IDF Graduates First Group of Telam Officers to Support Wounded Soldiers

In a significant step towards enhancing support for Israel Defense Forces (IDF) personnel injured during the ongoing conflict, 70 reserve officers have completed the inaugural training course for the new ‘Telam’ Command.

The officers, who will begin their roles in the coming days, were trained to provide comprehensive support to wounded soldiers once they are released from hospitalization, according to a joint statement from the Military and Defense Ministry on Tuesday.

The Telam Command, a collaboration between the IDF and the Defense Ministry’s Rehabilitation Division, aims to strengthen the support network for injured soldiers.

With the rehabilitation efforts intensifying since the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023, over 15,000 wounded IDF and security forces personnel have already been treated by the Rehabilitation Division.

The addition of Telam officers is designed to further personalize care and ensure that the injured receive the necessary support when transitioning from hospital care to home life.

Under the new system, Telam officers will serve as the central point of contact for wounded soldiers, offering specialized assistance in identifying medical, psychological, and social needs.

The officers’ role is to coordinate with existing rehabilitation efforts and ensure that the soldiers are equipped with the resources needed to ease their return to civilian life.

These officers will also assist in the process of navigating the complex systems involved in accessing medical care and exercising their rights as injured service members.

Tzipi Feldman, Deputy Head of the Rehabilitation Division, emphasized the importance of the new Telam system in addressing the evolving needs of wounded soldiers.

“Since the war began, the Rehabilitation Division has focused on providing immediate response to the changing needs of the wounded. The Telam officers will complete the personal support framework provided by the Division and help ease the wounded’s return home,” Feldman said.

The Telam program will complement the existing work of the Rehabilitation Division’s liaisons, who have been stationed at hospitals across Israel since the onset of the conflict.

These liaisons have assisted the injured soldiers and their families during their hospitalization, and the new officers will continue this support once the soldiers are discharged.

Telam officers will be the soldiers’ dedicated contact, ensuring that all their needs are met and that they have access to the support systems necessary for their recovery and reintegration into daily life.

This initiative comes as part of the ongoing efforts to provide comprehensive care to soldiers injured during the war.

The IDF and the Ministry of Defense are working in close cooperation to streamline the rehabilitation process, ensuring that each wounded soldier is fully supported in reclaiming their independence and well-being.

As the Telam officers prepare to take on their new responsibilities, the Rehabilitation Division continues to work tirelessly to support the IDF’s personnel, helping them to recover physically, mentally, and emotionally from the lasting impacts of the conflict.