Immigration Ministry and IDF launch fast-track reserve program for new immigrants

The IDF Personnel Directorate and the Immigration and Absorption Ministry announce a new national initiative aimed at fast-tracking skilled new immigrants into Israel’s military reserve forces.

Under the program, immigrants aged 26 and older will undergo a condensed two-week basic training course, after which they will be assigned to IDF units as reservists, based on their professional and academic backgrounds. The track is designed to allow older immigrants – who are often excluded from standard enlistment routes – to contribute to Israel’s security while integrating into society.

According to the Personnel Directorate, the program will place participants in roles across medical services, technology and maintenance, the Home Front Command, and logistics and transport, and will offer positions for doctors, engineers, technicians, drivers and crane operators.

Reserve service days will be fully compensated through the National Insurance Institute, and participants will commit to roughly five years of active reserve duty, subject to unit needs. Registration for the program is now open, with the first draft planned for next month.

The launch of the program comes as the IDF has said it faces an acute manpower shortage.