Different Reflections of the Motivation to Serve in the IDF

The fifth article in INSS memorandum no. 159, “Military Service in Israel: Challenges and Ramifications,” explores the motivation for conscription in the compulsory army and identifies an apparent gap in the answer to the frequently asked question of whether we are witnessing an increase or a decrease in the motivation to serve in the IDF. Whereas in many cases, as frequently reflected in the media, reference is made to a drop in the motivation to enlist in the IDF, surveys conducted by the IDF’s Behavioral Sciences Department and other studies have found prolonged stability and perhaps even an increase in the motivation to enlist. Tiargan’s article explains this gap using fundamental elements of the points of departure of the different analyses, such as the definition of the population of candidates for security service, the type of motivation under examination, the constitutional changes, the changes in IDF policy, and other such factors. For example, when we consider the overall young population of Israel, the number of new inductees has indeed declined over time, due primarily to the existence of large and ever expanding groups that offer no real conscription potential. On the other hand, when we consider only candidates for security service, as defined by Israeli law and IDF regulations and norms, a different picture emerges.