It has been a really long time since I last wrote and I apologize for that. A lot has gone on so there was no way I could go another week without writing.
Since I have last written lots of changes have gone on. To start, no longer am I in basic training. I also can proudly say that I am part of the Givati brigade with my purple barrett.
The last two weeks of basic training were very meaningful.. One of the weeks was spent on a base in the north used for chinuch (i.e. learning). There we were in classes from morning until night learning about the land of Israel. I sat through many interesting lessons, including those that made you appreciate your service for the army. Being that it was not our base, or anyone particular units for that matter, there were many different groups at the base. One of the main things the base is used for is for preparation for new olim that want to join the army. Being that the Israeli society and culture is different from anywhere else in the entire world (I can definitely attest to that) it gives the chance for the group of people that are about to join the army to get adjusted to the differences. Being that there were many people like me on the base, that is people not from Israel joining the army, it was very exciting to see group sof people with the same motives that I have.
What was also interesting was that many of the lessons were focused on the different soldiers in the group giving their own opinions on the matter at hand. It was the first time I was able to see why many of the people in my machlaka were in a combat unit, especially a foot soldier. We had long discussions that usually ended up in argument. These debates really allowed me to see the different perspectives different kinds of Israelis had on the army and the reasons for serving.
The week ended with a ride back to the base where we spent our last shabbos as tironim. We then began the week by becoming lochamim (fighters); that is, we received our vests. Up until now we were using these old, used ephodim to hold all of our gear. You really felt like you were in Vietnam when you wore that old equipment. Now, with our new vests you really felt in place, in 2009. We spent the rest of the week making sure our gear was ready for advance training. We finally received tape that wouldn’t come off every five minutes (because before hand we would use tape that did just that to make us learn how to tie up all of our gear).
I would have to say that it’s the most annoying time in the army. We are given short increments of time to accomplish tasks that take much longer than given. The point of it all makes sense, they want us to make sure that all of our gear is tied and ready so that nothing will be lost and will always be ready. When all is said and done the work that we do is always work it, but the time spent doing it all is very annoying.
The week ended with our masa kumta, a 60 kilometer hike that took 17 hours to finish. Being the ratz mp (the runner for the head of the pluga) I was at the head of the pluga The hike was one of the most memorable experiences of my service in the army. We walked through various druze towns, up mountains around the chevron area, through various farms, and eventually up the road and up the steps to Masada. The hike was a long one, very long if that. However, surprisingly, it did not fell that long. It went by quite quickly, as I was made to run back and forth through the pluga. Before the half way marker of the masa, it started to rain. Water was everywhere, causing the sandy floor to become muddy. It got so bad that we had to put on our rain coats, something onl done when absolutely needed. As we walked through the rain, I was walking in mud that went up to my knees. Occasionally I was made to run back and forth to organize the line of the pluga.
The rain stopped and the masa continued as planned. By daybreak, we began the treck with the stretcher. We walked four kilometers with the stretcher, making our way to our final destination in Masada. Walking down the road, winding through the various turns, we were able to see the magnificent sight of the dead see and Masada at sunrise. When we finally made it to the top we had a tekes kravi where the mifakdim and the pluga won awards. Our pluga ended up winning the best pluga of basic training. The day resumed and we had our masa kumta where I was fortunate to receive my purple barett and be apart of my units group as cheyl raglim.
I spent the next week with my parents as they came in for the tekes and to visit me. They’re time in Israel was short and cam to a sad end the Wednesday after. I had a really good time and it was nice to have off.
I went back to the army that Thursday afternoon and nothing seemed to change. Then, one hour before shabbos I was told that I was going to be in the shetach guarding a special kind of shooting range. I guarded for two hours every six. I was with a group of my friends from my kitah so it wasn’t that bad. I went into shabbos upset that I was not with everyone else, but overall it was very interesting being in the desert for shabbos.
The first week of basic training was very intense. We did both tests required buy the army that involved running and doing pushups and situps and running the obstacle course. The week was very difficult but very exciting. It was the first time my entire kitah worked together. We learned how to walk in different formations and how to cross valleys and take over a hill. We were also allowed to call our mifaked, but it came with a price, waking up at four in the morning to walk four kilometers with a guy on a stretcher.
Overall the week was hard, but now being in advance training I am very close to serving the country as a lochem. As the time passes I am learning a lot, not only about the army but about Israel itself. I hope everyone has a wonderful week.
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