IDF soldiers with C-in-C Gantz
IDF soldiers with C-in-C GantzIsrael news photo: Flash 90

While malfunctioning air raid sirens cause distress and Israel's leadership warns its population that the next war will involve numerous civilian casualties, the nation's youth are raring to go and fight if they must. The percentage of eligible draftees who seek to serve in combat units has climbed to a record high of 79.5%, according to statistics revealed in the latest issue of Bamachaneh, the IDF magazine. 

There has been a steep, steady climb in the combat motivation of Israel's youth over the last three years. In March of 2008, only about 70% of eligible draftees wanted to serve in combat units. One year later the rate was 73.3%, and in 2010 it reached 75.8%. Over the last year it climbed by another 3.7%, to its present record-high level.
 
Sources in Meitav, the unit that absorbs new soldiers into the army and decides where they will serve, pointed out several reasons for the sharp climb in the gung-ho spirit. For one, they said, the motivation began rising noticeably after Operation Cast Lead against Gaza terrorists in 2008-9. Another factor is the public's increased confidence in the IDF.
 
While motivation is high for all combat units, the infantry units are the most highly prized. About 54% of eligible combat service candidates chose infantry units as their first preference. Remarkably, this is about 3.5% more than in November 2010 - an astounding jump of more than 1% per month.