Report: 2013 Generals and Admirals Program to Israel

Thirteen recently retired American generals and admirals traveled to Israel this past summer to engage in discussions with Israel’s most senior security, military, intelligence, and political leaders. The visit is an annual component of JINSA’s Generals and Admirals (G&A) Program.

During the 2013 G&A Program, these American military leaders observed Israeli military exercises in the field, visited key IDF and national intelligence installations, and were briefed on the latest Israeli war fighting doctrine, national security plans, and technological and cyber innovations.

Since 1981, JINSA’s G&A Program has brought these American generals and admirals to Israel on an annual basis, and today the number of past participants is nearly 400. In 1999, JINSA expanded the trip to include travel to Jordan for meetings with the highest echelon of the Jordanian military and intelligence services as well as senior members of the royal family.

By design, the JINSA program is an intensive nine-day program that presents the participating American generals and admirals with an extremely candid look at the strategic environment and current political and security challenges facing Israel, one of America’s closest and most important allies in the region and on the global stage.

The generals and admirals met with several dozen senior military and intelligence officials at locations across Israel. Public officials with whom they met include Minister of Defense Moshe “Bogie” Ya’alon, IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, Director General of the Ministry of Defense Udi Shani, and Head of the National Security Council Yaakov Amidror.

Israel’s Defense and Armed Forces Attaché to the United States and Canada, Maj. Gen. Yaakov Ayish, accompanied the trip participants during their entire time in Israel.