod, Centuria, training programs from military units or youth centers, etc.
Unfortunately, most of them do not have state support and exist as volunteer organizations, and are not part of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.
In 2024, the government updated the education and training system.
The basic program for recruits finally added the study of modern technologies (drones, electronic warfare, etc.), NATO military management principles, and practical training at the training ground.
– For schoolchildren, the subject “Defense of Ukraine” was significantly updated.
– And for students, the basic course was updated (now it is more like military training).
However, in Ukraine, the system of selection and promotion retains Soviet customs, as a result of which titles and positions are given to incompetent individuals.
Punishment for evading military service
Israel's law enforcement system
Summon notices are sent to your personal account on the Israeli Army website, by mail, and via text message. This means that it is highly unlikely that you will be able to ignore a summons due to “negligence.”
Draft evasion is a criminal offense with no statute of limitations, punishable by imprisonment for 2-5 years.
After the third time a summons is ignored, an arrest warrant is issued.
In the event of arrest, for example, when replacing or checking a passport, a trial is possible.
Subsequently, information about such a conviction is stored in state databases and negatively affects employment, relations with banks, etc.
Also, draft dodgers (reservists and conscripts who ignored the summons) are prohibited from traveling abroad.
In the event of a state of emergency (special period, etc.), the Minister of Defense may restrict travel abroad for all reservists and for certain positions.
The penalties for evasion are quite severe, effective, and entail negative social consequences.
Ukrainian law enforcement system
Citizens receive summonses via Ukrposhta, employees of territorial recruitment centers (TCR), and through their employers. As of now, electronic summonses are being introduced: they can be generated in the Oberig system, but must be delivered by a TCR employee.
If a summons is ignored, evaders face administrative and/or criminal liability by court decision, which includes a fine, restriction of driving rights, and imprisonment for 3-5 years.
Currently, there are virtually no court decisions in cases against evaders, and one of the reasons is the failure of the TCR itself to pay court fees, as there is no corresponding expense item in the TCR budget. However, from 2025, TCR budgets must provide for these expenses.
In the future, there will be almost no barriers to employment for draft dodgers compared to veterans.
Also, those who are not subject to conscription or have a deferral are allowed to cross the border.
Our situation is quite different. Punishment for evasion is not effective or efficient compared to punishment for AWOL, for example.
The interconnection between the military, the economy, and education
The Israel experience
The factors behind Israel’s strong economy are government support for startups and innovative companies, a focus on developing advanced military technologies, domestic defense production, and exports of defense industry goods.
In 2023 (during the active phase of the war with Hamas), exports of certain items set a record. This approach increases the country’s military potential and ensures the functioning of the army.
Education and employment involve integrating military experience into business. For example, reservists are provided with a “deposit and grant”: the targeted deposit can be used to start a business, pay for education, purchase housing, etc., and the grant can be spent at their discretion.
In turn, the education system includes professional training for discharged military personnel under special programs (“High-Tech Warriors”) and their employment in leading companies (Rafael, a weapons manufacturer and exporter).
Education, economics, and the military are structured as a “cyclical system” that helps talented people develop before, after, and during their military service.
The Ukrainian experience
After 2014, Ukraine began to make progress in arms production, and since 2022, production volumes and the number of new products have been increasing very rapidly.
Therefore, Ukraine may become one of the leading arms exporters in the future. However, at present, our defense industry meets only 33-34% of the army’s needs, with Ukraine importing the rest of its weapons. Unfortunately, the quality of supplies (machine guns, mines, artillery shells) does not always meet expectations. The reasons for these problems, apart from corruption, are the vulnerability of businesses to pressure from law enforcement and regulatory authorities (inspections and criminal cases), insufficient orders from the state, occasional shortages of raw materials (cotton, TNT, etc.), and export bans that prevent the scaling up of production.
Currently, funding for veterans to start their own businesses is provided through grant programs that can be won, rather than received automatically, as in the Israeli system.
Unfortunately, businesses often operate in spite of, rather than thanks to, government support, and reintegration after military service is not implemented at the appropriate level.
Comparative infographics
Conclusion regarding the Israeli army and changes in the Ukrainian army
The factors listed above ensure the prestige of military service in Israel, effective mobilization, and a reserve force with combat experience.
For example, Israel deployed 300,000 reservists within 48 hours in response to the Hamas invasion in October 2023.
Despite the successes of veteran NGOs, military service in Ukraine
has not become prestigious and requires significant changes:
– modern training and rigorous selection for positions,
– eradication of “Soviet” traditions,
– mandatory fixed term of service,
– formation of a reserve of experienced military personnel,
– programs for the reintegration of veterans.
The NGO "Intention" proposes to begin changes with legislative regulation of the terms and conditions of military service.
Terms of service termination that ensure gradual and sequential replacement and the formation of a reserve with combat experience:
- Terms of service: 36 months, including 12 months in a military (combat) zone
- If it is impossible to serve in a military (combat) zone, the term of service shall be set at no more than 60 months (“rear positions”)
- For military personnel transferred to “rear positions,” the term of service shall be set at no more than 60 months, and the date of discharge shall be calculated according to the following coefficient:
1 day spent in a military (combat) zone is equivalent to 3 days of service.
At the same time, the minimum term of service cannot be less than 36 months. - Discharge shall take place in order of priority. Military personnel who have served after serious injuries/wounds/concussions, as well as those who have spent the longest time on the front line, shall be given priority.
- Military personnel must submit a report 2 months before the potential date of discharge. The command has 2 months to review the report from the date of submission.
Here is details on the proposal and amendments to Ukrainian legislation:
The full article in our publication for “Vox Ukraine”