Urban legends

Col. (Res.) Prof. Arnon Afek heard the myth “there are those who say that soldiers do not have a profile 100 because of circumcision.” He immediately dismissed this myth and explained that, as cliché as it is “nobody is perfect.”

“The real reason is much less exciting and much more bureaucratic”

The real reason is actually bureaucratic. “The reason why there is no profile 100 is for the highest profile to remain a two-digit number” -Prof. Arnon Afek

So, why 97?

Why 97 and not 99? Prof. Afek explaining that the choice and logic behind the profile numbers are not what people might think. There is no legitimate reason. “This is a decision that only those who grew up in the 1950s know how to answer.”

The numbers that represent the medical profile have gone through several incarnations between colors, letters and numbers.

A history lesson

The screening process began even before the establishment of the state of Israel and the establishment of the IDF. In 1942 candidates underwent a series of medical examinations and at the end received an unequivocal yes or no.

In 1947 the sorting procedure was changed to 4 colored cards.

• Red card: suitable for full service
• Green card: partial service
• Gray card: public service
• White card: exempt from service.

A year later, the approach was changed once more and the medical profiles were marked with letter from A to D

• A: qualified for any service
• B: qualified for service but not suitable for combat units
• C: not suitable in service in the security forces, but suitable for service in auxiliary forces
• D: not suitable for any service of any kind

This method was derived from the method of the British Army during World War II

From 21 to 97

In the following decade, various deficiency clauses entered the process and the military selection process underwent another ‘facelift’. The system we know today started in 1956 in which the medical profile ranges from 21 to 97.

Over the years, Prof. Afek explains that the range of profiles has been expanded: “Since the IDF is the people’s army and conscription is mandatory, more profiles were added in order to best match the type of service to the candidates and allow as many populations as possible to serve in the army.”