PROFILElast verified 2026-10-20Shayetet 13 (Israeli Navy commandos)
Entry requirements and the path to selection
Shayetet 13 is the naval commando unit of the Israeli Navy, Israel’s counterpart of the US Navy SEALs. It recruits conscripts before enlistment through the special-units field day and its own multi-day selection at the unit’s base, with sea and land tests. The IDF recruits’ portal lists the entry conditions — a medical profile of at least 82, a psychotechnical score of at least 50 and a Hebrew grade of 7 — but publishes no fitness thresholds, swim distances or times. This page lists the official conditions and points you to comparable published maritime standards.
This unit does not publish fitness standards for its selection. This page lists only what official sources say.
What is officially known
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Medical profile | 82 or higher (scale 21–97) official · Sources |
| Psychotechnical score (Dapar) | At least 50 (scale 10–90) official · Sources |
| Hebrew grade | 7 (scale 5–8) official · Sources |
| Training bases | Basic training at a Golani base, advanced training at Atlit official · Sources |
| First step: special-units field day (Yom Sayarot) | The result “Shayetet 13” leads to selection at the navy’s training base in Haifa; tasks are not disclosed official · Sources |
| Selection (Gibush Shayetet) | Computer aptitude tests, then 5 days of sea and land tests at the unit’s base, special diving medicals and a security check (2016 description) approximate |
Path into the unit
- Before enlistment: the first call-up sets the medical profile, the psychotechnical score and the Hebrew grade.
- Special-units field day (Yom Sayarot) with the result “Shayetet 13”.
- Multi-day selection at the unit’s base, diving medicals and security check; then the long training course at Atlit.
Test yourself against the nearest official standard
These units publish their standards — the closest public benchmark for this path.
UNITED STATES
GERMANYWhat we do not give, and why
The IDF publishes no swim distances, run times or repetition counts for this selection; the 2016 description names sea and land tests only. Figures from preparation courses and forums are unofficial, so we do not give them.
Frequently asked questions
Why do you point to the Navy SEALs and German combat swimmers?
They are naval special-operations units with official, published entry tests that include swimming. Israel publishes no such test, so they serve as a benchmark for your fitness, not as the Shayetet 13 selection.
Where do the facts come from?
From the IDF recruits’ portal (mitgaisim.idf.il) — the Shayetet 13 role page, the guide to the special-units field day and a 2016 article on the selection — read through web.archive.org copies, because the portal is geo-blocked outside Israel.
- IDF recruits’ portal (mitgaisim.idf.il) — role page “Shayetet 13 fighter” (Wayback copy) (2025-06-07)
- IDF recruits’ portal — “Yom Sayarot: the full guide” (article of 5 Nov 2023, Wayback copy) (2023-11-05)
- IDF recruits’ portal — article on the Shayetet 13 selection path (22 Sep 2016, Wayback copy 2021) (2016-09-22)
Special Boat Service (SBS)