Israel faces officer shortage amid troop fatigue, expanded combat operations

The Israeli military is grappling with a significant shortfall in combat officers, as the strain of ongoing conflict and a growing list of operational demands takes its toll on the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).

For the first time, military officials have publicly acknowledged the scale of the problem, admitting that the IDF is overstretched and lacking the manpower required to meet its current objectives, Caliber.Az reports, citing Israeli media.

According to internal assessments, the army is short approximately 7,500 combat soldiers and an additional 2,500 support personnel.

A particularly acute deficit exists in the ranks of junior officers. The IDF currently lacks around 300 platoon commanders in its ground forces. The engineering corps is facing the worst crisis, with severe shortages in both platoon leaders and demolition team commanders.

Military sources admit that persuading capable soldiers to attend officer training courses has proven increasingly difficult. As a stopgap measure, the IDF has appointed senior non-commissioned officers to act as interim platoon leaders.

Shortages have also emerged in the assignment of company commanders, with some regular and reserve officers being appointed to leadership roles without completing the required training.

The shortfall in officers is attributed in part to the expansion of combat units. The armoured corps, for example, has grown by over 30% since the start of the war, while the engineering corps has nearly doubled in size. Infantry brigades have also added new platoons. At the same time, the IDF has established a new Eastern Division and bolstered its frontline forces in northern Israel.

The IDF has also suffered considerable losses since the outbreak of the war. Several officers and commanders have been killed, while hundreds more have been injured – some still recovering and unable to return to combat roles.

In response, the IDF launched a new reserve officers’ training programme at its Bahad 1 academy. Two cohorts have already completed the course, with a third currently underway and a fourth planned in the coming weeks.

Commanders in both regular and reserve units describe the officer shortage as systemic, extending beyond junior leadership to include battalion and deputy battalion commanders. Many of these senior officers are under immense pressure, balancing front-line responsibilities with long absences from home and family life.

Some mid-level commanders have requested transfers to less demanding roles, including overseas postings, staff positions or academic studies. Battalion commanders in the reserves report having served an average of 400–450 days of duty since October 7. Several have already informed the military that they intend to step down after completing their four-year command terms.

“It’s exhausting,” said one reserve battalion commander. “Our families are paying the price. I was meant to be promoted to a senior management position at work, but because I’ve been away for months on reserve duty, they chose someone else. I don’t see how I can continue beyond these four years.”

In response to a request for comment, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit stated:
“Platoon commanders in ground forces are leading combat operations across theatres. There are no gaps in regular units.

The shortage of platoon commanders in the reserves has existed for years, predating the current war. The IDF is working to address the training gap with dedicated courses tailored to reservists, especially since the beginning of the conflict.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev