IDF unit — Israeli Navy (חיל הים) for conscripts: Chovlim naval officers' course, missile-boat and submarine crews, Snapir harbour security, Yaltam divers — requirements, service length, olim
What it is
The Navy defends Israel’s coast, gas platforms and shipping lanes and projects force at sea: Sa’ar missile corvettes, Dolphin submarines, patrol boats (Dvora / Shaldag class), harbour defence, and naval intelligence. It is small and selective, and its main bases are Haifa, Ashdod and Eilat. Beret: navy blue; sailors wear the white dress uniform. Shayetet 13 (naval commandos) is covered in its own chunk.
The tracks
| Track | What it is | Requirements | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kurs Chovlim (naval officers’ course) | The Navy’s flagship course: cadets become ship officers and eventually captains; includes a BA. Often called the most prestigious course in the IDF after pilots’ | Profile 82+ (97 preferred), very high kaba/DAPAR, high Hebrew, multi-stage screening (gibush chovlim), security clearance. Men and women | ~2.5 years course, then several years of career service (~6+ years total) |
| Missile-boat / patrol-boat crews (lochamei yam) | Combat sailors on Sa’ar corvettes and Dvora patrol boats — weapons, sonar, engines, navigation, deck | Profile 82 (some technical roles 72), no gibush — request “Navy combat” on the manila. Mixed-gender on surface ships | 32 months; ~4 months basic + professional course |
| Submarine crews (tzolelanim) | Volunteer crews of Dolphin submarines; classified, small, tight-knit | Profile 82+, high DAPAR, psychological screening, top clearance; historically men only, women admitted since 2023 pilot | 32 months + signed keva (typically ~1–2 years) because of long training |
| Snapir | Harbour and port security unit — small fast boats defending Haifa, Ashdod and Eilat harbours | Profile 82, no gibush, mixed-gender | 32 months |
| Yaltam | Underwater missions unit — combat divers for salvage, mine clearance, underwater engineering (not commandos) | Profile 97 with perfect health (diving), screening | 32 months + keva |
| Naval intelligence, control rooms, technical | Radar/sonar operators, mechanics, electricians, intelligence analysts | Profile 45–72+, DAPAR, Hebrew | 32 / 24 months |
Requirements in general
- Profile 82 for most sea-going combat roles; technical and shore roles accept lower.
- Hebrew: high — shipboard commands, drills and damage control are in Hebrew and there is little room for error. Olim scoring 6 or below do Michve Alon first; the Navy tends to take olim after they have a solid Hebrew level.
- Security clearance: submarines, Chovlim and intelligence require a high clearance that recent olim may not receive.
- Seasickness is screened at sea during training; it is not a disqualifier on paper but is a common reason for reassignment.
Service length
Standard 32 months (men) / 24 or 32 months (women, depending on role); Chovlim, submarines and Yaltam add signed career time. Olim arriving at 22–27 can volunteer for 24-month combat service on surface ships; the long-course tracks generally require a longer commitment.
For olim
- Surface-ship combat roles and Snapir are realistic for an oleh with an 82 profile and good Hebrew — small crews mean olim integrate quickly.
- Chovlim and submarines are largely out of reach for adult olim because of the clearance and Hebrew bar; olim who arrived as minors do reach them.
- Naval technical qualifications (marine engines, electrical, sonar) transfer to civilian work in Haifa and Ashdod ports and the gas industry.
- Lone soldiers in the Navy are usually based in Haifa — housing and community support there (Beit HaChayal, lone-soldier centres) is well developed.
Contacts
- Meitav: 1111 · Mitgaisim: mitgaisim.idf.il
- NBN Lone Soldiers Program: army@nbn.org.il