May 1, 2025
President’s Award of Excellence Ceremony
For Striving for Excellence, Dedication, Professionalism, and Responsibility: 120 Officers and Soldiers Received Certificates of Appreciation
IDF: The President’s Award of Excellence Ceremony for Israel’s 77th Independence Day was held today (Thursday) at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem. During the ceremony, the President of the State of Israel presented certificates of excellence and pins to 120 outstanding officers and soldiers from across all IDF units.
The recipients were awarded the title of President’s Outstanding Soldiers for their pursuit of excellence, demonstrated dedication, professionalism, and responsibility, as well as their significant contributions that serve as a model and example for the entire IDF
The ceremony was held in the presence of the President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Defense Israel Katz, and with the participation of the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir, the General Staff Forum, and the families of the awardees.
This is the second consecutive year that the ceremony has been held under the shadow of the “Swords of Iron” War, in which all the award recipients have played a significant role in their various positions.
Among the 120 recipients of the President’s Award, there are 67 men and 53 women, of whom 19 serve as officers.
In addition, 66 of the recipients serve as combat soldiers, 22 serve in combat-support roles, and 32 hold non-combat positions.
The Association for Israel’s Soldiers, with the generous support of the Reuben Foundation, awarded scholarships to the outstanding soldiers.
As part of this initiative, each outstanding soldier received a monetary scholarship and an iPad, intended to assist them in their studies after their release from the IDF.
From the remarks of the President of the State of Israel, Mr. Isaac Herzog:
“Outstanding soldiers and their dear families, beloved bereaved families, dear families of hostages, we thank you for the privilege of having you here with us today.
The very holding of this important ceremony, despite the challenging circumstances, is a statement and a declaration: despite everything, we preserve the tradition.
This is the 77th year, which in Gematria corresponds to the word ‘עז’ (strength), and how present that strength is here today. It is the strength of the IDF soldiers and their commanders—those on active duty, in career service, and in reserve duty—our dear and beloved ones, to whom we all owe so much. They, for whom the defense of the State of Israel and the people of Israel is not a burden but a privilege, a great privilege! They prove to us again and again that we have someone to rely on.
My sisters and brothers, this strength, which is so deeply Israeli, is also based on the deeply Israeli value of mutual responsibility, and it obligates us to act in every way and with all our power to bring all the hostages home. Every single one. Even on our national holiday—and especially on our national holiday—we cannot celebrate Independence Day wholeheartedly while our brothers and sisters are not with us.
I send our thanks and blessings to all the security, intelligence and internal security forces as well as their commanders. We are all proud of you, we all rely on you, and we all salute you. Great job all of you, and Happy Independence Day, Israel!”
From the remarks of the Chief of the General Staff, LTG, Eyal Zamir:
“You, the awardees, are an example and a role model for Israeli society at its best,
as it was envisioned by its founders and defenders throughout the generations:
a society of values and strength, a mosaic of humanity made up of the finest of our sons and daughters.Within these uniforms, there is no left or right, no center or periphery, there is one people, with one purpose, with a shared hope for security, mutual responsibility, and peace.
The verse "All of Israel are responsible for one another" expresses not only "mutual responsibility" but also a deep partnership in destiny. For the State of Israel, this idea is essential to its existence and resilience, and no one is exempt from it — not individuals, not groups, and not tribes. "All of us are responsible for one another" is the biblical commandment: we all enlist, we all fight together, and we all sacrifice together, for the sake of the state and for a better future. "For one destiny placed us here in this land."
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