IDF Introduces New Medical Profile to Expand Combat Service Eligibility

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is introducing a new medical profile, designated as 70, aimed at increasing the pool of eligible candidates for combat roles. This new profile will allow individuals who previously received a medical profile of 64, which barred them from combat positions, to now be considered for combat and operational roles, including in artillery and air defense units. Profile 70 will sit between the existing profile 64 (non-combat) and profile 72 (combat). The decision to implement this change stems from a realization within the IDF that hundreds of soldiers with profile 64 annually received individual medical exemptions to serve in combat roles, for which they were technically unqualified. The primary driver for this adjustment is a significant shortage of personnel in combat positions. By creating this intermediate medical profile, the IDF seeks to streamline the process of assigning soldiers to combat roles, moving away from issuing numerous individual exemptions each year. This new system will apply to new conscripts undergoing their initial enlistment medical evaluations and will not affect currently serving soldiers. Previously, the IDF's medical profiles included profile 21 (unfit for service), profiles 45 and 64 (non-combat roles), and profiles 72, 82, and 97 (combat roles, with varying requirements).