IDF RECORDS OVER 5000 WOMEN LAST YEAR IN COMBAT ROLE

Defence affairs - Def-Geopolitics

Female combat soldiers currently serve in a variety of combat units, not just in support roles but at the core of operational defense.

In the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase from just 500 female combat soldiers to more than 5,000 this year, with female soldiers serving in the Artillery Corps, mixed battalions, and air defense advancing to senior command positions. Meanwhile, the IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir decided to halt the pilot program for training women for special forces positions.

While the reserve force is collapsing under the strain and the number of draft dodgers and deserters is increasing every month against the backdrop of tens of thousands of draft orders, the IDF's data presented to the Defense Ministry shows that the military's glass ceiling has been broken: over 5,000 female soldiers were sent into combat in the past year.

According to data presented by the IDF's Manpower Directorate, headed by Major-General David Bar Kalifa, to the defense minister, more than 20,000 women eligible for combat service enlisted in the 2024 draft class.

These are women who were found to be medically, functionally, and mentally fit to serve as combat soldiers in the IDF.

Of these, 35% reported for the days of combat duty on the front lines, and of those who reported, 76% went on to enlist as combat soldiers. In other words, about 5,300 of the 7,000 who expressed interest in being in combat service also completed the process.

Percentage of women serving combat roles in IDF is on the rise

As of today, one in four women found fit for combat service actually enlists in a combat role. Over the past decade, the number of female combat soldiers has grown from 500 to 5,000 per year.

Female combat soldiers currently serve in a variety of combat units, not just in support roles but at the core of operational defense. In the mixed-gender battalions stationed along the borders with Egypt, Jordan, and the West Bank separation barrier, women make up over 60% of the personnel, with some even serving aboard Merkava tanks. In recent years, these battalions have carried out missions in the Gaza Strip.