Figures published by the IDF Manpower Directorate in a yearly report last Thursday revealed that every fifth soldier required financial assistance aid provided to lone soldiers, soldiers with families, and soldiers in homefront units who receive special permissions to work beyond their hours with their units.
The data the IDF released showed 6,260 lone soldiers (soldiers without immediate family in Israel) served in its ranks during 2015. Nearly half (48%) serve in homefront roles, 27% serve in combat units, and 25% in combat support. More than a third of lone soldiers come from Europe, with 24% arriving from the US; 17% of lone soldiers are Israeli and 12% were born in Russia.
The remaining 12% of lone soldiers were born in African or South American nations.
Some 3,000 of the IDF soldiers requiring assistance receive family allowances. Among those soldiers, 38% serve in combat units. Many of the needy soldiers that serve in homefront roles and are eligible for family allowances are also married. Of these, some 1,000 are haredi or religious and serve in units designated for their sector, like the haredi Nahal unit.
Some 20,000 homefront soldiers received permission from their commanders to work in their off-duty hours in the past year. The Manpower Directorate said the requirements for work permits had beenrelaxed, and that permits were now granted on the basis ofthe opinion of the direct commander, and not justthe economic condition of the soldier or their family.
But soldiers’ pay will dramatically increase starting in 2016: the January salary for combat soldiers will rise to NIS 1,616 from NIS 1,077; a soldier in a support unit will receive NIS 1,176 per month, up from NIS 784; and homefront soldiers will be paid NIS 840 per month instead of NIS 540.
The Manpower Directorate stressed that over the past two years, therehas beena 130% increase in the living allowances paid out to enlisted soldiers.
Sources in the Manpower Directorate said there will be moves to significantly improve the pay packets of officers and NCOs in their first years in the IDF those ranked second lieutenant, lieutenant, and sergeant first class who are compensated so poorly that it influences their decision to continue their serving in the IDF.
The Manpower Directorate is working on formulating a plan to retain young officers through a variety of financial and material incentives hoping that improving the service conditions of young officers will lower the number that seeks to try their fortune outside the military.
Meanwhile, the Manpower Directorate also said that over the course of the year the price of at least 40 basic products sold at the armyoutlets will be lowered. Military sources said the goods will be sold at cost and include hygiene products, clothing, and food.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 4, 2016
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