The Israeli Commander of Reserve Forces Corps ( he, קצין מילואים ראשי) is the commander of the

Israel Defense Forces The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; he, צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל , ), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the national military of the State of Israel. It consists of three service branch ...

military reserve force A military reserve force is a military organization whose members have military and civilian occupations. They are not normally kept under arms, and their main role is to be available when their military requires additional manpower. Reserve ...

. As of 2021, the Commander of Reserve Forces Corps is

Brigadier-General Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed to ...

Benny Ben Ari. The position was created both as part of the 21st Century IDF reforms as well as largely due to feelings of discrimination by reservists following

Operation Defensive Shield Operation "Defensive Shield" ( he, מִבְצָע חוֹמַת מָגֵן, ''Mivtza Homat Magen'', literally "Operation Shield Wall") was a large-scale military operation conducted by the Israel Defense Forces in 2002 during the Second Intifada ...

, whereby the reservists complained that employers preferred those who serve shorter durations over those serving lengthier terms. Until the position was created, the reserve force fell under the jurisdiction of the respective branch and there was no one, single officer to represent IDF reservists. Also, as part of the reserve force reform, a celebratory "Reserve Day" was established during which reservists are entitled to several benefits. Leaders of the reservists groups, however, maintained this falls short and that better employment protections and more substantive benefits are needed. During the

Second Lebanon War The 2006 Lebanon War, also called the 2006 Israel–Hezbollah War and known in Lebanon as the July War ( ar, حرب تموز, ''Ḥarb Tammūz'') and in Israel as the Second Lebanon War ( he, מלחמת לבנון השנייה, ''Milhemet Leva ...

, severe war-time shortages and other critical oversights affecting the reserve force culminated in the reserve soldiers' protest, which became an important political event in Israel, leading to the creation of the

Winograd Commission The Winograd Commission ( he, ועדת וינוגרד; the commission's official name is הוועדה לבדיקת ארועי המערכה בלבנון 2006 – "The commission of inquiry into the events of military engagement in Lebanon 2006") is ...

Goals of the Chief Reserve Officer

* To oversee the advancement and development of the reserve system; to aid in its operations and its intake of manpower * To aid in the maintenance of the reserve system's operational competence and its coherency, according to the new reserve system design * To improve the motivation of the reservists in continuing their service according to the new reserve system design * To increase the positive results and joint cooperation in the reserve system according to the new reserve system design * To be the center of development and integration in all matters regarding the reserve system, as a facility to promote decisions regarding the reserves * To be the primary facility promoting connection between the reserves in the military and in society

References

Military units and formations of Israel {{Israel-mil-stub