They come from the Druze community, with some exempt from service altogether and others even the first from their families to enlist. Now, 6 months after about 20 trainees opened the first cohort of the ‘Neshrei Tzafon’ preparatory program for aviation and combat professions – 95% of them are completing it together, with three of them moving on to the next selection stage for flight course.
The program, established in partnership with the Ministry of Defense, the Manpower Directorate’s Populations Administration, and the Jewish Agency, prepares its trainees for service in the corps that controls the country’s skies – from air traffic control, intelligence, and navigation, to flight course. “The preparatory program helped me a lot on the military path, but gave me even more tools for personal life,” describes trainee S’, “whether it’s the ability to live in a group, contribute from myself to society, or simply improve my Hebrew.”
Throughout the recent period, the trainees moved from one Air Force base to another, meeting various role holders, including aircrews, UAV operators, controllers, 669 combatants, and more. They saw advanced systems and got a taste of the service that awaits them just around the corner.
W., another trainee in the program, talks about the visit to Tel Nof: “I spoke with a Druze combatant in 669. He told me a lot about what they do, and further increased my motivation. I was happy to see a combatant from our community in the unit I aspired to join.”
In contrast, S’ received his assignment even before ‘Neshrei Tzafon’. But at the beginning of the journey, he didn’t believe that in just a few months his Hebrew would improve drastically: “We learn the language during the week, and practice it daily on trips, lectures, and conversations. This built my confidence that I can make an impact during my service.”
From Jerusalem, to Tel Aviv and Judea and Samaria, the program trainees underwent educational series, history, and familiarization with the land along its length. “They formed connections and friendships with people from places they had never met before,” says the deputy commander of the program, Captain Y., “We really saw the increase in their self-confidence and their ability to hold a conversation in Hebrew – to get to know and open up.”
Captain Y. accompanies the trainees along with 2 other female staff members. Both testify to one of the program’s highlights, which occurred during the field and navigation week. “They hiked for four days in the desert, with all their gear on their backs – they cooked their own food, navigated, and slept under the open sky,” she details, “Another thing that accelerated the process was the fact that the trainees themselves led the weeks in turns. They chose who to invite for lectures, where to go, and what to focus on.”
And in continuation of this, one cannot enter the military system and understand the meaning behind the 24/7 service and activity without delving into the terrible events that occurred on October 7th. Indeed, one of the most emotional weeks in the program was the one in the Gaza envelope. From the Nova camp to the Gaza envelope communities, the trainees met with survivors of the massacre and heard the difficult stories firsthand.
“Of course, we knew details from the news and social media, but being there physically, talking to civilians who experienced that day firsthand, gave a new reason to be here,” says S’. W. also recalls a special encounter from that week: “In Re’im, we spoke with a father who lost his son in the massacre. He told how he didn’t go home, and stayed to help and evacuate people from the kibbutz in his car. That’s something that inspires a desire to act, to take part, and to make a difference.”
The graduating cohort achieved a significant accomplishment – the trainees who will integrate into the aviation cluster will actually be the first from the community to reach these positions. But this is just the beginning; the next cycle, which will open in September 2026, is expected to double in the number of trainees. “This time, we will be involved – Druze and Jews together,” adds Captain Y., “I am sure they will learn so much from each other and from living side by side. This is the beginning of a shared and impactful path, strengthening Israeli society in the IDF and beyond.”
For more information and registration, please contact the preparatory program:
By email: mechinot@m-machar.org
By phone and WhatsApp: 054-900-8342