The reality in general and its strategic dimension in particular, are constantly in flux, prompting the need to add current relevance to the doctrine of national security.
We often use the term deterrence in describing our strength in the face of enemy threats, but deterrence is not only a result of physical combat. Deterrence in today's reality is also synonymous with intelligence.
In order to maintain the country's security, we must have intelligence on underground tunnels, missiles and rocket capabilities, weapons supply routes from Syria to Lebanon, and must have up-to-date knowledge about any lone terrorist who might at any moment carry out an attack.
All this requires our military to recruit the best people and have the best technologies.
Deterrence is a perception held by our enemies, but it is borne out of the military might of the IDF and is derived from actions we have taken at specific points of time to counter specific threats. We must remain vigilant and preserve our capabilities to maintain our deterrence.
We, in the IDF, have over the past year been developing a long-term plan, at the heart of which is a recipe for toppling the enemy, using the army's attacking capabilities to increase our superiority over the enemy and to bring it to its knees and shortest possible time. Once again, in order to complete this plan, we must have the best commanders and the best tech developers.
Over the past decade, the principle of defense has been added security when it comes to the military's main goal. We are committed to defending the country's borders and its people, in times of war and in times of peace. This commitment must stand on the backs of thousands of fighters and the best commanders, leaders who are able to make the right decisions and fulfill their missions.
Prevention is now also part of the IDF's main agenda. We must be able to prevent looming threats and create the best groundwork for the conflicts ahead. We continue to prevent our enemy's ability to grow their military might, as we target their weaponry and compromise their technology – which we are able to do only because we have the best people assigned to these tasks.
David Ben Gurion, who fathered Israel's defense doctrine, said: "We must have a military able to prevent defeat and ensure victory."
He also said the military must be made up of people of the highest quality, not only because of their talent but also because of their moral fortitude and the examples they are able to set for the generations that follow them.
"The best people should want to serve in the military beyond their required years, knowing their education and financial situation would not suffer as a result," Ben Gurion said.
He was right. We must care for our soldiers and officers for the good of our nation and for our security.
The IDF includes talented and motivated people who are goal-oriented and willing to replace more lucrative careers in order to remain in the service of the nation. These people are the source of our strength. They will carry out the missions we assign them and protect our future.