Ninety percent of lone soldiers who have completed their military service see their futures in Israel, while 62% report that family members have followed them and moved to Israel, according to a survey released this week.

The survey was conducted by the Jewish Agency in conjunction with the Merage Foundation by the Ergo Consulting Group to mark the 10th anniversary of the Wings Program, established to help lone soldiers build a home in Israel.

It questioned former lone soldiers who live in Israel and were accompanied by the Wings Program. The survey set out to examine the challenges faced by lone soldiers as they approach the end of their military service, with the aim of developing additional tools to ease their integration into civilian life.

Some 84% of those questioned said their families supported their decision to immigrate to Israel.

The survey results also show that the vast majority of lone soldiers feel well integrated into Israeli society after their discharge from the IDF: 58% consider themselves first and foremost “Israelis,” while only 29% consider themselves “immigrants.”

Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky said: “These young men and women — who have chosen to leave their families, make aliyah, and become integrated into Israeli life in the most active way possible — are the pioneers of the Jewish people, and they are our future.”

David Merage, the founder of the Merage Foundation said, “We are extremely pleased to have been a part of the journey of the Wings Program. Not only has the growth of the program been encouraging, but the impact of the program on lone soldiers and their families has been truly inspirational. Wings was created when we identified a need to support lone immigrant soldiers and ease their transition out of military service. From workshops on higher education opportunities to lessons on navigating the systems for accessing national insurance payments to learning to read a rental contract, our goal has always been to prepare these young people for Israeli life after their service.

“And, today, I am so very proud of the work we have done and am excited that the number of lone soldiers is increasing and the Wings Program is growing to meet the demand.”

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Wings Program, the Jewish Agency and the Merage Foundation will hold a gala event to salute Israel’s lone soldiers at Tel Aviv University on Thursday.

90% of IDF lone soldiers see their future in Israel