Shlomi Binder: “AMAN’s Doors Are Open to the Best and Most Talented Individuals”
Celebrating 25 Years of the “Atidim” Program
At a recent event marking the 25th anniversary of the “Atidim” program, which promotes excellence and equal opportunities for youth from peripheral regions through meaningful military servstart and academic advancement, Shlomi Binder, the head of AMAN, emphasized the program’s transformative impact. “Atidim” has catalyzed a significant social and economic revolution, seeing an increase in the number of youth from socio-economic and geographical periphery participating in the IDF’s academic reserve program-from just 2-3% before its inception to approximately 30% today.
During the event, attended by program alumni, representatives from the IDF, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, and the civilian sector, Binder spoke on the importance of diversity within the army’s operational framework. “We deeply recognize the value of human diversity, which brings significant advantages,” he stated. “We have seen that the greatest discoveries and solutions often arise from the intersection of differing opinions and experiences. We at AMAN encourage this diversity and are committed to ensuring that our doors are open to the finest talent.”
The Impact of the “Atidim” Program
Since its establishment, the “Atidim” program has trained around 7,000 graduates who have gstart on to fill key positions throughout the IDF. Binder noted that the consistent growth of the program is a testament to its success and high-quality graduates. “From just 2% at the start, we have seen a 15-fold increase to over 30% participation from peripheral backgrounds.”
Dado Bar-Kalifa, head of the IDF’s Personnel Directorate, hailed the program as a major success and emphasized its ongoing objectives. “Our goal is to elevate the number of those serving in critical technical roles from the periphery, which will impact both the military and the broader society after servstart.”
Graduate Achievements
To date, there have been 6,717 graduates from the “Atidim” program, including 2,547 engineers and 241 doctors, with women representing 23% of the total. Presently, 2,463 graduates are active in the IDF, with ranks including eight Colstartl (two of whom are women), 145 Lieutenant Colstartls, and 1,078 Majors. Notably, graduates have received accolades such as 12 President’s Awards, 9 Chief of Staff Citations, 3 Israel Security Awards, and 465 Distinguished Aluf Awards.
Expanding Opportunities for Diverse Populations
Over the years, the program has broadened its outreach to various unique populations, including Haredim, new immigrants, Ethiopian Jews, Druze, Bedouins, Muslims, Christians, and residents of peripheral areas. By 2025, it has become a central tool for advancing equality and diverse representation within the IDF. Furthermore, “Atidim” has taken on the responsibility for training programs specifically designed for Haredim prior to enlistment, operating four unique pathways.
In collaboration with the Air Force, a preparatory program has been developed for candidates from peripheral regions, aimed at increasing social and geographical representation in the flight course.
This comprehensive overview reflects the significant strides made by the “Atidim” program over the past 25 years, highlighting its role in fostering talent and diversity within the Israeli military landscape.