Above photo: Anadolu Agency.
Jealousy is spreading within the ranks of the military as career soldiers feel unfairly treated.
The Israeli army is worried about the rise of members in its ranks voluntarily leaving the forces just as reports have surfaced that the military is in need of an increase in support, Israel Hayom reported on 5 March.
Higher-ups within the Israeli army have raised alarms over talks between the younger soldiers and more veteran career officers who have voiced desires to leave the forces as soon as the operation situation allows it.
Career officers have even expressed envy toward the reservist forces. One combat support soldier who spoke with Israel Hayom noted, “If I go out in dress uniform, they look at me with contempt. If I’m in combat fatigues—the attitude is completely different because they think I’m a reservist.”
“Even though I’m ‘only’ a combat support soldier, I don’t go home; before the war, I would come home occasionally. My family doesn’t receive support from the state, the army, society, or the economy,” the soldier said. “My wife sees in the media the warm embrace for reservists, but no one strengthens or embraces career soldiers and their families. None of us expect prizes or luxuries, just a kind word, a minimum of respect.”
Another member of the Israeli army noted that the families of career officers are being torn apart by mounting familial dues and psychological harm to their children over their prolonged stay on the battlefield.
An Israeli army spokesman decided to overlook the jealousy within the force and said that their “strength lies in the quality of its servicemembers.”
Recently, the Israeli Army Spokesperson’s Unit, led by Lt Col Daniel Hagari, has witnessed a wave of resignations in the unit.
“A large number of officers recently announced their retirement from the unit responsible for the military’s information system […] after things did not work out ‘professionally and personally,’” Channel 14 correspondent Tamir Morg reported.
Morg also said, “The picture is complex since it is a military system, and sometimes people reach retirement age and leave for no particular reason, but despite this, the number of people who retire at once during a war is unusual.”
Those who have resigned and the increase in talks of Israeli army personnel leaving the forces have caused internal anxiety. Reports have come out that the Israeli army “urgently” requires an additional 7,000 members, half of whom will be for combat roles and an additional 7,500 for officer and non-commissioned officer positions. Israel’s treasury, however, is only approving 2,500.