Israel struggles to retain officers as war fatigue and political tensions drive recruits away

The Israeli military is facing a growing crisis in retaining career officers, according to The Times of Israel, which cited statistics from Channel 12.

Reports indicate a shortage of roughly 1,300 lieutenants and captains, along with 300 majors, as internal surveys show only 63 percent of officers want to continue serving—down from 83 percent in 2018.

The Times of Israel noted that recruitment has become increasingly difficult, with more Israelis turning to civilian work due to war-related burnout, deteriorating service conditions, political delegitimisation, and dissatisfaction with recent army leadership appointments.

The trends highlight mounting challenges for Israel’s military as prolonged conflict strains morale and operational capacity.