Ex-IDF general: New fighter benefits must not hurt ideal of 'people's army'
Former head of IDF Manpower Directorate Barbivai comments on recently unveiled benefit plan intended for combat soldiers, expressing both support and trepidation: 'We must not lose the discourse on values on the way to improving the standing of our soldiers.'
The former head of the IDF Manpower Directorate, Major General (res.) Orna Barbivai, spoke Thursday in support of the army's plan to improve the benefots granted to its combat soldiers, but expressed trepidation over the danger of chipping away at the idea of a "people's army."
According to the plan, a number of benefits will be given to combat soldiers, from raising soldiers' wages to free transportation even while wearing civilian clothing. This is estimated to be in response to dropping motivation for combat service over the past three years.
Barbivai originally began work on the IDF's spearhead soldier improvement plan four years ago, together with the former head of the Operations Directorate, Major General (res.) Yoav Har-Even and the then-deputy chief of staff and current chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot. Barbivai said that Eisenkot "made a brave decision, but I assume that he is also aware of the dangers involved in the plan.
"These decisions are necessary regardless of the drop in motivation, as there have been major changes in today's battlefield and the influence of the technological systems on it."
Despite supporting the move and being among those who originally worked on the project, Barbivai warned that "we must not lose the discourse on values on the way to improving the standing of our soldiers."
She explained that her concern is that while improving the serving conditions for fighter soldiers in justified, providing them with monetary benefits could work against the IDF's people's army model.
"We cannot let that happen," stressed Barbivai. "When you give such benefits, you need to make sure that the idea of a calling is not harmed. Fighters did not go into battle because of an extra shekel and a half. So we need to be careful not to slip down this slope. The narrative here cannot be an economic one."
The future benefits will only be accorded to "spearhead soldiers" serving in units participating in war maneuvers, such as the Infantry Corps, Armored Corps, combat engineering, Artillery Corps and other elite IDF units.
Starting November 1, spearhead soldiers will receive an increase to their wages (or living expenses, as the army calls it), from NIS 1,600 ($450) to NIS 2,000 ($560) per month in the third year of their service.
In addition, before the end of 2017, each spearhead combat soldier will receive a card loaded with NIS 1,000 ($280) that may be used in restaurants, cinemas, buying sports clothing or for other leisure activities.
Barbivai then explained the reasoning why the new benefits will be granted solely to spearhead soldiers, who risk their lives in battle, and not to soldiers in other positions.
"If it was possible to win a war from afar due to technology, then it would have ended with that," she said. "But in our neighborhood you must, in any scenario, have ground forces that come out victorious."
