President's Award for Outstanding Soldiers

The President's Award for Outstanding Soldiers is a badge of distinction for IDF soldiers, privates, and officers, awarded by the President of Israel in the presence of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, the Chief of Staff, IDF major generals, and other dignitaries at the President's residence.

President Yitzhak Ben-Zvi initiated this tradition in 1959, and the ceremony was held in the garden of the President's Barracks. However, the award itself was also awarded several years earlier. The award badge is presented annually on Independence Day to 120 outstanding soldiers, privates, and officers selected from all IDF units. Upon receiving the badge, the outstanding soldiers receive a $1,000 scholarship, donated by the Blavatnik Foundation from Britain in the past and currently by Mr. Eddie Faith, through the Soldier's Welfare Association. To be a candidate for the President's Distinguished Service Medal, the soldier must meet six criteria:

• Be a conscript or officer in conscript service or in the early commitment period for permanent service.
• Demonstrated excellence in the performance of his duty and exemplary behavior.
• Serves as a personal example to the other soldiers in the unit.
• Performs his duty above and beyond what is required of him.
• Has at least 11 months of service in continuous or cumulative regular service.
• Has not been selected as a President's Distinguished Service Medal in the past.

Pictures of soldiers wearing the decoration

It is very hard to find pictures of soldiers wearing the bade on their uniform because the IDF takes pictures of the soldiers before they are awarded the badge. In addition to this, the IDF likes to take the pictures showing the left shoulder, where the unit tag is shown, whereas the badge of outstanding soldier is worn on the right chest! So, regrettably, most IDf pictures are worthless for our purpose. However we found a picture of a clever officer who put the badge on the left chest (against army rules, but who cares about rules?).

 We tried to find why and when she earned the decoration, but have not yet found any data.

Samples of the document for the award

Award Ceremonies