Nahal (נח"ל, an acronym for Noar Halutzi Lohem, lit. Fighting Pioneer Youth) historically refers to a program for youth of the State of Israel that allows them to combine their compulsory three-year military service with volunteer-type civilian service, such as organizing social welfare projects in neighborhoods and towns suffering from socioeconomic difficulties, acting as counselors for youth organizations, or founding and developing new agricultural settlements (known as Nahal settlements).