IDF continues to see high turnout of women drafting to combat units

The IDF says it’s continuing to see a high turnout of women joining combat units, releasing data from the military’s March-April draft.

The military often funnels more conscripts than it actually needs to certain units, expecting a certain percentage to refuse the positions.

According to data from the IDF, the Border Defense Corps’ light infantry units saw a 129% draft turnout among female conscripts, and the corps’ Combat Intelligence Collection units — where surveillance soldiers serve — saw a 132% turnout.

The Artillery Corps saw a 142% draft turnout; the Air Force’s air defense array saw 115%; the Home Front Command’s Search and Rescue units saw 132%; and the Border Police saw 107%.

“In this recruitment, too, the high motivation of the enlistees to take an active and meaningful part in the various challenges facing the IDF is evident, as combat soldiers in the different units,” the military says.

Additionally, the IDF says this draft period also included a pilot program for female recruits to serve as combat soldiers in the Military Intelligence Directorate’s Unit 504, which specializes in HUMINT, or human intelligence.

Similarly, among male conscripts, there was a high turnout of soldiers drafting to combat units, all above 100%, according to the IDF.