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The draft timeline, decided by your age at aliyah

Army

Age at aliyah is the single variable that decides whether a child is conscripted normally, drafted with real choice of unit, or effectively exempt. Families routinely get this wrong by moving a year late.

The steps in this domain (1)

  • 1

    Map your teenager draft timeline before you choose a date

    Age at aliyah is the single variable that decides whether your child is conscripted, drafted with real unit choice, or effectively exempt.

Work out your numbers

Resources (3)

Guide1

  • The IDF draft: tzav rishon, profile and the process

    The draft opens with the Tzav Rishon (first summons) once your details reach the army via Misrad HaPnim. It covers a medical exam that sets your physical profile (a health classification number), the DAPAR computerised cognitive test, and interviews. Elite units run their own gibbush tryouts on top of this.

    By IDF (Mitgaisim), with Nefesh B’Nefesh · checked 2026-08-06

Organisation2

  • Garin Tzabar

    A support framework for young adults serving without parents in Israel, covering housing, community and the practical side of lone soldier status.

    By Garin Tzabar · checked 2026-07-21

  • Garin Tzabar intake and timing

    Kibbutz-based absorption with a built-in peer group, run on two annual cycles. Solves housing and belonging at the same time as the draft.

    By Tzofim Garin Tzabar · checked 2026-08-04

See where this fits in your timeline

A plan built around your date puts these steps in the order you can actually do them, and shows which deadlines are already running.

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