The Place in Which Risk and Resilience Factors Shape the Identity of Ethiopian Soldiers in the Israel Defense Force (IDF)

Recruitment to the IDF is often a stressful event for young immigrants. Statistics show that around 30% of Ethiopian soldiers in the Israeli army drop out of compulsory military service. The current study examines the circumstances surrounding success and failure in the military that interplay with issues of identity among Ethiopian soldiers. The research was based on narrative interviews with 45 Ethiopian Israelis, age 19-25, two to five years following their discharge from the army. Three groups of emerging adult Ethiopian-Israelis were interviewed: 1) those who finished their military service; 2) those who dropped out after being in military jail; 3) those who despite being in military jail, managed to finish their service.

Findings suggest that ethnic identity can be a signal for both risk and resilience. The study highlighted two constellations of identity: 1) Those who feel a sense of success, acceptance and self-worth, who mainly describe having developed a positive Israeli identity. 2) Those who experienced discrimination and feel a lack of belonging to Israeli society who describe feeling a mainly Ethiopian identity.

Results also showed that the ability to successfully navigate challenges in the stressful army situation relates to the interaction between experiences of identity and environmental, personal and family resources. The report of an Ethiopian identity for many of the young people rested on a sense of disconnection, family and financial difficulties, racism and a lack of belonging in Israeli society. Interestingly, it seems that for young immigrants entering the “bastion” of Israeli society, the army, the experience of a mainly Ethiopian identity is an expression of disconnection. One of the themes that emerged in the research was of the potential bridging role that a commanding officer could play in helping the soldiers feel connected.