What does tironut mean?

טירונות is basic training. טירונות runs at different rifleman qualification levels, such as רובאי 02 or 07, depending on the role.

What is miluim in English?

מילואים means the reserves or reserve duty. A call-up is a צו קריאה, an actual duty period is שמ״פ, and טופס 3010 proves completed reserve service.

Who does sherut leumi?

שירות לאומי, civilian national service, is for people exempt from IDF service or not called to regular service. Volunteers serve through a recognized organization at an approved host and receive דמי כיס.

Israeli Army Terms: Tzav Rishon to Miluim

Before Enlistment

On the label or sign

מתגייסים: IDF candidates site

מלש״ב / מלש״ביתDraft candidate

malshab / malshabit

US English

Prospective enlistee or draft candidate

UK English

Candidate for military service

What it is

מלש״ב, short for מועמד לשירות ביטחון, is the status of someone designated for security service who has not yet been inducted.

The difference

A מלש״ב is not yet a soldier; the person becomes a soldier at induction, not at the first summons.

Common mistake

Do not call a מלש״ב a recruit or a soldier.

צו ראשוןFirst call-up

tzav rishon

US English

First call-up or initial draft assessment

UK English

First call-up or initial service assessment

What it is

צו ראשון is the summons to initial IDF screening and, in ordinary speech, the process itself. Online identity and medical forms come first, then registration, a medical assessment, psychotechnical testing and an interview at a recruitment office.

The difference

צו ראשון is not an enlistment order and not the day service begins.

Common mistake

Do not translate צו ראשון as draft day or assume the recipient enlists that day.

On the label or sign

בלשכת הגיוס: at the recruitment office

לשכת גיוסRecruitment office

lishkat giyus

US English

Military Entrance Processing Station, loosely

UK English

Armed Forces Careers Office, loosely

What it is

A לשכת גיוס is a regional IDF recruitment office where initial screening and related appointments happen. The location is printed on the summons.

The difference

The לשכת גיוס is separate from the unit where a person will serve, and its staff are not recruiters persuading volunteers.

Common mistake

Do not treat the לשכת גיוס as a voluntary recruiting office.

מיטב / בקו״םMeitav and the Bakum

Meitav / bakum

US English

IDF accession unit and reception center

UK English

Recruitment and induction unit, reception centre

What it is

מיטב is the current IDF unit managing recruitment, screening and placement, formed in May 2006. בקו״ם, short for בסיס קליטה ומיון, is still common speech for the induction and reception site.

The difference

בקו״ם is not a name for every regional recruitment office.

Common mistake

Do not treat מיטב, בקו״ם and לשכת גיוס as one counter or building.

On the label or sign

קב״א: kaba (legacy score)

דפ״רAptitude score

dapar

US English

Psychometric aptitude score

UK English

Aptitude-test score

What it is

דפ״ר, short for דירוג פסיכוטכני ראשוני, is the result of the IDF's adaptive psychotechnical test and one input to screening and placement.

The difference

The IDF ended the old קב״א (kaba) composite score; דפ״ר is not the kaba and not an IQ certificate.

Common mistake

Do not call the דפ״ר "the kaba" or treat one number as the final decision on every role.

On the label or sign

פרופיל: profile

פרופיל רפואיMedical profile

profil refu'i

US English

Medical fitness classification

UK English

Medical category

What it is

A פרופיל רפואי is a numerical military medical fitness classification that affects eligibility for types of service.

The difference

A פרופיל רפואי is not a civilian health rating and does not describe a diagnosis.

Common mistake

Do not read a higher פרופיל number as healthier in every respect.

יום המא״הAssessment day

Yom HaMe'a

US English

Occupational assessment day

UK English

Occupational selection day

What it is

יום המא״ה, short for מיון, איתור והתאמה, assesses personal, interpersonal, cognitive and task abilities after the first call-up. The official guide describes an online assessment with Zoom and computer tests.

The difference

The acronym sounds like the Hebrew for one hundred, but יום המא״ה does not mean Day 100.

Common mistake

Do not translate יום המא״ה as "the hundred day" or confuse it with צו ראשון.

שאלון העדפות / מנילהPreference questionnaire

she'elon ha'adafot / manila

US English

Preference questionnaire

UK English

Role-preference form

What it is

The שאלון העדפות is a personal list of roles or tracks for the candidate to rank. מנילה is the enduring slang name.

The difference

Preferences are weighed with suitability data and IDF needs, so the שאלון העדפות is not a binding job choice.

Common mistake

Do not assume your top choice on the שאלון העדפות is guaranteed.

On the label or sign

זימון למיון: selection invitation

גיבוש / מיוןSelection tryout

gibush / miyun

US English

Selection tryout

UK English

Selection course

What it is

A גיבוש is a practical group selection process for some tracks, especially demanding volunteer units. מיון is the general word for any selection process, such as an interview or test.

The difference

Not every role has a גיבוש, and an invitation to a מיון is not acceptance.

Common mistake

Do not call every interview a גיבוש or treat a זימון למיון as an offer.

On the label or sign

שובצת: you were assigned

שיבוץAssignment

shibutz

US English

Job assignment

UK English

Posting or allocation

What it is

שיבוץ is the decision assigning a candidate or soldier to a role, formation or destination.

The difference

From the August 2026 intake, many candidates get an initial שיבוץ while further screening runs in parallel; this does not apply the same way to men designated for combat.

Common mistake

Do not assume a parallel selection invitation cancels your initial שיבוץ.

צו גיוסEnlistment order

tzav giyus

US English

Induction order

UK English

Call-up papers or enlistment order

What it is

The צו גיוס gives the date and place to report for induction. The צו גיוס comes after screening, preferences and placement.

The difference

The צו גיוס is the document tied to entering service, unlike צו ראשון.

Common mistake

Do not confuse the צו גיוס with צו ראשון because both are called a צו.

On the label or sign

דח״ש: deferment

דחיית שירות / דח״שDeferment

dchiyat sherut / dachash

US English

Deferment

UK English

Deferment

What it is

דחיית שירות is an authorized postponement of service, recorded with an end date or conditions.

The difference

דח״ש does not cancel the service obligation.

Common mistake

Do not translate דחיית שירות as exemption.

On the label or sign

פטור: exemption

פטור משירות ביטחוןExemption

ptor mi-sherut bitachon

US English

Exemption from military service

UK English

Exemption from service

What it is

A פטור is a formal exemption from the military service obligation. A פטור can be the basis for applying to national-civic service or volunteering to the IDF (התנדבות לצה״ל).

The difference

A פטור is different from a deferment and from completing service, and it does not enroll anyone in national service automatically.

Common mistake

Do not say someone finished the army when the legal status is פטור.

Induction, Training and Service

יום הגיוס / שרשרת חיולInduction day

yom ha-giyus / sharsheret chiyul

US English

Induction or ship date

UK English

Enlistment day

What it is

יום הגיוס is the day of entering IDF service. The שרשרת חיול is the chain of processing stations that day: data checks, fingerprints, bank details, photos and equipment issue.

The difference

The שרשרת חיול is processing, not training.

Common mistake

Do not call the months of screening "the enlistment" or the שרשרת חיול a training course.

חוגר / תעודת חוגרMilitary ID card

choger / teudat choger

US English

Military ID card

UK English

Service identity card

What it is

A חוגר is a soldier's ID credential, physical or digital, proving current service status.

The difference

A חוגר is not a discharge certificate and does not remain a veteran ID.

Common mistake

Do not translate חוגר as dog tags.

On the label or sign

טירונים: recruits

טירונות / טירוןBasic training

tironut / tiron

US English

Basic Combat Training; informally boot camp

UK English

Basic Training or Phase 1 Training

What it is

טירונות is the IDF's initial military training, and a טירון is a soldier in it. טירונות is delivered at different rifleman qualification levels depending on the role.

The difference

טירונות is not one standard course for all soldiers, and a טירון has already entered service.

Common mistake

Do not call a pre-draft candidate a טירון or assume training ends when טירונות ends.

רובאי 02 / 03 / 05 / 07Rifleman level

rovai

US English

Rifleman qualification level

UK English

Basic military qualification level

What it is

רובאי followed by a two-digit number is a certified level of military and combat training. The IDF lists levels 02, 03, 05, 07, 08, 09, 10 and 12.

The difference

A רובאי level is a qualification code, not a rank, a score or a number of weeks.

Common mistake

Do not read רובאי 05 as fifth class, a test score or the length of basic training.

On the label or sign

שירות סדיר: regular service

שירות חובהCompulsory service

sherut chova

US English

Compulsory or mandatory service

UK English

Compulsory service

What it is

שירות חובה is service in the regular forces under the Security Service Law. In 2026 service was extended to 32 months for men, and for women in roles classified דין אישה כדין גבר, for specified cohorts.

The difference

שירות חובה is one part of שירות סדיר, regular service, which also includes career service.

Common mistake

Do not translate שירות חובה as active duty, which would include career soldiers.

On the label or sign

התחייבות לשירות קבע: career service commitment

שירות קבעCareer service

sherut keva

US English

Career or contract military service

UK English

Regular career service

What it is

שירות קבע is voluntary career service in the regular forces under a signed service commitment.

The difference

שירות קבע is not reserve duty and not a permanent posting.

Common mistake

Do not translate קבע as "permanent posting" or "the reserves."

לוחם / תומך לחימהCombat and combat support

lochem / tomech lechima

US English

Combat soldier and combat support

UK English

Combat soldier and combat support

What it is

A לוחם is trained to act in the contact zone against the enemy; תומך לחימה is combat support, and אחר covers other compulsory roles. The לוחם, תומך לחימה and אחר categories affect training, recognition and some benefits.

The difference

A support role does not automatically count as a לוחם role.

Common mistake

Do not call every non-infantry job a desk job.

גימלים / ימי ג׳Medical sick days

gimelim / yemei gimel

US English

Authorized sick leave

UK English

Medical sick leave

What it is

גימלים are a medical instruction to rest away from normal duty, recorded with a number of ימי ג׳ and dates.

The difference

Only an authorized medical provider can decide the return to duty, and the letter does not mean Grade C.

Common mistake

Do not treat גימלים as slang for a day off.

חייל בודד / חיילת בודדהLone soldier

chayal boded / chayelet bodeda

US English

Recognized lone soldier

UK English

Recognised lone soldier

What it is

חייל בודד is a formal IDF status for a compulsory soldier meeting family support criteria, including some immigrants whose parents live permanently abroad. The status is approved through the recruitment office or the unit welfare office.

The difference

חייל בודד does not simply mean a soldier who lives alone.

Common mistake

Do not apply the חייל בודד label to every new immigrant or unmarried soldier.

On the label or sign

תעודת שחרור בכבוד: honorable discharge certificate

שחרור / חייל משוחררDischarge

shichrur / chayal meshuchrar

US English

Discharge, discharged service member

UK English

Discharge, ex-service person

What it is

שחרור is formal release from the current service category, recorded with a discharge date and, where eligible, a תעודת שחרור בכבוד.

The difference

שחרור is different from a pre-service פטור, and benefits depend on actual service and legal thresholds.

Common mistake

Do not use שחרור and פטור interchangeably.

Reserve Duty

On the label or sign

במילואים: on reserve duty

מילואיםReserves

miluim

US English

The reserves or reserve duty

UK English

The reserve forces or reserve service

What it is

מילואים can mean the reserve system, reserve status or a period of reserve duty, depending on the sentence.

The difference

מילואים is not discharge, veteran status or a standing part-time job.

Common mistake

Do not translate every מילואים as "a reservist"; often it means the duty period.

On the label or sign

שמ״פ: active reserve duty

שירות מילואים פעיל / שמ״פActive reserve duty

sherut miluim pa'il / shamap

US English

Active reserve duty

UK English

Active reserve service

What it is

שמ״פ is the formal term for an actual period of reserve service.

The difference

"Active" in שמ״פ means called up for duty, not permanently employed.

Common mistake

Do not read שמ״פ as a unit name.

צו קריאה / צו מילואיםReserve call-up order

tzav kri'a / tzav miluim

US English

Reserve call-up order

UK English

Reserve call-out notice

What it is

A צו קריאה orders a reservist to report at a stated place and time. Ordinary speech says צו מילואים.

The difference

A צו קריאה is not proof of the days actually served.

Common mistake

Do not rely on an informal warning instead of the current official צו קריאה.

צו 8Emergency call-up (Order 8)

tzav shmone

US English

Emergency reserve call-up

UK English

Emergency mobilisation order

What it is

צו 8 is the familiar name for an emergency call-up under emergency authority.

The difference

צו 8 is a specific legal route, not a nickname for every short-notice order, and the number is not a length of service.

Common mistake

Do not call every reserve order צו 8.

On the label or sign

לוקש: slang for Form 3010

טופס 3010Reserve service certificate

tofes 3010

US English

Certificate of reserve service

UK English

Proof of reserve service

What it is

טופס 3010 is the IDF certificate confirming completed active reserve service, used for reserve compensation. Slang calls טופס 3010 a לוקש.

The difference

טופס 3010 proves service done; the צו קריאה only orders you to report.

Common mistake

Do not give your employer the call-up order instead of טופס 3010.

On the label or sign

בקשת ולת״ם: coordination request

ולת״םReserve coordination committee

valatam

US English

Reserve-service coordination committee

UK English

Reserve deferment committee

What it is

ולת״ם, short for ועדה לתיאום מילואים, considers requests to postpone, shorten or adjust reserve duty when civilian work or study needs may outweigh the military need.

The difference

Applying to ולת״ם does not cancel the order.

Common mistake

Do not treat a ולת״ם request as a general appeal against reserve service.

תגמול מילואיםReserve compensation

tagmul miluim

US English

Reserve-service compensation

UK English

Reservist compensation

What it is

תגמול מילואים is the National Insurance payment tied to reserve service. The route and calculation depend on employment status and income, and legislation changed the calculation from May 2025.

The difference

תגמול מילואים is not a normal military salary or a bonus.

Common mistake

Do not assume employees, self-employed people and non-workers claim תגמול מילואים the same way; use the National Insurance calculator.

National-Civic Service

שירות לאומי / שירות לאומי-אזרחיCivilian national service

sherut le'umi / sherut le'umi-ezrachi

US English

Civilian national service

UK English

Civilian or national-civic service

What it is

שירות לאומי is the everyday name for civilian national service, and שירות לאומי-אזרחי is the Authority's public name. The ordinary route is for people exempt from IDF service or not called to regular service, generally for 12 to 24 months.

The difference

שירות לאומי is not a military branch and not a universal substitute for an outstanding military obligation. In British English, capitalized National Service suggests the old military conscription.

Common mistake

Do not translate שירות לאומי only as "National Service" without explanation.

שירות אזרחיCivil service (legal category)

sherut ezrachi

US English

Civilian service, context required

UK English

Civilian service, context required

What it is

שירות אזרחי is the 2017 law's broad category containing שירות לאומי, community volunteering and שירות לאומי-אזרחי. In current Authority language, השירות האזרחי can also mean the Haredi civilian service program.

The difference

שירות אזרחי is not salaried government employment.

Common mistake

Do not translate שירות אזרחי as "the civil service."

On the label or sign

בני ובנות שירות: national-service volunteers

מתנדב / בת שירות / בן שירותNational-service volunteer

mitnadev / bat sherut / ben sherut

US English

National-service participant

UK English

National-service volunteer

What it is

מתנדב is the formal term for a national-service participant, and בת שירות or בן שירות are common personal labels.

The difference

A בת שירות receives regulated support but is not an ordinary employee of the placement body.

Common mistake

Do not translate בת שירות as "servicewoman," which suggests the armed forces.

On the label or sign

רכזת: coordinator
מקום שירות: service site

גוף מוכר / גוף מפעילSponsor and host

guf mukar / guf mafil

US English

Sponsoring organization and host site

UK English

Recognised organisation and placement site

What it is

A גוף מוכר is a state-recognized organization that recruits, places and supports volunteers, through a coordinator (רכזת). The גוף מפעיל is the approved public or nonprofit body where the service happens.

The difference

The גוף מוכר is separate from the daily workplace, and the רכזת is not the workplace supervisor.

Common mistake

Do not assume the host controls allowances, welfare decisions and the completion certificate.

On the label or sign

דירת שירות: service apartment

תקן / תקן בית / תקן חוץApproved placement

teken / teken bayit / teken chutz

US English

Funded placement

UK English

Approved placement

What it is

A תקן is an approved service slot in a particular role and site. A תקן בית has no service apartment, for someone living less than 30 km from the site; other placements come with a דירת שירות.

The difference

A תקן is not a job vacancy or tenure, and תקן בית does not mean working from home.

Common mistake

Do not assume every תקן includes free housing.

דמי כיסMonthly allowance

dmei kis

US English

Monthly living allowance

UK English

Monthly subsistence allowance

What it is

דמי כיס is a regulated monthly payment for personal expenses, paid through the recognized organization. The amount varies by placement type.

The difference

דמי כיס is not a wage for the work performed.

Common mistake

Do not translate דמי כיס as salary.

אישור סיום / תעודת סיוםCompletion certificate

ishur siyum / teudat siyum

US English

Completion certificate

UK English

Certificate of completed service

What it is

A תעודת סיום is official proof of completed national service. At least 12 months are required for a completion certificate and release benefits, and 24 months can bring a larger grant and more benefits.

The difference

One year and two years of service do not bring identical benefits, and a host's letter is not the state certificate.

Common mistake

Do not use an informal host letter as your final תעודת סיום.

You might say	Say instead	Keep in mind
Draft notice	צו ראשוןtzav rishon	Initial assessment, not enlistment
Enlistment order	צו גיוסtzav giyus	Gives the reporting date
Boot camp	טירונותtironut	Level depends on the role
Deferment	דחיית שירותdchiyat sherut	Not an exemption
Exemption	פטורptor	Not the same as discharge
Reserve duty	מילואיםmiluim	System, status or duty period
Proof of reserve service	טופס 3010tofes 3010	Not the call-up order
National Service	שירות לאומיsherut le'umi	Civilian, not military
Salary (national service)	דמי כיסdmei kis	Expense allowance, not wages

Mix-Ups to Avoid

Before Enlistment

מלש״ב / מלש״ביתDraft candidate

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

צו ראשוןFirst call-up

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

לשכת גיוסRecruitment office

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

מיטב / בקו״םMeitav and the Bakum

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

דפ״רAptitude score

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

פרופיל רפואיMedical profile

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

יום המא״הAssessment day

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

שאלון העדפות / מנילהPreference questionnaire

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

גיבוש / מיוןSelection tryout

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

שיבוץAssignment

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

צו גיוסEnlistment order

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

דחיית שירות / דח״שDeferment

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

פטור משירות ביטחוןExemption

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Induction, Training and Service

יום הגיוס / שרשרת חיולInduction day

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

חוגר / תעודת חוגרMilitary ID card

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

טירונות / טירוןBasic training

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

רובאי 02 / 03 / 05 / 07Rifleman level

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

שירות חובהCompulsory service

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

שירות קבעCareer service

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

לוחם / תומך לחימהCombat and combat support