Reserve Force Tech 

Supporting reservist families: challenges, solutions, and the role of tech

Since October 7th, 2023, prolonged reserve duty has profoundly disrupted the lives of hundreds of thousands of Israeli families. These families—vital to Israel’s security and economic resilience—have become newly vulnerable, facing layered personal, financial, and emotional challenges that existing systems were never built to support.
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PollyLabs launched the Reserve Force Tech (RFT) initiative to explore how tech can help. This report summarizes Phase 1 of that effort: a targeted exploration to identify the most critical unmet needs—and uncover where tech-based solutions could drive the greatest impact. The work was developed in partnership with Beyond the Battlefield and the Reservists’ Wives Forum.
 

Drawing on insights from over 500 reservists, 2,300 spouses, and 7 expert interviews—through surveys, in-depth conversations, and field-level assistance data—we mapped urgent challenges across daily life, employment, mental health, and education.

We are sharing it as an open resource for anyone committed to supporting reservists and their families.

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