Growing calls to return to three full years of compulsory service, to lighten load of reservists

July 9, 2026

In 2015, IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot launched the Gideon Multi-Year Plan to reshape Israel’s military into a what he called a “younger, slimmer, and more cost-effective force”.

By Hezy Laing

The ongoing war on multiple fronts has put an increased burden on the army reserves. This challenge has led to calls to cancel the reduced service implemented a decade ago for the standing army.

In 2015, IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot launched the Gideon Multi-Year Plan to reshape Israel’s military into a what he called a “younger, slimmer, and more cost-effective force”.

First he reduced standard compulsory military service for men from 36 months to 32 months.

Furthermore, Eisenkot scaled back the professional standing army by dismissing 2,500 permanent career soldiers and eliminating 11% of senior officer roles. He also trimmed staff headquarters by 6% and integrated civilian outsourcing for non-combat roles.

Eisenkot also oversaw structural changes that aggressively reduced personnel numbers across multiple sectors.

He discharged roughly 100,000 reserve soldiers and dismantled artillery and light infantry brigades.

But this smaller army was caught flat footed when Israel needed to fight Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran simultaneously.

Now there are growing calls to shift mandatory IDF service back to 36 months.

Military officials highlight a severe personnel deficit.

According to senior IDF officials, the early release of cohorts without immediate replacement means approximately 8,000 additional reservists are needed every day just to bridge the manpower gap.

To sustain security operations, the state has relied heavily on mobilized reservists.

Although the IDF and Finance Ministry implemented updated frameworks aiming to cut annual active reserve time to between 55 and 60 days, mobilization rates remain well above pre-war baselines.

With up to 60,000 reservists required on duty at all times, military leaders are pressing for longer regular service periods to lighten the operational burden on veterans and maintain combat capacity.