Who is a Lone Soldier? What are the Criteria to be Considered a Lone Soldier? What are the Needs of a Lone Soldier?

Article by Yosef Shiloni, Chairman of Beit Almog Shiloni Foundation

Who is a Male/Female Lone Soldier?

A new immigrant soldier who immigrated alone and whose parents live abroad, a soldier who has been orphaned, a soldier whose parents emigrated abroad. A soldier whose parents went on a mission abroad for a period of six months or more, a soldier lacking family support, a soldier who has no contact with his parents. A soldier who has some contact with his parents, but has no possibility of living with them (a soldier from the ultra-Orthodox community who enlisted in the service track for the ultra-Orthodox or who became secular). A soldier who lived with a foster family until the age of 18.

A soldier who has no home to return to

The lone male and female soldiers are full of motivation, ready to serve in combat units, they are excited to serve for the country and the flag, but during holidays or weekends they have no home to return to! Beit Almog Shiloni provides them with a warm and loving environment and addresses all their needs!

How many lone soldiers serve in the IDF?

Each of the male and female soldiers is a whole world, each one has an interesting personal story, a challenging life journey. In the IDF, there are about 7,000 lone male and female soldiers who don’t have a nuclear family and a home to return to. About 45% are new immigrants who came out of a sense of mission and Zionism and left families and comfortable lives in the diaspora. Another 50% are Israeli orphans or Israelis from challenging backgrounds, complex socio-economic situations, 5% are soldiers from ultra-Orthodox families, where the family decided to ostracize them because of their military service! Beit Almog Shiloni provides them with a warm and loving environment and addresses all their needs!

Did you know? The vast majority of lone soldiers serve in combat units

The vast majority of lone soldiers serve in combat units such as Paratroopers, Golani, Givati, Kfir, Armored Corps, Artillery, Combat Engineering, Combat Intelligence Collection, Air Defense Array, elite units in the air, sea or land, combat units in the Air Force, Naval Officers. These soldiers come with super high motivation to serve in the Israel Defense Forces and are considered good, quality soldiers. Many of them are outstanding soldiers, receiving awards on Independence Days at the President’s Residence at a higher rate than their proportion in the army! Beit Almog Shiloni provides them in 4 modern homes in the city of Modi’in Maccabim Reut with a warm and loving environment and addresses all their needs!

What is the range of needs and service that a lone soldier requires?

Financial Need

• Lone soldiers have partial information about service in the IDF; the family – parents/siblings/uncles/close friends have no military experience • They lack a supportive family that accompanies and explains • Money for food, treats, hygiene, civilian clothing, underwear • The soldier receives subsidized rent from the army, which does not provide a complete solution to their needs! • Food services, cleaning, laundry, Shabbat meals • Beit Almog Shiloni provides them with a warm and loving environment and addresses all their needs and eases their moments of loneliness and homesickness! They don’t return to an empty house, where they have to worry about laundry, food, house cleaning, cooking, and bills! They return to a loving and accommodating home with everything they need from a hug to food in the refrigerator and pantry and the shampoo they like in the shower, including leisure, entertainment, and more!

25/3/15 (5th of Nissan 5775), the first house was inaugurated with a unique concept project in Israel!

The first Beit Almog Shiloni was inaugurated on March 25, 2015, the 5th of Nissan 5775. The apartments of Beit Almog Shiloni are equipped and designed down to the smallest details and allow each soldier to enjoy privacy in the room allocated to them throughout their military service. As mentioned, the soldiers enjoy food supply, house cleaning, and clothing for soldiers as needed. The house maintains Shabbat observance and kosher standards. Beit Almog Shiloni is planned to operate in its current format in 4 houses scattered throughout the city of Modi’in Maccabim Reut, until the establishment of the permanent home “The Center for Lone Soldiers” which will contain about 100 rooms for lone soldiers. The land, 6 dunams, for this center was allocated by the Modi’in Municipality, which is actively involved in the project.