IDF Chief Reserve Officer Warns of Extreme Strain on Reserve System
Nearly three years after October 7, the IDF reserve force has grown by over 130,000 troops, yet faces severe burnout and strain as combat operations continue across multiple fronts.
Nearly three years after the outbreak of the war on October 7, the IDF reserve system has undergone a dramatic transformation, evolving from a rear-guard echelon into a core combat force. Brigadier General Beni Ben Ari, the IDF's Chief Reserve Officer, stated in an interview that the system has expanded by more than 130,000 reservists—including combat troops and support personnel—since the war began.
"We understand that we will not return to October 6, and therefore we are building the reserve system differently," Brig. Gen. Ben Ari explained. Measures taken over the past three years to mitigate severe burnout include recalling inactive personnel, extending exemption age limits for specific roles, and utilizing special draft orders to return tens of thousands of individuals who had previously been removed from the rosters.
Despite the creation of new reserve formations such as the Shomron Brigade and Divisions 96 and 38, the system is stretched to its absolute limits. While a significant portion of the population remains exempt from service due to the lack of an equal conscription law, the hundreds of thousands who do report for duty are bearing an unsustainable burden. "We no longer have the ability to generate certainty," Ben Ari warned, noting that frequent call-ups and shifting operational needs have heavily impacted reservists' employment and personal lives.
Employment protection laws currently offer 60 days of workplace protection against dismissal, but prolonged absences present severe challenges for employers, particularly in managerial positions. To address these pressures, the defense establishment and the government have rolled out extensive support packages across successive government resolutions—ranging from financial grants and emotional support in 2023–2024 to expanded academic assistance, psychological care, and digital stipends through 2025 and 2026.
"It is not easy to be a reservist, it is challenging," Ben Ari concluded. Stressing that the military still faces a shortage of combat personnel, he emphasized that maintaining the reserve system requires treating reservists as a national asset and ensuring comprehensive state-level support for their families, workplaces, and academic studies.
