The IDF plans to reduce the maximum annual number of combat reserve days and expand the combat capacity of the mandatory service force, according to an interview published Friday with a senior officer from the IDF Personnel Directorate.
Amid increasing concerns over "unprecedented burnout," Israeli reserve soldiers have voiced their frustrations following more than two years of continuous combat. The senior IDF officer shared insights into the military’s plans to ease the strain on reservists for 2026 in an interview with Walla.
The new plan aims to reduce the number of reserve days for combat soldiers, limiting them to fewer than 60 days per year. This represents a slight reduction compared to last year but remains well above pre-war levels. According to the officer, the ultimate goal for reservists is to limit their service to 55 days per year.
"We set a boundary of up to 70 days, but we plan to keep it under 60 days per soldier at the most," the officer explained. "Last year, we were at eight weeks of operational duty. This year, we aim for six weeks. Still, it's an extremely heavy load."
The implementation of this plan is supported by the creation of a new division, the David Division, led by Brigadier General Oren Simcha. This division includes nearly 30 new battalions, which will help enhance security operations while relieving overextended reserve units that have completed multiple tours of duty since the escalation of the conflict on October 7, 2023.
In addition to reducing reserve days, the IDF is focused on rebuilding trust with combat soldiers, whose unpredictable schedules have often disrupted their personal lives. Many reservists are balancing their military obligations with family commitments, schooling, and civilian employment. Despite these efforts, the operational reality remains tough for many on the ground.
Furthermore, the IDF has faced increasing criticism for relying on reservists as a "cheap labor force," especially as the civilian economy has returned to normalcy, offering higher salaries.
More must be done in order to bridge the personnel gap
The IDF admits that it currently faces a shortage of at least 12,000 soldiers to meet personnel needs. “To truly scale up and establish another 4-5 battalions, we would need to extend mandatory service to 36 months,” said the senior officer.
He elaborated that closing the personnel gap will require three key strategies.
Firstly, the IDF will expand mandatory service units. New engineering, armored, and tactical defense battalions will be formed to replace reserve units, with each regular battalion replacing 7-10 reserve battalions.
Secondly, the IDF will expand the reserve pool. The military plans to recall 20,000 reservists previously exempted from active service, and raise the exemption age to 45.
Finally, the IDF pledged to allocate over 6 billion shekels to support programs, focusing on mental health care and student assistance.
Despite the creation of a new division and the integration of advanced technologies to reduce manpower needs, particularly in border and outpost security, the IDF remains under pressure. The senior officer concluded, “Without a significant expansion of the haredi sector or an extension of mandatory service, reservists will continue to bear the burden of national security, serving for at least 55 days per year.”
New memorandum: Perpetual compensation for reservist employers
A legislative memorandum outlining a plan to update the National Insurance Law was published on Friday morning, proposing that Israel's government permanently establish a policy compensating employers of IDF reservists for the inconvenience of having to loan out valuable employees to the military regularly.
The memorandum also includes grant proposals for employers who shouldered a particularly heavy burden during the 2023-2025 war.
Currently, the law does have mechanisms in place to compensate employers during a state of emergency. The new proposal will allow the National Insurance Institute to aid reservists' employers on an ongoing basis, regardless of the state's geopolitical status.
"Reservists are the protective barrier around the State of Israel - but behind them also stand employers, who bear the burdern and support them through extended periods of military service," Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a Friday statement.
"This is a move that strengthens both national security and the economy," he added.