According to the military’s force-building plan and lessons learned from the ongoing “Iron Swords” war, the IDF has decided to establish five new reserve brigades, named “David Brigades.” The brigades; Negev (“Negeva”), Shephelah (“Yonatan”), Valleys (“Yizre’eli”), Jerusalem (“Ari”), and Galilee Golan, will be established to handle emergent events and perform defense missions along the state borders.
- Recruitment of Fighters Based on Residential Area : The brigades will be staffed with volunteer reservists aged 38-58 living in the operational areas to ensure a rapid and effective response when needed. The fighters will contribute operational experience and extensive knowledge from their military and civilian service, maximizing the benefit from each volunteer. Additionally, the IDF has opened a dedicated address on its website for those interested in joining the brigades.
- Dedicated Training and Exercises: To enhance operational readiness, troop training will include specialized exercises at the Land Training Center. Among other things, the fighters will undergo combat skill refreshers, urban warfare exercises, and complex scenarios. Special training for commanders and professional roles will also be conducted, alongside routine drills to maintain proficiency levels.
Training of the “David” Brigades Forces; IDF Spokesperson
IDF Chief of Staff: “The IDF Needs to be Larger and Broader”
IDF Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, addressed the need for the brigades: “In this war, we learned that the IDF needs to be bigger, broader, to face difficult situations and long wars.” He added that the brigades comprise reservists of exemption age, who enlisted out of a sense of mission: “With the right spirit and understanding of the need, we will be able to ease the reserve duty burden.”
“The Security Reality has Changed”
Major General (Res.) Moti Baruch, responsible for establishing the brigades, emphasized the operational significance of the initiative: “We all understand that the security reality has changed, and we need to adapt ourselves along with it.” According to him, the enlistment of volunteers presents a significant advantage: “There are people here willing to volunteer and be a central part in strengthening security.”
