Community Defense and Civil–Military Boundaries: Identity,Readiness,and Organizational Issues in Israel’s Emergency Response Squads;A Research Note

Abstract

Emergency response squads in Israel represent a unique mix between civilian volunteerism and military-style security functions, operating in communities exposed to persistent security threats. This study examined how members of Emergency Response Squads negotiated their professional identity, role ambiguity, and physical readiness within a framework that decreases the clarity of traditional civil–military boundaries. Using a mixed-methods design, we surveyed 21 squad members with the Hebrew version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-S-H) and conducted semi-structured interviews to explore perceptions of organizational structure and readiness. Findings revealed a strong sense of community commitment but significant lacks in institutional support, standardized training, and physical fitness requirements. These shortages created tensions between the expectation of military-level performance and the voluntary nature of participation. We propose the Volunteer Readiness Integration Model, a conceptual framework linking community identity, organizational infrastructure, physical competence, and social resilience.