In the Army

I finally started. On Wednesday the 20th, I spent a interminably long day at the induction center getting vaccinations, pictures taken, and generally poked and prodded as well as getting my uniform for the first time. I have to say it was a great feeling to put on the olive green uniform of the IDF. For the first time, I was a soldier protecting my country and it felt wonderful.

Wednesday night we drove to our base in Arad. There I had a interview with a social worker and was directed to the tent that I will call home for the next 4 months. I won't bore you with details about army life. Its enough to know that it is and isn't what you would think it is. The little stupid rules and regulations of every army about time, polishing your boots etc are true. But what I have found is that individual soldiers can really turn to their commanders about anything without feeling like they are going above their station. Maybe its an Israeli thing, but the flippant way soldiers talk to their superiors is funny and incredible.

Anyways, about me. I went to an intensive three day tryout last weekend for the special brigade of my division. I did this because the soldiers in this brigade are more motivated, more professional, receive better assignments and gear and on the whole it is a more interesting service. The companies in this brigade are specialized in things like communications, missiles, and recon so I am interested to see if I made the tryout and where I will be placed.

If you want to hear details about the tryout, message me and I will tell you but suffice it to say that it melded into a three day nightmare that consisted of army crawling over rocks and thorns, sprints, marches with 75 kg stretchers, group activities, digging trenches, eating combat rations (lots and lots of tuna) and drinking incredible amounts of warm water.

I am about to head off to the army tomorrow and its late but hope you guys enjoy the image:

Drafting on Wednesday!

Well, I have not written in a long time and so much has happened, I don't know where to begin.

Our Garin presentation to the kibbutz went quite well. Here is the video that we made (its in Hebrew however): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHa8fsEB8ts

On the Friday, November 8th, the news finally came in. I am drafting into the Nachal infantry division of the IDF. I am very happy because this division is known for having very good conditions for lone soldiers and in general having a high quality soldier. I was-and am- very nervous and excited.

Anyways, after the weekend where we presented our name, גרעין אית"י, which stands for the Land of Israel, Torat Israel, on Sunday, we went to the Palmach museum in Tel Aviv which, though I have been there already, was always interesting. We then had another interminable ceremony with Garin Tzabar and an Israeli politician, Danny Dayon. I don't know what the organization's obsession is with ceremonies, but what can you do.

That night, we were woken up in the middle of the night by our staff and were forced to do a stretcher run (where we run with people on stretchers while carrying them on our shoulders) to mark the end of the absorption period. They had an officer who was in an elite unit of the IDF run the exercise. The guy even brought a smoke grenade to make us run through. The guys carried the girls for 2k+, needless to say people were upset since we weren't in the army yet and it was the middle of the night.

Tto top it all off, the next day, that Monday was a day long competition with the organization called Acharai. This organization was the one that ran workouts for us and this day was a competition versus other Garinim. Due to certain factors, the girls of our Garin were not there so it was just guys and we had a blast. For example, one activity was to pad an egg, throw it as far as possible and hope that it wouldn't break. One of the guys in our group had a hard-boiled egg for lunch and so when they weren't looking we swapped the eggs and threw the hard-boiled one. At the end of the day, we found out that we won and we all celebrated by going crazy.

The next day, we went on our 3 day tiyul up to the Golan. We visited Caesara on the way up, and then did hikes through the Golan as well as going to a chocolate factory. It was a great time and now we are here, a few days before my draft!

I plan on visiting people in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and then packing before the big day.

Nate

Quick update

I left off about whether or not I would decide to get the combat envelope or not. I decided on combat, and will post my reasons why below. I am still waiting on the army to get back to me for my job and so I am frustrated because I don't know exactly where they will place me.

Aside from that, life is GREAT. The past two weeks have been some of the best in my life. I love the group of people in my Garin, we have a great blend of serious, funny, nerdy, and all-around good people. We are making a movie to present to the kibbutz what we decided to be our name. Stay tuned, when it is done, I will post it here. I love my adoptive family, we are slowly getting closer and they let me do my laundry by them which is a huge favor. Apart from that, I am working on my Hebrew and working out. I feel good and excited for the army. Our staff has calmed down a lot and gives us much more free time and leeway and so everyone is super happy. In other news, I started on the process of getting my Israeli license and already took a few lessons. Aside from parallel parking which makes no sense, I felt confident on the roads.

Miss you guys. Stay in touch.

Here is what I wrote to my family explaining my decision to go combat:

Hey guys,

            I am writing to explain my decision to accept the combat envelope and become a combat soldier. On the most basic level, I am 23 years old and I am the age where I make my own decisions such as this one. Nonetheless, I want to explain myself so that you understand my motives and goals and maybe one day even come to support this.

            I don’t need to explain the religious and Zionist reasons that caused me to make aliyah, after all I learnt and imbibed them in our house. In regards to combat or not, looking at the decision dispassionately, why do it if the country is not requiring me to do it by law? After all, there are non-combat roles where I can contribute to the country.

While this is true, the simple fact is that Israel DOES need combat soldiers. There needs to be someone manning the borders 24/7, there needs to be someone who is trained to deal with all eventualities. I know that the country by law doesn’t require me to do combat, but I personally could not live with myself knowing that I had the capabilities and motivation to protect the country but did not. My degree and schooling are not going anywhere, but this is the only opportunity I have to do this. I feel that if I am going to live here, then as my blood is no redder than any other Israeli, I have the responsibility to give my best to the IDF. I also think that in opposition to what you guys have been saying, the IDF is best served by my serving as a combat soldier. The non-combat roles are given to those with medical issues or incredible intellects; my biology degree is perhaps only useful as a doctor which I do not want to do in the first place. I want to serve, I am highly motivated and physically fit, as such I think that I have a responsibility to do this and furthermore I think that my being a religious oleh can serve as an example to the other Israelis in my unit.

I know that I will be putting myself in harm’s way and causing you guys worry. Combat soldiers are the price Jewish independence demands, however, there is simply no way around it. I am no better or worse than the average Israeli who causes the same reaction in his own family.

I am also not an idiot, I am not doing this to be a hero or think that the service will somehow be “fun”…it will be long, painful at times, boring and full of unmotivated Israelis. But this is for me to do because I feel that I have to do this and as such, I will deal with it.

I am not asking you for to be happy with this decision or even understand it. All I can ask is that you respect my decision and know that it has been in the making for over five years, it is not a spur of the moment thing.