IDF unit — Shayetet 13 (שייטת 13, naval commandos): role, Gibush Shayetet, profile 97 and eyesight rules, 20-month training, 4.5-year service, olim

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shayetet_13; https://garinmahal.com/gibushim-tryouts; https://draftidf.co.il/units/ · 2026-09

What it is

Shayetet 13 is the Israeli Navy’s special-operations unit, founded in 1949 from the Palyam (the Palmach’s naval arm) and based at Atlit south of Haifa. It is Israel’s equivalent of the US Navy SEALs / UK SBS: sea-to-land raids, counter-terrorism, sabotage, ship boarding, combat diving and maritime intelligence (Green Island 1969, Beirut 1973, the 2010 flotilla boarding, extensive 2023–2025 operations). Considered with Sayeret Matkal the top tier of IDF special forces.

Requirements

• Medical profile: 97 — and stricter than other units: glasses, contact lenses or color blindness disqualify, because of diving and night-operation demands. Full health is checked again at the gibush.
• Kaba / DAPAR: high.
• Hebrew: near-native.
• Gibush: invitation via Yom Sayerot, then Gibush Shayetet — about 4 days, held in March and July, physically and mentally the hardest of the IDF tryouts (water work, long carries, sleep deprivation, team tasks). One attempt.
• Gender: male combatants only.

Training

About 20 months in five stages: ~6 months infantry basic and advanced training, ~3 months preparation, a 4-week combat-diving course, then roughly a year of unit-specific training (small-boat, diving, demolitions, CT, navigation) — most drop-outs happen in this final year. Graduates receive the bat wings insignia.

Service length

Volunteers commit to at least 4.5 years (mandatory service plus keva) — the longest fixed commitment among IDF special forces. Officers serve longer.

For olim

• Shayetet is the hardest special-forces unit for an oleh to reach: perfect health, perfect eyesight, near-native Hebrew and a willingness to sign 4.5 years. Olim who need Michve Alon are not invited to Yom Sayerot.
• Olim who grew up in Israel or arrived as minors with strong Hebrew and a 97 profile can and do try out; NBN’s Lone Soldiers Program can submit a screening request (army@nbn.org.il).
• Not passing Gibush Shayetet usually leads to an offer of another elite track (Gibush Yachatiot units, Paratroopers, or Navy combat roles on missile boats / Snapir).
• If you want a naval career without the commando route, see the Navy chunk: Chovlim (naval officers’ course), missile-boat and submarine crews, Snapir (harbor security) — all accept a lower profile and shorter commitment.

Contacts

• Meitav: 1111 · Mitgaisim: mitgaisim.idf.il
• NBN Lone Soldiers Program: army@nbn.org.il, 02-659-5800