Tironut Tironut ( ) is the Hebrew term for the recruit training of the Israel Defense Forces ( IDF ) . There are different levels of recruit training , and each corps or major unit has their own training program . Upon completing tironut , non - combat recruits are certified as Rifleman 02 . Combat recruits must complete Rifleman 03 basic training . Generally , infantry - specific training ranges from Rifleman 05 ( combat engineering ) to Rifleman 07 ( infantry and combat engineers sapper s , upon completion of advanced infantry training ) , whereas armored or artillery corps complete Rifleman 03 training . Elite units such as Sayeret Matkal do not complete a standard basic training course for a rifleman certification and have their own extended training courses which last over one year . All recruits in the IDF basic training wear the general all - army olive drab beret and get their corps beret upon completion , in a ceremony where the recruits swear in to the IDF . Infantry units and some others such as military police swear in at the Western Wall . Course of the training . At the beginning of each basic training course , there are several days of ' integration ' , where drill instructors convert recruits from civilians to soldiers . These are usually considered the most difficult days of any basic training program , even though they are not physically draining . During these days , recruits receive no breaks and the discipline is at its highest level . While essentially each rifleman level and each corps training varies greatly , there are some commonalities between the entire army . All soldiers are issued weapons after their integration days and must carry them until the end of the basic training course . Many lessons are also common for all corps , such as " moreshet krav " ( literally " battle heritage " ) , where soldiers are taught about past IDF operations . Physical and verbal aggression are not permitted in the IDF basic training , which leaves drill instructors with a limited number of ways to hand out punishments . Physical punishments such as push - ups and running are common ways to punish for several discipline issues . Another method of punishment is giving detention - keeping a soldier several more days in the training base instead of visiting home ; or simply delaying the visit home by a few hours . Combat units also see more group punishments , where if one soldier makes a mistake , the entire platoon suffers ; although non - combat units also sometimes see this punishment . Training soldiers may avoid certain tasks or punishments with proper documents from doctors and specialists , if they see fit that the process would harm their health condition . At the end of each basic training program , recruits swear in to the IDF and receive their corps berets , after which they go to their respective professional training courses . In most units , there is a ceremony called " distance - breaking " , which involves the commanders telling the recruits their names , after which they are no longer these specific recruits ' commanders and may call them by their first names only . In most combat units , distance - breaking is done after the professional course . Certification requirements . Each rifleman certification has a number of requirements , although recruit training programs typically include more than what the certification requires . Some programs , such as the Extended Rifleman 02 , train recruits for the next Rifleman qualification ( in this case , Rifleman 03 ) , but the recruits do not get the higher certificate . For weapons , theoretical and practical knowledge is typically required - theoretical being the knowledge of how the gun works , the names of its parts , etc . Practical is the ability to take apart the weapon , load it , fix jams , etc . Recruits are also required to be able to hit targets with most weapons they work with .