'The Reserves Will Hold': Changes in the Israel Defense Forces' Operational Concept. Issue 4 (7th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Druck, Dotan
• Is Part Of: RUSI journal. Volume 166:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: 40
• Page End: 50
• Publication Date: 2021-06-07
• Subjects: Military art and science -- Periodicals; Naval art and science -- Periodicals; 355.005
• DOI: 10.1080/03071847.2021.1964099
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0307-1847

Abstract

Abstract : Changes to conflicts involving the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and its design in the Gideon and Tnufa (Momentum) multi-year plans necessitate a profound examination of how army reserves will be employed in aspects such as order of battle, organisation, fighting and support equipment, training, competence, and readiness for fighting scenarios and situations. In practice, the IDF's operational concept for the reserves in emergency and war situations seems to have changed years ago, but it should be clearly defined and explained to all relevant entities, and in particular to the reserves themselves. Dotan Druck argues that the current concept is no longer 'the regulars will hold', as it originally was, but now 'the reserves will hold' or 'the reserves will allow the regulars to decide'.◼