Can India Learn from Israel's Policy of giving Mandatory Military training to its Jewish Youth?

(Created on 5th July 2001, Last Updated on 13th July 2001)

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The secret of the agility of a small country like Israel is in the policy of Mandatory Military training for its Youth. This policy, the Jewish state has followed since inception. Here are some quotes from Israeli statesmen on the importance they give to their Army, the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces):

"The IDF should also be the center for Zionist education for Israel's youth, children and immigrants..."

- David Ben Gurion, First President of Israel

"Our soldiers prevail not by the strength of their weapons but by their sense of mission; by their consciousness of the justness of their cause, by a deep love for their country, and by their understanding of the heavy task laid upon them: to ensure the existence of our people in their homeland and to affirm, even at the cost of their lives, the right of the Jewish people to live their lives in their own state, free, independent and in peace."

-Yizak Rabin, Chief of Staff IDF 1964-68

And this explains why the country with a population which is less than one percent of India's population is fighting fit even at the worst of times. Needless to remind our readers that Israel is surrounded on ALL sides by hostile neighbors who want to destroy the Jewish state. And Israel has fought many wars -in 1948, 1967, and 1973 before the current simmering conflict. And Israel has always emerged the victor. Because its entire population up to its last man and woman is a fighter as a soldier.

India with a population that is more than 100 times that of Israel can learn a lot from this tiny Jewish state. In these challenging times we also need to have Mandatory Military training for our Youth. This should be made compulsory for all youth who are college going. And only on being certified after such military training should they be eligible to apply for jobs.

Most American Presidents too have been in the American Marines

We also need to note that most American Presidents have had stints in the American Army. They include George Bush, Bill Clinton, J.F.Kennedy, in addition to Presidents like Eisenhower and George Washington who were full time soldiers.

We in India have so far not had a Prime Minister or President who was a full time soldier. Only the present Defense and Foreign Minister Honb'le Jaswant Singh is from the Army. When he becomes the Prime Minister of India, he would be the first Indian Prime Minister to have a military background. (Incidentally many Heads of state of our neighboring Pakistan have come from the Military. But they have come in via military coups!)

Anyway, in India, for the present we should at least introduce Mandatory Military training for all students who enroll themselves in colleges.

To broaden the scope of Mandatory Military training, we should also involve all youths from tribal areas and those who are of military training age (between 12 and 24) and are gainfully employed. To avail of Military training unemployed youths should be required to take up gainful employment and register the name and address of their employers before being enrolled for Mandatory Military training. This way criminal elements and those inimical to a civilized way of life can be kept out of the Mandatory Military training campaign. This caution is very essential to prevent the wrong sort of guys to get Mandatory Military training who would get trained only to fill the ranks of theology-inspired terrorists.

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