Who is defined as an only child?

According to the IDF’s rules, any IDF candidate who is an only child to one or both of his parents is defined as an only child. These definitions refer to both men and women as one. In addition, candidates whom one of their parents aren’t registered in the ministry of the interior is also defined as an only child until proven otherwise (considering an absence of the parent’s information in the ministry of the interior).

According to the army’s rules, an only child cannot serve in combat roles except for specific roles that have been approved. As an only child there is an option of serving in certain roles: A squad commandear in the MAGAL corps, an air defense command fighter and a security officer in the military police corps.

What If I’m Not an Only Child But Written As One?

If you are recognized as an only child in the army’s files but you have siblings from both of your parents - the ministry of the interior’s data and your family’s situation are unintentionally not matching. If you are in this situation, there are two solutions:

1| If one of your parents isn’t written in the ministry of the interior, as your parent or one of your sibling’s parent, you must go to the ministry of the interior together, arrange the data and update the recruitment office.

2| If your siblings\parents are not written in the ministry of the interior because they are abroad and are not citizens, you must bring one of the following things with you:

- Your’s and your sibling’s birth certificates with an Apostille signature (one who's permitted to verify documents.

- Your’s and your sibling’s birth certificates (without an Apostille signature) and a document from your parents mentioning that you are not an only child to any one of them in addition to your declaration in Israel in front of your lawyer that you are not an only child.

- Your parents’ declaration and signatures in front of a legal factor that you are not an only child to any one of them.

If your declaration is in a language different than Hebrew or English, you must go to the notary to translate it (a legal factor permitted to translate).

You are required to send the ministry of the interior’s documents/confirmation to the mail of Meitav (Meitav@idf.gov.il) or upload to the Mitgaisim website. When these documents are submitted and approved, you will receive a text message which confirms that you are not recognized as an only child.

If one of your parents isn’t written in the ministry of the interior you will be defined as an only child to that same parent.

How Can I Volunteer to a Combat Service If I’m an Only Child?

If you have a guardian who isn’t your parent - the guardian can sign the volunteering documents when showing a guardian certification.

In order to send a volunteering request to serve as a combat soldier (as an only child), you must print the volunteering document and fill it out.

If you are an only child to both your parents and are in touch with them - You must print the volunteering document, arrive at the recruitment office with your parents and sign the proposition with the recruitment office’s commander (coordinated beforehand) or with a civil lawyer. When arriving you must bring an ID card + both the parent’s stubs of their children.

How To Fill Out the Documents:

Section A - You will fill out the information.                                                             

Section B - The information will be filled out by your parents with a lawyer or the recruitment office’s commander.

Section C - The required information will be filled out and signed by a lawyer or the recruitment office’s commander.

An only child to one of the parents - If you are an only child for one of your parents, you must go through the same process written above, along with your parent who you are his only child.

An only child to divorced parents - You must print the volunteering document and fill out the declaration with each of your parents and with a lawyer, or the recruitment office’s commander. You can fill out the documents with both your parents together.

An only child to one of the parents and isn’t in touch with him - You must print the volunteering document and go with the parent you are in touch with to a civil lawyer. In this case you must sign appendix B and C in the document, which are the documents stating that you are severing the connection with the parent that you are not in touch with.

How to fill out the documents:                                                                      

Section A - You will fill out the information.                                                      

Section B - The required information will be filled out by your parents with a lawyer.

Section C - The required information will be filled out by a lawyer.                                     

Appendix B - You will fill out the information with a lawyer. (Volunteering statement in English)

Appendix C - The information will be filled out by the parent you are in touch with along with a lawyer.

An only child to parents abroad - In this case your parents must sign the volunteering document in the country they live in. There is an option of signing the documents with the consul in the Israeli consulate in the country or with any civil lawyer. The documents are also valid in Hebrew (הצהרת התנדבות בנים יחידים לשירות ללא מגבלות) and in Russian (Добровольная декларация - единственный сын). If there is a need to translate the document to a different language, you must translate the exact wording of the document by a notary to English or Hebrew and sign the documents with him.

Pay attention - After enlisting you will not be able to withdraw the only child forms!

I Can’t Serve In Any Combat Role?

As an only child there is an option of serving in certain combat roles: A squad commander in the MAGAL corps, an air defence command fighter and a security officer in the military police corps.

Good Luck!