About Us
When you say “Israel” often the very first brand that comes to mind is the IDF, Israel Defense Forces. Every visitor to Israel, every international seminar regarding Israel, has an interest in encountering the IDF.
You can love it, you can criticize it, but you cannot ignore it.
That is where we come in. As experienced combat commanders we know the IDF’s educational power – that is why we founded Slingshot.
We provide you with innovative programs drawing upon our personal military experience to instill values and encourage social action.
Slingshot offers you an authentic IDF insider’s view, to feel and understand the human and moral experience of an Israeli soldier in a unique and exciting way.
At Slingshot, we believe that the best way to comprehend is by sharing personal stories, feeling them and providing unique experiences inspired by real-life events.
Over 120,000 people from over 30 different countries have participated since our 2017 launch.
Personalized
Each individual is touched by being “in our boots”
Versatile
Tailored content and delivery for your audience
Empowering
More than just fun!
Authentic
As combat unit reservists we live what we share
Immersive
Encounter stories and dilemmas standing on real battlefields and training zones
The Faces Behind Slingshot
Major (Res.) Yaakov Selavan
Founder & Program Director
For the past 16 years, my life has revolved around the IDF.
Founding a nationwide project at age 18 supporting wounded IDF soldiers in the 2006 Second Lebanon War.
Drafting and advancing from tank driver to company leader with 11 tanks to brigade operations officer.
Serving my country under fire in several operations, including the 2014 Gaza Campaign (Operation Protective Edge).
Serving till today serving as an Active IDF Armored Corps reservist and motivational speaker for soldiers and draftees – I love the IDF, I live the IDF – both when I praise it and when I criticize harshly, it all comes from the heart.
Slingshot expresses my life mission to educate and inspire soldiers, draftees – and even people from abroad, by connecting facts and theories to personal stories which shed a light on the moral and ethical challenges faced daily by IDF soldiers.
I’m here to give you a unique insider’s look at the IDF like no other. As an experienced speaker, I’ve learnt that a personal story is the greatest tool to inspire and open the doors to people’s hearts – that is what we do with our army experiences.
As an IDF Tactical Command College alumnus, I specialized in military history and strategy in my BA, and recently completed with honors my MA in Public Policy at IDC Herzliya. My broad theoretical background and combat experience enable me to share an understanding of geopolitics down to the challenges of the fighters in the field.
I love the Golan Heights and keenly sense its historical and strategic importance to Israel. That is why my wife and I built our home here to raise our daughters in this beautiful region.
Major (Res.) Ido Puterkovsky
Speaker
- Active reservist; 11-year combat service veteran
- IDF Tactical Command College graduate with honors
- U.S. Army Maneuver Captain’s Career Course graduate with honors
- Author, “That Terrible Wonderful Loneliness – The People Behind the Ranks“
- Married to Roni, proud father of 2 Children
“Understanding the IDF experience is not through war,
rather through daily challenges, failures and successes
”
LTC. (Res.) Eyal Dror
International Speaker
• ‘Good Neighbor’ Campaign Founder & Commander,
assisting Syrian civilians (2016-2019)
• Active reservist; 24-year service veteran
• Operations and intelligence roles in Coordination
of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT)
• Management of Education Systems MA, University of Haifa
• Married to Michal, proud father of 3 children
“More than 700 times I have risked my life and the lives of fellow soldiers, in order to save the lives of human beings, living in an enemy state, and being slaughtered by their leaders”
Maj. (Res.) Ram Uzan
Combat Fitness Trainer
• Combat fitness instructor for several pre-military academies
• Former combat fitness officer for the Northern Command and famed Golani Brigade.
• 11-year combat service veteran, active IDF Armored Corps reservist
• Active IDF Home Front Command reservist
• Golan Heights resident, married to Ligal, proud father of 3 children
“I view my job as a mission to bring you to be the best version of yourself”
