IDF Introduces New Medical Profile to Expand Combat Roles

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has introduced a new medical profile, "70," aimed at allowing thousands more young Israelis to serve in combat roles. This new profile will be positioned between the existing profile 64, which typically disqualifies individuals from combat service, and profile 72, the standard for combat eligibility. The change, reported by Kan News, is expected to enable hundreds of potential recruits to be considered for combat positions.

The decision was developed through a joint effort by the IDF's Medical Corps and Manpower Directorate. It will apply to individuals undergoing their initial enlistment process and not to current soldiers. This means candidates previously assigned profile 64 due to specific medical conditions can now be evaluated for combat and operational roles in units such as the Artillery Corps, Air Defense, Air Force, and others.

An IDF source explained that the change stems from observing hundreds of profile 64 candidates annually receiving exceptional approval to serve in roles usually requiring a higher profile. Instead of processing these exceptions individually, the IDF will now assign profile 70 upfront, facilitating integration into suitable combat units based on their medical condition.

A primary driver for this policy shift is the ongoing shortage of combat soldiers. By creating profile 70, the IDF aims to broaden the pool of eligible recruits for combat units, moving away from reliance on case-by-case exemptions. The IDF's medical profile system currently includes profile 21 for those unfit for service, profiles 45 and 64 for non-combat roles, and profiles 72, 82, and 97 for combat service. Profile 70 is now added as an intermediate level to expand combat service opportunities.