The IDF - What You (Definitely) Don't Know!
You may think you know all there is to know about the Israeli army, but we have some facts that just may knock your socks off! Even for us, hearing some of these amazing and definitely unique facts for the first time really boggled our minds- and we wanted to boggle your mind too!
So read on and get ready to be amazed...
Numbers
We’ll start with the easy stuff. As of 2015, there were 176,500 soldiers in the IDF plus 445,000 soldiers in the reserves. Big numbers for such a small country...
(16 divisions, 2,840 tanks, and 650 aircraft if you’re really into numbers! Wow!)
World Records
Uri Gil holds the Guinness World Record as the oldest active combat pilot. He was still maneuvering F-16s in the air at the age of 60! Go, Uri!
David Laskov was the oldest serving soldier in the world. He served until he was 85, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Talk about life accomplishments!
The Israeli Navy was the first navy to facilitate a rocket sea battle! It happened against the Syrian Navy during the Yom Kippur War. You can guess who won. :)
Conscription
The IDF is one of the only armies in the world where conscription applies also for women, and until the 21st century, was the only one! Israel is clearly ahead of the times!
Food
99% of the animals in the IDF receive kosher for Passover food during the holiday. That might even be more than the regular soldiers get…
On certain IDF bases, you can find some real surprising dishes, such as beet carpaccio, Belgian waffles, chocolate souffle, Asian bun rolls and so much more...
Animals
You probably know that the IDF has dogs that serve in the army, but did you know that there are llamas and alpacas as well? They seem pretty fierce to us!
Computers
The first IDF computer was inaugurated by Yitzhak Rabin in 1962.
Rules
The IDF has some really strange rules. See for yourself:
An IDF soldier is obligated to sing the Israeli National Anthem, and forbidden to sing a different country’s anthem.
An IDF soldier is forbidden from playing with or petting any animal, including dogs.
An IDF soldier is forbidden from taking any gift.
An IDF soldier is not allowed to like or comment on a political post on any social media platform.
You are not allowed to play cards in the army- any card game!
We have a small feeling that some of these aren't enforced...
