IDF Officer Says Service Must Be Extended to 36 Months Amid Manpower Shortage

Brig. Gen. Shay Tayeb, head of the IDF Planning and Personnel Directorate, said the army wants to restore compulsory service to 36 months because of a manpower shortage and operational needs. In an interview on an IDF podcast, he said the longer service would give soldiers more time to specialize, improve professional and operational effectiveness, and free up personnel for new units.

Tayeb said those new units could replace reservists and ease the burden on regular-service soldiers. He warned that the current length of service will widen personnel gaps in the coming months, because many of those who were discharged from 2027 onward served shorter terms.

He acknowledged that asking soldiers to stay longer is a heavy demand, especially for those close to discharge and already thinking about travel plans after the army. He said the draft bill, written together with government ministries including the Finance Ministry, includes a compensation mechanism: the closer a soldier is to discharge when notified, the larger the compensation, through salary or living stipends.

Asked about integrating ultra-Orthodox men into the army, Tayeb said the IDF has taken “unprecedented” steps over the past three years to enable their enlistment. He said the army is trying to expand the ranks, make better use of each soldier, and maximize service in a way that serves both operational needs and personal fulfillment.