Sayeret Matkalסיירת מטכ״ל
How to get into Sayeret Matkal, and what its training looks like
The General Staff's reconnaissance unit. Its missions are classified, it takes one draft a year and its fighters train for 16 months.
Profile 97+about 16 monthsMenOlive green
Sayeret Matkal asks for a medical profile of 97 and up, a Dapar of 50 and up and a Hebrew score of 7.
The medical profile runs from 21 to 97.
The Dapar, the reasoning test of the first call-up, is scored from 10 to 90.
The Hebrew score runs from 1 to 9.
- Open to
- Men
- Medical profile
- 97 and up
- Dapar
- 50 and up
- Hebrew score
- 7
- Training
- about 16 months
- Commitment
- 2 years and 8 months of compulsory service, then 3 years of career service, the last of them a first year of academic study.
The IDF says little about what the unit does: its official page states only that its role and its operations are classified. What it does publish is the path in, which starts more than a year before the draft.
Every fighter of the unit goes on to the officers' course at Bahad 1, the IDF's officer school. The draft is once a year, in November or December.
The way into Sayeret Matkal runs through 4 steps.
- 1Yom Sayarot, the field day for the elite units, with the result "HaYechida" (the unit).
- 2A combined try-out (gibbush) of several days.
- 3A psychological screening, medical checks and a security check.
- 4The draft, once a year in November or December.
Training at Sayeret Matkal lasts about 16 months.
- Training in the unit, from basic training to the end of the course
The IDF's guides say what to train for before the screening.
The IDF's guide to Yom Sayarot says to start training at least three months before it, with 3 to 5 aerobic sessions and 2 to 3 strength sessions a week, and to keep hard training out of the week before it.
- 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.
- Sayeret Matkal combat soldierOther units
Units to read about alongside Sayeret Matkal.
Shayetet 13שייטת 13The Navy's commando. Its fighters carry out strategic operations behind enemy lines, in enemy ports and against enemy facilities, and gather intelligence.Profile 82+about 20 monthsMenDark blue
ShaldagשלדגThe Air Force's commando unit, based at Palmachim. Its fighters train for a year and 7 months.Profile 82+about 19 monthsMenDark grey
Unit 669יחידה 669The Air Force's combat search and rescue unit. It brings out the wounded under fire and behind enemy lines, at sea, in the air and on land.Profile 97+about 18 monthsMenDark grey
Frequently asked questions
What does Sayeret Matkal ask for?
The IDF's page asks for a profile of 97 and up, a Dapar of 50 and up and a Hebrew score of 7.
How do you get into Sayeret Matkal?
Yom Sayarot, the field day for the elite units, with the result "HaYechida" (the unit). A combined try-out (gibbush) of several days. A psychological screening, medical checks and a security check. The draft, once a year in November or December.
How long is training at Sayeret Matkal?
About 16 months: Training in the unit, from basic training to the end of the course.
Can women serve in Sayeret Matkal?
The IDF's page names men only. Women fighters can choose other units, and the IDF commits to give a woman fighter one of her first three choices.
This page was written from the IDF's pages for future soldiers, read on 6 November 2026.
- The IDF's page for the role: Sayeret Matkal combat soldier
- The IDF's full guide to Yom Sayarot
- 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
- IDF Spokesperson's Unit photographer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- IDF Spokesperson's Unit photographer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Amit Agronov, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Oren Rozen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons