A transformation in the IDF:
The army guides and helps soldiers who have graduated from ultra-Orthodox education to integrate into the IDF, including in high-quality targets, at the same time provides them with a service envelope adapted to the needs of the population.
In addition to this, within the framework of the new outline, they will be allowed to postpone their enlistment in order to complete a relevant education before military service, and to receive professional training before the release and after the service.
Every year, hundreds of soldiers who have graduated from ultra-orthodox education join the IDF, and in order to allow them to continue to maintain their way of life, the directive is to automatically assign them to units with a suitable character - combat units such as Netzah Yehuda, and rear units such as Shahr.
However, in many cases soldiers who enlisted did not run these routes at all;
Some aspired to serve in other units such as Modi'in, and others left with a question and did not want to be in an ultra-Orthodox setting.
Major Michael Reber. "The time has come", photo: IDF spokesman
Those who asked to serve in a non-Orthodox setting often had low KBA data, because they studied in yeshiva and came from a low socio-economic background, and were therefore assigned to positions that did not match their potential.
In the past year, extensive staff work was carried out in the IDF Personnel Planning and Management Division to formulate a new policy for the recruitment of the population of ultra-Orthodox education graduates.
The IDF emphasizes that the target audience that makes up this population is not only those who go out on the question, but also those who maintain a religious lifestyle and choose to enlist in military service. High school studies and get a second chance to improve the data of the first order.
Those who arrive at the BCM will be accepted for a special screening, which will not necessarily take into account their socio-economic status and the fact that they have gaps in their core studies, but will examine their abilities through an interview.
A jurist, not an overseer
Behind the project was the head of the deserters and integration section in the IDF, Major Michael Reber (36), who knew the field well: he himself came to the IDF this way and asked to make a change even though he does not deal with the issue on a daily basis as part of his role in the military prosecutor's office.
"I grew up in the Lithuanian sector until the age of 17 and then I left," says Reber, "I studied a degree in law, but when I got to the army they offered me in the BCOM to be a general worker or a kosher supervisor.
I explained that I had a law degree and that I wanted to serve in the military prosecutor's office, but since my data was very low - I had to fight to get what I wanted.
In the end, I ended up as a general worker in the military prosecutor's office, and only after a year I was recognized as in the Atudaim and I started the track."
"An essential and joyful step"
According to Reber, his story is not unusual.
Many soldiers who grew up in ultra-Orthodox society were assigned to relatively menial positions, despite the fact that they had sharp minds and could serve in significant positions in the IDF. "I have a friend who works today as a programmer in high-tech, but for most of his service he was a sergeant. It doesn't make sense," he emphasizes. Rebar
About a year ago, Rebar began volunteering with the association "Going for a Change", which began with an initial policy change in the IDF and sought to regulate the service of graduates of the ultra-Orthodox sector who do not want to reach positions designated for ultra-Orthodox.
Corporal S. (22) enlisted about a year and a half ago in the classified intelligence unit 9900. When he arrived on the day of the enlistment he discovered that he did not have many options, but in his case he received advice from the "Going for a Change" organization, as part of the beginning of the policy change on the subject in the IDF.
The association helped him pass the appointments, despite the low data he came with as a conscript who grew up in ultra-Orthodox society.
Corporal S. "Want to donate and are blocked", photo: IDF spokesperson
"I'm sure there are other people who get kicked out of yeshiva and the system doesn't know how to read them," says Sh.
"They fall into different places, but they deserve more - and the system can benefit from them more. I'm sure it's very frustrating. You want to feel that you're coming to contribute and you're not given the opportunity. The fact that the outline is changed and they are allowed to enter areas that suit them is essential and certainly gratifying." .
"In the IDF, all positions are now opened to graduates of ultra-Orthodox society by default," adds Reber, saying that the new policy will come into effect this week. He studied in yeshiva and has other abilities that can be developed.
In the past six months, we have accompanied many members of the Israel Defense Forces who graduated from ultra-Orthodox education who have reached key positions, for example in unit 8200 or in the research division of the intelligence division. Now deserving people will no longer have to fight to get to the positions that suit them, but will enter the king's way."
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