Preparing for elite IDF units is no walk in the park — it’s a full-on mental, physical, and emotional transformation.

Israel offers several pre-army programs (called mechinot) designed to shape future soldiers into leaders, especially those aiming for special forces.

A Mechina is a pre-military leadership academy that usually runs for 6–12 months before enlistment.

These programs simulate the “Gibushim’, the three to four day grueling tryouts for elite units.

Training typically includes: physical and combat fitness, sleep deprivation, mental resilience, team challenges, navigation under pressure, leadership development and Torah study for the religious mechinot which account for about half the programs.

Candidates who attend mechinot are statistically more likely to pass elite unit tryouts, thrive under pressure during service and become officers or commanders.

Over the past eight years mechinot participation has almost doubled and today over 4,000 students attend dozens of pre-army academies across Israel.

More than 80% of graduates go on to serve in combat roles, and many become officers.

The most elite military units such as Sayeret Matkal, Shayetet 13 and Duvdevan have an acceptance rate of between 5-10% so competition is fierce.

After you get through the pre army training and the gibush only then the real work begins – training for the operational readiness in an elite unit.

Image - Michael Giladi/Flash90