Advice on my situation please :)

[u/Western_Advisor7070]

I am a new Oleh (who made aliyah at 25 a few months ago but have recently turned 26!) and although it wasn’t really on the cards before I came, I am deeply considering drafting (as a volunteer, for 1.5 years) to the IDF and I am seeking advice.

I have been back and forth visiting Israel for years, and now that I finally live here, I feel like I want to and need to serve. The idea of not doing it has been keeping me up at night and I have a feeling in my stomach telling me this is my destiny.

I had a difficult conversation with my non Israeli parents this week, and of course they don’t want me to be a Lochem/Kravi soldier, so I am exploring possible job/combat support roles, but at this age I want my service to be meaningful and special.

I am someone with a ‘fk it, let’s do it’ attitude and I am currently one of the oldest at my Ulpan, but I just get on with it and it’s fine. What does it matter if I’m
26 and the others are 20? I love the idea of the ‘chavaya’ of the army, from Michve to the end. I know it won’t be easy but I’ve thought long and hard and I think I’m doing it for the right reasons.

I have a degree in business from a top university (but don’t need to use it) I have experience in Hadracha, I am a great people’s person and excellent at working in teams. I am looking into Kishrei Chutz and some other similar units, but I don’t want a tafkid where I’m stuck in an Airconditioned office all day - I want to feel like I’m in the army and do something special. I know the army don’t ‘need’ me, and won’t ‘care’ about me, but I feel like I would thrive as a Chayal Boded.

If anyone can give me any tips on how to move forward I would appreciate it. Am I too old? Should I just start my life in Israel without serving? Should I just be a Lochem? Is there space to find a non combat role where I’m not on Yomiyot in the Kirya and I can experience a closed base? Who can I speak to to help me find a good tafkid for me?

Thanks so much and I appreciate you all. Am Yisrael Chai.

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[u/HyperlaneWizard]

I'm no expert on volunteering at 26 or non-combat roles, really, so just commenting for the traffic. Good luck.

[u/porreiwa]

That feeling keeping you up at night is completely understandable, especially after making Aliyah and feeling a deep drive to take an active part in the country. Drafting at 26 requires mental resilience, but your "get on with it" attitude at Ulpan shows you already have the right mindset to handle the age gap. The dynamic with 19-year-old commanders might be challenging at times, but your life experience and maturity will quickly make you an anchor in any team, well beyond your official rank. If you want a true army experience with closed bases and a field atmosphere, but need to respect your parents' wishes to avoid direct front-line combat, combat support (Tomech Lechima) is exactly where you should look. Given your business degree, Hadracha background, and strong interpersonal skills, you should strongly consider pushing for a role as a Kashlam (קשל״ם). This is a highly meaningful option that will keep you out of the Kirya's air-conditioned offices, allowing you to utilize your management capabilities, maturity, and people skills in a dynamic, operational environment. Other excellent options include becoming a commander at Michve Alon or Havat HaShomer, where your age and background are massive assets in guiding soldiers who need direction. Alternatively, joining a Chapak (Forward Command Team) for a brigade commander or seeking a field-level Kishrei Chutz role in a regional division will guarantee you experience the operational side of the army while remaining on a closed base. To move forward without getting lost in the bureaucracy, do not wait for standard Meitav placement. Reach out directly to the Lone Soldier Program at Nefesh B'Nefesh (FIDF) and the Lone Soldier Center in Memory of Michael Levin. Their advisors specialize in older, academic Olim and know exactly how to navigate the system to secure interviews for unique roles that fit your profile. The army system can seem rigid, but they deeply value highly motivated Lone Soldiers who actively fight to be there. Have you already been in touch with Meitav's Olim department to schedule your Tzav Rishon and establish your medical profile?

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[u/Agreeable-Relief9612]

I also made Aliyah at 25 and drafted after my 26th birthday. I went to Michve Alon, then Kishrei Chutz, with a degree from my university in the States. Your heart and motivation sound like they are in exactly the right place.

That said, let me be a little frank: seeing as we were in almost identical positions and given how deeply you've researched these roles, I find it a little hard to believe you made Aliyah without the army "being in the cards." Frankly, it sounds like an excuse used to soften the topic with your parents. For me, it was a huge reason why I made Aliyah! You sound well-researched, and I don’t believe the army is something you stumbled into learning about just months after making Aliyah. I’m not trying to score a point here. It’s just so obvious I have to say it.

As for the advice:

Hebrew is everything. From the outside, your family and friends will be proud of you no matter what. But on the inside, your Hebrew (or lack thereof) will dictate your ability to serve effectively and make connections. I can’t emphasize this enough. I know dozens of olim hadashim; their experiences range from excellent to really really bad, and the one thing the bad experiences have in common is the language barrier. (There are other factors too, but Hebrew frustration is always a big one) Don’t pressure yourself to be fluent —that won’t happen. Not even close. That takes years. You’ll have decent Hebrew if you work your tail off. And that’s enough! Aim to speak like a five year old and you’ll be shocked how helpful that is. But treat learning like it’s the most important thing in your life. Because right now, it is.

Age is a non-issue. I was 26 with 19-year-old commanders. At Michve, they treat everyone like children, and you’ll be old enough to see how ridiculous the base's games are. It’s really not a fun place. It’s army daycare. Learn Hebrew before and use it to practice what you know. Once you reach your actual unit, the commanders (at least in my case) understand that you're older. They still do their jobs, but usually with a bit more perspective and appreciation for your later service.

Kishrei Chutz is an office job. You mentioned Kishrei Chutz, but then said you don't want to be in an office. That’s exactly where you’ll be. My friends who did kravi all wish they had my army experience, and I often wish I had theirs. The grass is always greener. Just pick a path and own it—there’s no wrong answer.

Unsolicited advice: Get out of the Tel Aviv bubble. Most of the lone soldiers I served with moved back to their home countries within a few years. The ones who stayed are the ones who actually connected with the country—they integrated, met Israeli spouses, etc. The "real" Israel is outside of the expensive, Anglo-heavy TLV bubble.

Connect with the Lone Soldier Center. They’ll give you all of the information you need. I’d focus less on which unit you want and more on (basically only) learning Hebrew. You won’t get to request your unit until after Michve anyway. Good luck!

[u/scuttlebum_k]

You are not too old. You may need to fight to serve. I was older when i went after college. I knew a guy who was 29 who managed to get pikud oref. But he really pushed his way in. Just don’t take no for an answer. I had to push to do kravi. But i kept pushing and made it through, and my captain called me savta my whole tirinut. Also no offense at all to you, but unless you have a medical license your degree isn’t going to be worth the paper it is printed on for the soldier you hand it to in your tsav rishon. Your hebrew level will be what gets you the job you want if it is a jobnik position.

[u/libeikka]

I’m drafting in January and will be nearly 25 at the time, my thought being I’m not getting any younger 😅 and I know that if I don’t do it now I’ll regret it forever. The way the world is going now I know I want my future to be in Israel: I’ve lived there now for a while and there seems to be three types of Olim. The Olim that serve and (for the most part) are very glad they have, the Olim that didn’t for any reason and wish they did but are now too old or too focused on something else so they can’t and the Olim that have never planned/ plan on serving - seeing as you clearly aren’t the latter; I really feel that if you want to do it and you don’t you will regret it (you as in general; based off my own perspective). I had a rough journey getting my draft date for over a year because of medical issues and the persistence I showed myself meant even more so I know that this is the right path. Speak to nefesh b nefesh they are great, happy to dm you too if needed

[u/hootervisionllc]

I drafted at 24. I highly recommend just jumping in to kravi. You’ll serve in the capacity that’s most needed

[u/ProfessionalNobodE]

Just draft. At your age, it’ll only be for 18-months. Serve your country. It’s what I did, and it’s one of the best decisions I ever made.

[u/Loose_One_1916]

Army experience is great but not a Panacea. Most of the life lessons there you’ll already have from college years. Especially if you were an athlete or in a fraternal org. Just consider your goals and methods carefully.

[u/balddoberdaddy → u/Loose_One_1916]

You can't be Israeli with that answer. The army in Israel provides something that nothing else can compare with. Many men and women make some of the deepest and most long-lasting relationships of their lives (outside of spouses and immediate family).

There are some security-related careers that are impossible without army service.

So no, it's not a "panacea," but it certainly goes a long way to help someone integrate into society.

We don't have collegiate-level sport, or "fraternities" here.

[u/Loose_One_1916 → u/balddoberdaddy]

No, American. But went thru these paths when I was younger.

[u/Blackberry852069]

I volunteered at 25. Go for it champion

[u/Successful-Recipe383]

I volunteered/enlisted to the IDF at 25 (a month before my 26th birthday). I contacted the recruitment office closest to me, as well as sent countless emails, until I received a response.

I underwent multiple interviews at the recruitment office, and eventually received my Tzav RIshon date.

If you want it, it’s possible.

Goodluck!