Reply To: Chief Rabbi: Could we sit and study Torah without soldiers?

Sam, that was not a milchemet mitzva. In a milchement mitzva all go (Rambam Hilchot Melachim 7:4) – and all of Israel’s wars have been in this category (ibid 5:1). Of course, there are support troops as well as combat troops. Rav Nachman Kahane suggested periodic exams to decide who would learn full time in battei midrashot, who would be part of the IDF Rabbinate and so forth. I personally would also require those completely deferred to dedicate their learning each day to the success of the IDF, put out books and articles on the halachot of war, etc.