Possibly Off topic question - Joining the Israeli Army

[IsraelForever]

Okay, I've tired several other military forums and none seem to have what I need.

I really would like to join the Israeli army in a few years, before age 24.

However, I have a long history of depression and been on medication since I was a young child.

I know the US military denies most people with mental illness diagnosis, but what about the Israeli army? Are they less strict when it comes to foreign Jews?

 

[Abraham Gubler]

Okay, I've tired several other military forums and none seem to have what I need.

I really would like to join the Israeli army in a few years, before age 24.

However, I have a long history of depression and been on medication since I was a young child.

I know the US military denies most people with mental illness diagnosis, but what about the Israeli army? Are they less strict when it comes to foreign Jews?

Go here:

Israel Defense Forces (Read First Post!)

and

Volunteer, Enlist, Serve & Join the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) - Zahal - Mahal, Nahal Haredi, Hesder, Garin - Mahal Guide & Assistant

To have all your questions asked. However a word to the wise: don't introduce yourself and in the same post talk about being on medication for depression since childhood. The Israelis seem to take a school of hard knocks approach to getting people into shape for military service. So even if they find you medically unfit you might get a bit of training in and an experience.

 

[riksavage]

Okay, I've tired several other military forums and none seem to have what I need.

I really would like to join the Israeli army in a few years, before age 24.

However, I have a long history of depression and been on medication since I was a young child.

I know the US military denies most people with mental illness diagnosis, but what about the Israeli army? Are they less strict when it comes to foreign Jews?

Are you Jewish? Not sue whether this is an issue, but I understand Israel has a policy of encouraging Jewish immigration to the ancestral homeland.

Following the collapse of the Soviet union Israel accepted a large influx of Russian Jewish emigre's, many of the younger generation served in the military (national service and beyond). I was there in 2005 and got stopped at a checkpoint near the airport, the group of soldiers communicated to each other in Russian, not Hebrew, which at the time took me by suprise.

 

[IsraelForever]

Are you Jewish? Not sue whether this is an issue, but I understand Israel has a policy of encouraging Jewish immigration to the ancestral homeland.

Following the collapse of the Soviet union Israel accepted a large influx of Russian Jewish emigre's, many of the younger generation served in the military (national service and beyond). I was there in 2005 and got stopped at a checkpoint near the airport, the group of soldiers communicated to each other in Russian, not Hebrew, which at the time took me by suprise.

Yes I'm jewish.

The thread you linked is to another forum and website. I tried registering at that forum months ago but my username still hasn't been accepted by the moderator. It wasn't profane or anything.

 

[Waylander]

As much as I want that everybody can become what he wants to become, are you sure that the military is the right path for you?

Basic training isn't fun at all and as Abraham said the Israelis have a reputation of being especially hard on their new recruits.
They also have the reputation to get much more relaxed after that but one shouldn't forget that the chances of getting engaged in a hot war is high in the IDF.

I just wonder if this is the right place for somebody who suffers from depression.

 

[IsraelForever]

As much as I want that everybody can become what he wants to become, are you sure that the military is the right path for you?

Basic training isn't fun at all and as Abraham said the Israelis have a reputation of being especially hard on their new recruits.
They also have the reputation to get much more relaxed after that but one shouldn't forget that the chances of getting engaged in a hot war is high in the IDF.

I just wonder if this is the right place for somebody who suffers from depression.

Yes I've thought about it a lot. I suffer more from mixed general anxiety-depression rather than *killl myself* depression.

I don't want to become a citizen but still want to serve in the army. I would wait till I'm a little order but after 24 you have to do aliyah and I don't want that. At least not in order to serve in the army.

If hypothetically my illness does get in the way, can I still enlist in a national service-type program?

I'm just curious if Israel runs the same laws and rules in recruitment as the US army.