IDF and the Lone Soldier

This is not a guide or a handbook but a very practical document compiled from different articles currently running on the NET and written by many others.

Every case is different but here I will try to demonstrate from my personal experience how you can make your life easier in the IDF.

Israeli Citizens, New Immigrants (or permanent residents):

For this type of Israeli resident, the national army service is not voluntary but an obligation .The only “discount” a new immigrant may have is the duration of the service. A new immigrant will serve his duty according to a number of parameters that no “native” Israeli will.

What if you do not have to be in the army but you want to serve:

If you are not a citizen, you can try to volunteer for the army but in this article I will not deal with this specific issue.

A word of wisdom:

The service in the IDF is hard; it is nothing like in the movies. For a lone soldier and a new immigrant, it will be even harder. If you want to serve your country and be a soldier in the IDF but you think you are unable for any reason to do so, let the army be aware of your concern. Do not hide anything – it is “kosher” to do so.

If you want to serve as little time as possible, according to the existing laws, it is important to speak with someone that can advise you well. You can contact us or MEITAV. They can even suggest the right time for you to make Aliyah. What you must not ever do is be a deserter or not show up for duty.

The "Chayal Boded" ("Lone Soldier"):

New immigrants who have no immediate family living in Israel are eligible to be recognized as a Lone Soldier and when this status is granted this soldier will be eligible for special considerations and privileges.

Another word of wisdom:

This special status does not mean the army will demand less of a lone soldier – not at all. The opposite may happen; the commanders may wrongly have more expectations from new immigrants, especially from the “Anglos”.

The First step – Here is where we all start our way in the army - Lishkat Hagius:

It is at Lishkat Hagius (enlistment office) where we all open our file. It looks like it does in the movies but now you are in the cast.

Here the new soldier will go through interviews, tests, a medical checkup, and a psychometric in Hebrew or other language, depending on the level of your Hebrew. This is the first step to be accomplished in the status of a lone soldier.

More words of wisdom:

This is not supposed to be a pleasant, fast or instructive day in your life. Take it easy and remember you are a civilian “in military territory”. This is a day of “waste”, take your time, do not answer back, do as told and do not try to be too “smart”.

Tell the army about yourself, tell them about any health condition you may suffer from, ask what else they want to know about you. This is the most important interview and will influence your entire service.

The BAKUM – now you are a real soldier in the IDF

You will be given a uniform and shots, and most importantly you will be given ORDERS; there are no “please”, “excuse me”, etc… They will even yell at you and you, soldier, will respond with: “sir, yes sir” or “sir, no sir”.

Do not ask unnecessary questions; stupid questions will be given stupid and unwanted answers.

Bring with you the entire house if you want. It will be you carrying all that weight and nobody promises you can use or wear any of the stuff you bring. Therefore: Bring the minimum.

This is your chance! Whatever you told the guys in the first meeting (Lishkat Hagius) that was not “correct” must be immediately fixed, this is the time. Do it NOW! Spill it out because you may not get another chance – or the next time you have a chance it may be too late.

Now you have not only a number (military ID number), an ID card, a uniform, etc., you have on you the “smell” of the army. Start enjoying it and the easier going you are the better for you.

More words of wisdom:

Make sure that everything you receive from the army fits you and is in perfect condition. You may be considered a “lone soldier” but you are not alone. Look around! Open your eyes and ears! Look for those Israelis you can trust. Go straight to the point! Approach them and tell them you are a new immigrant and you need help or advice. Welcome to the best club in the army - the friends club!

From here you will probably be sent to the most significant, annoying and hardest stage in the army: The famous “basic training course” – TIRONUT. Think about your best weekend ever! It won’t be anything like that.

My personal touch:

As a combatant major (reserve) in the IDF leading hundreds of new immigrants in the field, a former lone soldier myself, a father of one son in an elite force in a time of war and as an uncle of a nephew killed in the Second Lebanon War, I can assure you it is much more difficult to be a father of a soldier than to be a soldier.

It is indeed much more difficult to be a lone soldier than one who has family in Israel. This is why, in order to get the best out of your experience, I will again remind you: Make your companions in the army your best friends and you will find out very fast what a beautiful new family you have. You won’t feel alone at all.

Good Luck

Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law