Recruits are forced to purchase equipment with their own money - despite the IDF plan | Israel Today

About five years ago, the IDF launched a "Kochavim" card with which the Israel Defense Forces (intended for security service) can purchase equipment at the IDF's expense. The army marketed this as a real revolution at the time, but in practice, Israel Defense Forces members and their parents claim that their expenses before enlistment are estimated at many hundreds of shekels.

According to the IDF website, the card launched in 2017 is "a major step in the IDF's equipment revolution, as part of an overall trend to improve the service conditions of conscript soldiers."

The stars are supposed to be sent to the Israel Defense Forces about two months before his enlistment (we received complaints from Israel Defense Forces who received a message about the card too late or on the very eve of the enlistment), and with it he can purchase the necessary equipment in the marketing networks.

Before being recruited, each Malshab receives 215 points worth NIS 287, regardless of his designation as a fighter, as a combat supporter or as an all-IDF recruit.

As the service continues, some soldiers receive additional points depending on their position in the army, but as far as the security forces are concerned, this is a ridiculous amount that is not even enough to purchase a third of the equipment they are required to bring by the units to which they enlist.

Not enough.

the "stars" card,

We will explain: in order to encourage motivation for recruitment, there are units that turn to recruits and even open WhatsApp groups for them with information relevant to recruitment.

A few weeks before, in these groups, they send out lists of equipment that the Israeli soldiers are required to bring on the day of their recruitment. Thus, for example, in one of the lists that came to us, those destined for combat duty are required to bring 10 green shirts, 3 white shirts for uniform A, underwear, clothing and sports shoes, a towel , a bag with bathroom equipment, and much more.

For basic equipment only

In some of the receipts we received from militiamen who purchased equipment according to the list, the amount was hundreds of shekels higher than what was allocated to them by the army. One of them, who is going to enlist in the upcoming recruitment cycle, told Israel Hayom: "I don't come from a low-income family, but it's not pleasant I have to ask my parents for a few hundred shekels to purchase the equipment that is all intended for military activity.

They don't need to fund the military.

I thought the army was supposed to provide for all my needs as a soldier."

Another father of the Malshabet added: "The army is becoming an economic burden for us, especially in a time of price increases.

There is no reason for the army not to fund its soldiers with jerseys for sports training, for example, and if there is no such demand from the recruits - that they should be forbidden from telling them to buy equipment that is not on a specified list, otherwise there is discrimination between those who have it and those who don't."

The IDF spokesperson's response: "The 'stars' that a soldier receives are used to purchase basic personal equipment such as underwear for his service, and their scope varies depending on the nature of the service: an IDF general receives 215 stars, a combat supporter receives 695 stars, and a fighter receives 1,515 stars. In connection with the stars, examination of eligibility for financial assistance will be possible already from the soldier's time as a security guard.

These days there is headquarters work examining the sum of the stars and the times of the division pulses."

Military sources added that the IDF publishes a basic list recommended for buying with the help of the stars, and that any additional list is merely a recommendation.

And we will add that the lists in question are sent to the police officers by the units themselves, what's more, it cannot be claimed that these four items can be enough for a soldier for the entire training period, not even for its first week.

More on the expenses of the soldiers' parents - in the supplement "Israel this week"

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