Israeli Chief Reserve Officer
Encyclopedia
The Israeli Chief Reserve Officer is the commander of the Israel Defense Forces
military reserve force
. As of September 2008, the Chief Reserve Officer is Brigadier-General Yishayahu Ben Anat, who replaced Brigadier-General Dani Van Biran after three years in this position.
The position was created both as part of the 21st Century IDF reforms as well as largely due to feelings of discrimination by reservists following Operation Defensive Shield
, whereby the reservists complained that employers preferred those who serve shorter durations over those serving lengthier terms. Until the position was created, the reserve force fell under the jurisdiction of the respective branch and there was no one, single officer to represent IDF reservists. Also, as part of the reserve force reform, a celebratory "Reserve Day" was established during which reservists are entitled to several benefits. Leaders of the reservists groups, however, maintained this falls short and that better employment protections and more substantive benefits are needed. During the Second Lebanon War, severe war-time shortages and other critical oversights affecting the reserve force culminated in the reserve soldiers' protest
, which became an important political event in Israel, leading to the creation of the Winograd Commission
.
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
military reserve force
Military reserve force
A military reserve force is a military organization composed of citizens of a country who combine a military role or career with a civilian career. They are not normally kept under arms and their main role is to be available to fight when a nation mobilizes for total war or to defend against invasion...
. As of September 2008, the Chief Reserve Officer is Brigadier-General Yishayahu Ben Anat, who replaced Brigadier-General Dani Van Biran after three years in this position.
The position was created both as part of the 21st Century IDF reforms as well as largely due to feelings of discrimination by reservists following Operation Defensive Shield
Operation Defensive Shield
Operation Defensive Shield was a large-scale military operation conducted by the Israel Defense Forces in 2002, during the course of the Second Intifada. It was the largest military operation in the West Bank since the 1967 Six-Day War. The operation was an attempt by the Israeli army to stop the...
, whereby the reservists complained that employers preferred those who serve shorter durations over those serving lengthier terms. Until the position was created, the reserve force fell under the jurisdiction of the respective branch and there was no one, single officer to represent IDF reservists. Also, as part of the reserve force reform, a celebratory "Reserve Day" was established during which reservists are entitled to several benefits. Leaders of the reservists groups, however, maintained this falls short and that better employment protections and more substantive benefits are needed. During the Second Lebanon War, severe war-time shortages and other critical oversights affecting the reserve force culminated in the reserve soldiers' protest
2006 Israeli reserve soldiers' protest
The 2006 Israeli reserve soldiers' protest was a protest movement which called for the resignation of the government and the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into what they argued were crucial failures experienced during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict...
, which became an important political event in Israel, leading to the creation of the Winograd Commission
Winograd Commission
The Winograd Commission is an Israeli government-appointed commission of inquiry, chaired by retired judge Eliyahu Winograd, which investigated and drew lessons from the Israel-Hezbollah War...
.
Goals of the Chief Reserve Officer
- To oversee the advancement and development of the reserve system; to aid in its operations and its intake of manpower
- To aid in the maintenance of the reserve system's operational competence and its coherency, according to the new reserve system design
- To improve the motivation of the reservists in continuing their service according to the new reserve system design
- To increase the positive results and joint cooperation in the reserve system according to the new reserve system design
- To be the center of development and integration in all matters regarding the reserve system, as a facility to promote decisions regarding the reserves
- To be the primary facility promoting connection between the reserves in the military and in society