Useful Military (IDF) Terms

Active Service

Military Roles and Positions

מג”ד

English: Magad
Meaning: Regiment commander

סמג”ד

English: Samgad
Meaning: Deputy battalion commander

מ”פ

English: Mem-pe
Meaning: Company commander

סמ”פ

English: Samech mem-pe
Meaning: Company commander’s assistant

מ”מ / מפק”צ

English: Mem-mem/Mafkatz
Meaning: Platoon commander

סמ”מ

English: Samech mem-mem
Meaning: Platoon commander’s assistant

רס”ר

English: Rassar
Meaning: Master sergeant

רס”פ

English: Rasap
Meaning: Company sergeant major

סמל

English: Samal
Meaning: Sergeant (in charge of discipline)

מ”כ

English: Mac/Mefaked
Meaning: Squad commander

חופ”ל

English: Chopel
Meaning: Company’s medic

מש”קית ת”ש

English: Mashakit Tash
Meaning: In charge of personal affairs

מש”קית חינוך

English: Mashakit Chinuch
Meaning: In charge of education on base

שלישה

English: Shalisha
Meaning: Adjutant

קצין

English: Katzin
Meaning: An officer.

ש”ג

English: Shin Gimel
Meaning: A guard at the entrance to a camp.

Military Service Terms

חמשוש

English: Chamshush
Meaning: Leave base on Thursday

שו”ש

English: Shush
Meaning: Leave base on Friday

מקוצרת

English: Mekutzeret
Meaning: Get back to base early (e.g. Motzei Shabbat)

רגילה

English: Regila
Meaning: One week off from the army (every 4 months)

מיוחדת

English: Meyuchedet
Meaning: Time off from the army in special cases

אחת עשרה-שלוש (11/3)

English: Achat Esre-Shalosh
Meaning: In base for 11 days, home for 3 days

טירונות

English: Tironut
Meaning: Basic training

אימון מתקדם

English: Imun Mitkadem
Meaning: Advanced training

מסלול

English: Maslul
Meaning: The whole time a soldier is considered “in training” (about a year)

ותיקה

English: Vatika
Meaning: No longer in training – seniority

צ’ונג / צעיר

English: Chong/Tzair
Meaning: “Young” = “green”

חמישים וחמש (55)

English: Chamishim ve chamesh (55)
Meaning: Number of a form you fill out in order to transfer into a different unit.

ג’ובניק

English: Jobnik
Meaning: Someone who has an easy, non-combatant job.

שעה ביציאה

English: Sha’ah ba yetzia
Meaning: One hour delay before the soldier can leave the base (a punishment!).

ריתוק

English: Rituk
Meaning: Confinement.

סוגר

English: Soger
Meaning: Staying in base, not going back home.

נוהל שבת

English: Nohal Shabat
Meaning: No training or working from a few hours before Shabbat until after Shabbat.

קצין העיר

English: Ktzin Ha’ir
Meaning: City’s military headquarters.

גימלים

English: Gimelim
Meaning: Sick leave from the army.

בתים

English: Betim
Meaning: Sick leave, but has to stay in base.

מלש”ב

English: Malshab
Meaning: Someone who is in the process of being drafted.

פקודות מטכ”ל

English: Pkudot Matkal
Meaning: Orders from the General Staff regarding the soldier’s welfare.

מסע כומתה

English: Masa Kumta
Meaning: A long, hard final hike/march which ends with the soldier receiving their corps beret.

השבעה

English: Hashba’ah
Meaning: Swearing into the army ceremony.

לוף

English: Loof
Meaning: Canned meat.