IDF Plans New Female Infantry Pilot After Previous Program Halted Over Fitness Gaps
In November 2024, the Israel Defense Forces launched a pilot program integrating women into the infantry mobility corps without prior screening or preparation, assigning 30 female recruits to a paratrooper training base. However, about six months into the program, the Chief of Staff halted the pilot due to significant gaps in combat fitness and injury risks, dispersing the women into other combat or training roles. Eight months after this decision, the IDF announced plans to start a new pilot in November 2026, but as of July 2026, the program details remain unresolved.
Former participants described the initial pilot as lacking clarity and proper adaptation to female recruits’ needs, noting that many failed physical fitness tests and that the training pace did not account for biological differences. One former soldier said, “If the pilot had been done properly, women could have reached the same standards as men, but they ignored these facts and did not invest enough.” The Chief of Staff’s May 2025 decision cited high professional achievements but insufficient physical readiness and potential health risks as reasons for stopping the pilot. He instructed planning for a tailored female infantry pilot incorporating lessons learned.
The upcoming pilot aims to improve physical preparation before training, possibly extend the training duration to reduce injury risk, and provide female-specific support such as nutrition and physiological monitoring. Former participants and advocates emphasize the importance of proper candidate screening, transparency, and workload adjustments. A legal petition to the Supreme Court supports continuing efforts to integrate women into combat roles, with a judge noting that one unsuccessful trial is insufficient to draw final conclusions.
Among hopeful candidates is 19-year-old Talia from Tel Shachar, who has trained intensively since age 16 and requested to delay her enlistment to join the new pilot. The IDF stated that while the infantry mobility pilot is still in planning stages and candidate screening has not yet begun, expanding combat roles for women has significantly increased female recruitment. The Chief of Staff has ordered continued development of these initiatives pending the court’s final ruling.
