IDF unit — Givati Brigade (חטיבת גבעתי, 84th Brigade): role, profile needed, training, service length, olim

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Givati_Brigade; https://draftidf.co.il/units/ (requirements) · 2026-09

What it is

Givati is the IDF’s southern infantry brigade — the 84th Brigade, under Southern Command (part of the 162nd Division). Originally the 5th Brigade of 1947–48, it was disbanded and re-formed in 1983, and since 1999 it has been the brigade most associated with the Gaza sector. It is one of the five regular infantry brigades (with Golani, Paratroopers, Nahal and Kfir).

• Beret: purple. Mascot: the fox (“Shualei Shimshon” — Samson’s Foxes, the name of its reconnaissance battalion). Motto: “Any place, any time, any mission.”
• Battalions: 424th “Shaked”, 432nd “Tzabar”, 435th “Rotem”, and the 846th Reconnaissance Battalion (Gadsar Givati: Palsar, Palhan, Orev companies).
• Culture: disciplined and physically demanding; known for a strong emphasis on fitness, marching and standards. Large religious-soldier presence.

Requirements

• Medical profile: minimum 82.
• Gibush: none for the regular battalions — request it on the manila. The Gadsar (recon battalion) is entered through Gibush Yachatiot.
• Hebrew: no formal score; olim scoring 6 or below on the Hebrew test go through Michve Alon first and can then be placed in Givati.
• Gender: male-only combat battalions.

Path in and training

1. Rank Givati on the manila after the Tzav Rishon.
2. Draft to Bach Givati in the Negev. Training is the standard infantry maslul: roughly 4 months basic + 4 months advanced (~8 months), ending with a beret march (~60–70 km) and the purple beret.
3. Operational service is mostly in the south — the Gaza envelope and the Gaza Strip — with rotations to Judea & Samaria and the north.

Specialist tracks after basic: sharpshooter, combat medic, machine gunner, mortars, anti-tank (Orev), squad-commander and officers’ courses.

Service length

• 32 months standard for male combat soldiers.
• Olim arriving at 22–27 who volunteer for combat: 24 months minimum.
• Reserve duty follows release.

For olim

• Givati is a frequent destination for olim coming out of Michve Alon and has experience with lone soldiers; its base is in the Negev, so lone soldiers often live in Beer Sheva, the south or in kibbutz lone-soldier housing.
• Same lone-soldier rights as everywhere (housing grant or army housing, higher monthly pay, extra leave days, Yom Siddurim, flight home once during service).
• An oleh with profile 82 and average Hebrew who wants a front-line infantry unit in the south: Givati is the natural request. If the north appeals more, Golani; if you want a unit with a mixed social/education dimension, Nahal.

Golani vs Givati vs Nahal (quick comparison)

Contacts

• Meitav: 1111 · Lone Soldier Hotline: *6563
• NBN Lone Soldiers Program: army@nbn.org.il