Yahalomיהל״ם
How to get into Yahalom, and what its training looks like
The Combat Engineering Corps' special missions unit, for tunnels, explosives and breaching.
Profile 82+about 8 monthsMenLight grey
Yahalom asks for a medical profile of 82 and up, a Dapar of 50 and up and a Hebrew score of 5.
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
- 82 and up
- Dapar
- 50 and up
- Hebrew score
- 5
- Training
- about 8 months
- Where it serves
- The military engineering school, then the unit's companies.
Yahalom has four companies: Samur for hideouts and tunnels, bomb disposal, Yael for special engineering, commando work, engineering intelligence and demolitions, and Madron Mushlag for breaking into buildings.
Fighters do 4 months of basic training to Rifleman 05 and 4 months of advanced training to Rifleman 06 at the military engineering school. A place in the unit cannot be given up.
The way into Yahalom runs through 3 steps.
- 1The reconnaissance model before the draft, or interview week for those who finished the pilot, Matkal, Shayetet, naval officers or submarines try-outs and were not taken.
- 2Or a physical screening after the Combat Engineering try-out.
- 3The draft.
Training at Yahalom lasts about 8 months.
- Basic training to Rifleman 05
- Advanced training to Rifleman 06
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.
- Yahalom combat soldierCombat Engineering
Units to read about alongside Yahalom.
Combat Engineering Corpsחיל ההנדסה הקרביתThe corps that clears the way for the army: explosives, mines, breaching obstacles and heavy engineering equipment.Profile 82+MenLight grey
OketzעוקץThe canine unit: its fighters go into action with trained dogs alongside commando forces.Profile 82+16 to 18 monthsMen and womenRed
Lotarלוט״רThe fighters and instructors of the IDF's counter-terror warfare school.Profile 82+MenRed
Frequently asked questions
What does Yahalom ask for?
The IDF's page asks for a profile of 82 and up, a Dapar of 50 and up and a Hebrew score of 5.
How do you get into Yahalom?
The reconnaissance model before the draft, or interview week for those who finished the pilot, Matkal, Shayetet, naval officers or submarines try-outs and were not taken. Or a physical screening after the Combat Engineering try-out. The draft.
How long is training at Yahalom?
About 8 months: Basic training to Rifleman 05; Advanced training to Rifleman 06.
Can women serve in Yahalom?
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: Yahalom 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
- Israel Defense Forces, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Israel Defense Forces, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- IDF Spokesperson's Unit photographer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons