Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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Introduction
As one of the foremost institutions in Israeli society, and especially as it is a
combat organization requiring its soldiers to engage in strenuous physical and
mental activity, the IDF views health, physical fitness and a healthful way of
life as critical values.
The Center for Combat Fitness in the IDF is in charge of promoting and
improving the physical and mental fitness and vigor of its soldiers, including
those doing their compulsory service as well as regular army personnel and
IDF reservists.
In light of lessons generated by the Second Lebanon War, when it became
clear that the physical fitness of the combatants was not at the level expected
of them, the combat fitness structure in the IDF has spearheaded a significant
program of reform in the field of physical and combat fitness in the IDF.
During the last 3 years, IDF’s combat fitness structure has focused its
activity on three levels:
1. Enhancing combat fitness of combat units.
2. Adjusting and regulating stress measures in selections and
physical assignments to elite units.
3. Assimilating a culture of a healthful way of life into the IDF.
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40.00%
20.00%
0.00%
2006 2007 2008 2009
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In addition, from 2002 until 2009 there was a 14% increase in prospective
soldiers who passed the combat fitness exam; in the same period there was a
10% increase of prospective soldiers taking the exam. So, for example, in the
Southern Command, there was a 53% increase in examinees from 2008 to
2002-2009אחוז המש תתפים בבוחן כוש ר מבצעית בש נים 2 002-2009אחוז ה עוברים בבוחן כ שירות מצבעית ב ש נים
89%
10% increase 90% 14% increase 92% 95%
88%
88% 87% 86% 90%
86%
82% 84%
81% 81% 84% 85%
80% 82%
79% 78%
80% 80%
78%
75%
76%
74% 70%
2002/3 2003/4 2004/5 2006/7 2007/8 2009 2002/3 2003/4 2004/5 2006/7 2007/8 2009
2009.
[chart name, left:] The number of participants in the operational fitness
exam, 2002-2009
[chart name, right:] The number of people passing the operational fitness
exam, 2002-2009
In recent years, the IDF opened a physical fitness trainers’ course for IDF
service people already serving in other capacities, and in 2009 over 300
physical fitness trainers were certified. (To date, over 800 physical fitness
trainers among IDF service people already serving in various capacities have
been certified.) In addition, professional personnel are being referred to all
infantry and reconnaissance battalions. All of these changes indicate that IDF
commanders are internalizing the importance of physical fitness. From 2007
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until 2009, there was a 55% increase in physical fitness trainers’ certification
among IDF service people already serving in other capacities.
The number of IDF service people already serving in orther
capacities ceritified as physical fitness trainers
increase 55%
As part of the activity of the Center for Combat Fitness, there are routine
spot checks, including attending training, close tracking of unit
performance, and continual lesson-learning and adjustments The
inspections are carried out in relation to the nature of the units’
activities.
The physical fitness structure views such inspections as an impetus to
learning, motivation and improving a unit’s physical and combat fitness.
Therefore, there has been an increase in inspections taking place in practice
in various units, with stress placed on combat units. In 2009, some 24
General Staff checks were planned as well as 32 inspections at the GOC
Army Headquarters. In addition, there are pinpoint checks in various units in
order to make sure combatants achieve optimal combat fitness.
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for every student at such a prep school. Physical and combat preparation will
prevent unnecessary injuries, stress fractures and early dropouts of potential
combat soldiers.
The project allows regular army personnel to improve their physical fitness
and make their way of life a more healthful one. The Healthful Way of Life
Project started in 2008 with 5 units. During 2009, the project expanded to
include 47 units, and this year another 15 units will be joining it. So far, 2,000
regular army personnel have participated. The project uses a professional
team of experts on healthful living, physical fitness officers, unit physicians,
fitness trainers and nutritionists. The project is active during business hours,
without exception, and the physical fitness program of the project is held three
times per week. The project includes tracking of personal indices of all the
participants, and individualized meal plans for every regular army service
person created by a clinical nutritionist.
6723
7000
5052
6000
3991 4171
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
2005 2007 2008 2009
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350
250
300
250
200
150
70
100
50
0
2007 2008 2009
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Information Update:
Combat Fitness in the IDF – February 2010
During the last 3 years, IDF’s combat fitness structure has focused its activity on
three levels:
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Training Base 8 (The School for Combat Fitness) is hosting the IDF
championship in combat fitness for the IDF preparatory high schools.
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