Intercultural Learning among Russian Immigrant Recruits in the Israeli Army

Abstract

In Israel, where over one million immigrants from the former Soviet Union (FSU) arrived during the past decade, compulsory military service provides young immigrants with an opportunity for acculturation. These youth are regarded as a population at risk, as they both face the trials of adjustment to a newsociety and are in the midst of their identity formation, at decision-making crossroads regarding future life goals. The purpose of this phenomenological studywas to examine howa group of young immigrants from the FSU use their military conscription in the context of their acculturation, investigating its actual effect on their coping in the host society.