IDF says reservists to serve significantly less, train more in 2026

With the war winding down, the IDF expects that during 2026, reservists will be called up for up to 60 days of reserve duty in total, according to an updated military chart.

During the first year of the war, combat soldiers served on average 136 days in reserves, and commanders served 168 days. Before the war, reservists would carry out up to 25 days of operational activity every three years.

Today, the IDF’s “combat chart” was distributed to all units after it was approved by Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.

The chart details all tasks, exercises, means, and resources for all units in 2026. The IDF says the chart was formulated based on the lessons learned from the war and “a new concept of defense, alertness and readiness,” and that it will enable “meeting the many challenges.”

According to the chart, reservists will be called up for around six weeks of operational activity, with additional days in reserve duty for training and organization. In total, they will be on duty for around 60 days throughout the year.

“The deployment plan for reservists in 2026 reflects an increase in training days to strengthen readiness, alongside a reduction in mission days for reservists in order to ease their burden,” the military says.

The IDF says that in the coming year, an effort will be made to conduct basic training as planned, and in addition, all units will undergo “dedicated training to improve readiness, which will last several weeks.”