People of the IDF World Israel News JUL 25, 2025
WATCH: Popularity surges for grueling pre-army preparatory academies for elite units
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Over the past eight years mechinot participation has almost doubled and today over 4,000 students attend dozens of pre-army academies across Israel.
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.
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