Rate of IDF reservists showing up for duty has dropped significantly — defense sources

There has been a significant decline in the rate of reserve soldiers showing up for duty in recent weeks compared to the start of the war, The Times of Israel has learned.

At the start of the war, the IDF reported that more than 100 percent of reservists called up for duty had shown up. In some units, the turnout rate reached even 150%, with many reservists showing up for duty despite not receiving formal orders.

In recent weeks, the turnout rate in the reservist units currently fighting in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip has ranged between 75% and 85%, according to defense sources.

The decline has been attributed by senior officers to burnout among reservists after fighting for over a year of war, along with them being away from their families for extended periods, losing jobs, or missing academic studies.

It has also been attributed to resentment over the failure of the country to draft masses of the ultra-Orthodox community, while the national religious and secular communities serve at high rates.

The IDF has been seeking to expand its ranks and lengthen the mandatory military service time to relieve the reservists from extended duty, as many of them have already been serving for most of the war and are expected to be called up for over 100 days of duty next year as well.