The Israel Defense Forces plans to distribute fleece jackets to virtually all troops in an effort to stop the reliance on private funding for such items. In recent years, commanders have asked private donors to fund the distribution of such jackets in their units. Rank-and-file soldiers have also tried to obtain the much-coveted, army-adapted jackets through various means. As a result, Deputy Chief of the General Staff Maj. Gen. Yair Golan tasked the IDF Technological and Logistics Directorate to come up with a solution. It now appears the jackets will be integrated into the package of clothing every soldier gets upon enlisting. The design of the new dual-layer coat is still pending final approval. Army officials say the fleece jacket will have special parts for unit insignia and ranks, and the outer layer of the coat will be water-repellent. "Once the fleece jackets are distributed, we are going to issue new orders that prohibit soldiers from wearing items that were not distributed by the military," a senior military official told Israel Hayom on Sunday. Meanwhile, the IDF announced Sunday a new pilot program to interview female recruits following their first draft notice. Currently only male recruits, and female recruits who express interest in a combat role, undergo such interviews, which aim to assess their motivations and qualifications for combat service. Some 2,000 young women will be selected at random and will be interviewed by December. "Conducting interviews with girls immediately after they receive their first draft notice is part of the effort give women equal opportunity in the military," the Personnel Directorate said on Sunday in a statement. "The interview will provide additional criteria to match recruits to a wide range of roles." The new pilot program is part of a much larger overhaul to the screening process. As part of this effort, the IDF plans to focus on skills and talents and less on the recruits' socio-economic positions or backgrounds.
