Air Defenseמערך ההגנה האווירית
How to get into Air Defense, and what its training looks like
The Air Force's batteries that shoot down rockets, missiles and aircraft, from Iron Dome to David's Sling, from north to south.
Profile 72+Men and womenDark grey
Air Defense asks for a medical profile of 72 and up and a Hebrew score of 6.
The medical profile runs from 21 to 97.
The Hebrew score runs from 1 to 9.
- Open to
- Men and women
- Medical profile
- 72 and up
- Hebrew score
- 6
- Body mass index
- 17 to 35
- Where it serves
- Batteries across the country, from north to south.
After basic training, fighters spend 14 weeks at the air defense school and come out operating Iron Dome, David's Sling or the tactical systems. Some go on to the interceptor operators' course.
Women rate a combat role in the questionnaire and attend the women fighters' day; men rate air defense and are assigned without a screening.
The way into Air Defense runs through 3 steps.
- 1A first call-up with profile 72 or higher.
- 2For women: a combat role in the questionnaire and the women fighters' day.
- 3For men: rating air defense in the questionnaire.
Training at Air Defense runs through these stages.
- Basic training (the IDF gives no length for this stage)
- The air defense school, 14 weeks
The IDF's guides say what to train for before the screening.
A combat corps such as armour or artillery asks for profile 72 and a body mass index between 17 and 35. Steady running and the IDF's strength routine two or three times a week are the base.
- AerobicSun
- StrengthMon
- AerobicTue
- StrengthWed
- AerobicThu
- RestFri
- RestSat
An example week at the lowest the IDF's guide suggests: 3 aerobic sessions and 2 of strength, the kind changing from day to day.
The full guide to preparing: profile, Dapar, Yom Sayarot and a training routine
The role has its own page on the IDF's site for future soldiers.
- Air Defense combat soldierAir Force
Units to read about alongside Air Defense.
Artillery Corpsחיל התותחניםThe corps of rockets, 155 mm guns, drones, radars and fire control, with special units of its own.Profile 72+Men and womenTurquoise blue
IDF Pilot Courseקורס טיסThree years at the Air Force's flight school at Hatzerim, near Beersheba, that turn out pilots, navigators and other aircrew in six professions.Profile 97+about 36 monthsMen and womenDark grey
Navy Missile Boat Fightersלוחמי ספינות הטילים (סטי״ל)The crews that fight aboard the Navy's missile ships and corvettes, the Sa'ar 6, Sa'ar 5 and Sa'ar 4.5.Profile 72+Men and womenDark blue
Frequently asked questions
What does Air Defense ask for?
The IDF's page asks for a profile of 72 and up, a Hebrew score of 6 and a body mass index between 17 and 35.
How do you get into Air Defense?
A first call-up with profile 72 or higher. For women: a combat role in the questionnaire and the women fighters' day. For men: rating air defense in the questionnaire.
How long is training at Air Defense?
The IDF gives no single length for the whole training: Basic training; The air defense school, 14 weeks.
Can women serve in Air Defense?
Yes. The IDF's page opens the role to men and women.
This page was written from the IDF's pages for future soldiers, read on 6 November 2026.
- The IDF's page for the role: Air Defense combat soldier
- Preparing the body for Yom Sayarot
- Try-outs
- The medical profile
The requirements and screenings change from time to time, and the IDF's page for each role is the one that counts.
Photo credits
- NatanFlayer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Sir kiss, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Israel Defense Forces, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Israel Defense Forces, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons