Dramatic Manpower Reductions Planned for a ‘Leaner, Meaner’ IDF
by David Daoud
Dramatic changes are about to occur in the IDF, making it leaner and meaner, Israel’s Channel 2 reported on Tuesday.
According to the new multi-year plan, dubbed “Gideon,” serious cuts in non-combat manpower will be made. These include taking Army Radio out of IDF’s purview; reducing the number of professional soldiers on the payroll; and paring down personnel in the military’s rabbinate, education corps, censorship office and other divisions.
Army drivers and Home Front Command staff will also be scaled down, and tracking units will be significantly downsized and replaced by advanced technological systems. In addition, the retirement age for professional soldiers not headed for advancement will be lowered to 35.
Combat resources are going to be allocated differently to maximize cost efficiency.