First month of the job

When we finished the second training course, our commanders sent us to our new bases - I got put at Tze’elim, a huge training base in the south of Israel. I was welcomed very warmly and started the absorption into the job (finally!!). After two weeks of learning the ropes of the job, I started to teach on my own.

My first experience as an instructor was at an Imun (training) in the North of Israel with reserve soldiers in combat engineering who used to be officers. The day starts at 6:30 am where we go down to the field and start giving the lessons. I gave 30 minute lessons to groups of soldiers to introduce them to (or remind them) about the weapon… Some background information, how to use it, what to do if it doesn’t work, etc. After all of the lessons, we go down to the shooting range and I coach them while they shoot. Overall, it was an incredible experience and all of the soldiers were very very sweet. They were all in awe that I’m American and in the IDF. There were guys who were 23 and just came back from their year long trip abroad and some old enough to be my dad! At night, we sat and listened to their stories and had coffee and tea. What made my day was what the officers did for me when they found out I had celiac and can therefore not eat any of the food that was provided. The second they found out I have celiac, finding me food was the number one priority on their list. After the training was over, they arranged an army car to take me to this amazing Yishuv nearby where there was one restaurant run by one woman! It was so homey, and we met so many amazing people from the neighborhood. It was one of the most delicious meals I have ever had… They wouldn’t even let me pay for it myself.

That Thursday, the army and FIDF (Friends of the IDF) organized a day at a waterpark for all lone soldiers!! Some would call it the best day ever. In all seriousness though, it was a really, really great day. I saw every lone soldier I’ve met - whether it be my friends from Garin Tzabar or the army. They had a BBQ, DJ, huge water slides, and a wave pool. It was so great to meet so many other lone soldiers and just have a great time. It definitely didn’t feel like the army!

Last week, I went with some other instructors to Baad 1 - the IDF officers training school- to test the soldiers who are almost done with their course to become combat officers. During their training and specifically that week, they don’t sleep and barely eat and basically train every hour of the day. There were a bunch of instructors there testing each soldier - one on one - on a specific weapon… How to use it, some background info etc. Everywhere you turned, you saw a sleeping soldier leaned up against a wall - standing up. The soldiers were so sweet and knew the information really well. I tried my best to be as sweet and helpful as possible because I can’t even imagine how exhausted they must’ve been once they met the test I was giving. Many of them were in the war Tzuk Eitan two summers ago and even used the weapon I was teaching during the war. They told me stories about using it and about the war itself. I ended up learning so much more than I could’ve taught them.

The holidays (Rosh Hashana, Yom KIppur, Sukkot) are starting, so I am getting two weeks off to see my family when they’re in Israel. I haven’t been with everyone together in 6 months, so needless to say it’s amazing to finally be with them!!

Two Months of the Weapons Course

The Sunday after the Tekes, I started the new course which would be 2 months long. Each week, we covered another weapon that we would eventually be teaching to the soldiers. I honestly did not even know how to say trigger in hebrew, so to say the course was challenging at the beginning is a huge understatement! However, the other girls in the course as well as the commanders were extremely helpful and studied with me for countless hours until I understood every word. I am so thankful to everyone that didn’t lose their patience with me, and when I thanked my friends for helping me a thousand times, they kept saying I was crazy for thanking them and that if they had to do all of this in English, they would run away!

We woke up at 6:30 every day, cleaned, and went to the rising of the Israeli flag. Then classes started. We would be in class from 8 until lunch, then from the end of lunch to dinner, from the end of dinner to 11:45 at night. The material itself (once I started to understand) is so so interesting. We learned about hand grenades, guns that shoot hand grenades, two different types of rockets/ missiles you shoot from the shoulder that blow up houses and armoured vehicles, a weapon that blows open any type of door. Really amazing weapons that have been used in Israel’s wars and will continue to be used to defend our country. Each week, we took multiple tests on the weapon we were learning about - we learned the basic level of the weapon - what the soldier learns- and then the advanced or “instructor” level that we as instructors have to know. Each girl was then assigned two classes to organize and give over to us and the commanders. The commanders would act as annoying or problematic soldiers to see how we would deal with them and to show us that sometimes, we won’t get the easiest group of guys to teach. At the end of each week, the commander would sit with each of us one by one and tell us strong points and weak points about our lesson. After relaying a dozen lessons on material I am going to be teaching, I felt a lot more confident and comfortable with the hebrew and standing in front of the class teaching.

We also have to know how to shoot the weapons themselves - so once a week we went down to the field, built our targets and learned how to shoot the weapons. Before I came to the army, I wouldn’t have classified myself as the outdoorsy type, but after spending days on days in the field, I have come to really love and appreciate being out there. We also learned how to coach someone in the field while they are shooting because that is half of our job as instructors.

One Sunday, we went to the headquarters in Chaifa of Rafael - an Israeli company that makes a ton of weapons and sells them to the army - including the Iron Dome!! They invented two of the weapons we teach, so we went there and met with the inventors themselves, and they gave us a few hour class. It was so amazing to be in a place with the brains behind such incredible forms of defense - especially that they were all so normal and classic Israelis. Really made me proud to be a part of this country. On the way to Chaifa, the bus stopped at a bus stop, and there was a mom trying to get on the bus with her stroller and baby. Without hesitation, a soldier sitting in front of me got up and ran off the bus to help the mom fold the stroller to put underneath the bus. Instead of letting the soldier help with the stroller, the mom immediately gave the soldier her baby while she proceeded to fold the stroller, put it away, and get on the bus with the soldier and baby following behind her. Only in Israel do you see someone trust a stranger enough to hand him her baby… Only in Israel do you see a 20 something year old guy run off the bus to help a mother and child like that !

We also spent one day of the course volunteering at a school for special needs’ students. We set up stations that each group of students passed through - I ran the painting station with my friend Rebecca, another lone soldier from Australia. We sat them down around a table, handed out paints and paper and told them to paint whatever they want. Before we started, Rebecca and I explained that we came from the army to be with them for the day, etc. and that we are something called lone soldiers, meaning our families live outside of Israel. I didn’t expect them to understand or care when we said that, but I was completely wrong. They all showed, in their own special way, complete respect and awe for what we were doing and shared their own dreams of joining the army. They absolutely loved that we weren’t from Israel and were still in the army, and I hope it inspired them to join as well. Mentally disabled people in Israel get an exception from the army, but many join nonetheless. It was truly an inspiring day to be around people who despite their circumstances are so happy… and even more so, to have had the chance to serve as an example for them in uniform was a privilege!

After two long (and seemingly endless) months, we finished the course. I am very lucky to say that during the weekends, I always had someone in Israel visiting me… My brother and sister and parents came at different times throughout the two months, so I always had something to look forward to during the long weeks.

 My garin also had our shabbat garin - a shabbat every four months that everyone in the garin comes home for the weekend. I wasn't able to join everyone Thursday night because we were taking tests, but thankfully I was able to go for Friday & Shabbat. On friday we went to a spring in Jerusalem & on Shabbat, we all spent such quality time together. Seeing all of my garin was truly amazing. Garin Tzabar truly becomes your family in Israel because they are the only ones who truly understand what you're going through as a lone soldier. I love my garin so much & am so lucky to be apart of such an incredible group. 

Shabbat Garin

On the last night of the course, our commanders woke us up in the middle of the night and sent us on a “mission” around the base until we ended up in our shooting field. They were there with the green ropes (sroch) to give out to us which shows that we are infantry instructors. My officer presented me with it and told me how proud she was of me for never giving up and always succeeding during the course although it was very hard for me. Leaving the field with the 8 other girls in my course who have truly become my best friends - all wearing the sroch was truly surreal and something I’ll never forget.

Tekes (Ending Ceremony)

I’ve been picturing and dreaming about my Tekes (graduation/ ending ceremony) in the army for as long as I can remember. It’s when the soldiers look their best, stand in perfectly straight lines, and sing Hatikva with the upmost pride for what they’re doing.

At the end of the first course, the commanders tell each girl which job she is going to specialize in… Basically her fate for the next almost two years! For some of the girls, it was legitimately a matter of life and death, it seemed. Thankfully, I have a pretty open mind when it comes to the army (something you learn you need very quickly), but I was still very happy when I found out what job I got because it was what intrigued me the most! You walk into a room where the head officers and commanders are sitting; they tell you your overall score for the course and the likelihood of becoming an officer (based on a bunch of numbers and test scores, not so sure), and they then tell you your shibbutz (placement). I got Madrichat Namach - Neshek Machlakti. In simple words, there are five different weapons I will be teaching - from a hand grenade launcher to missiles that explode entire walls and rooms. I will just say that there were many, many tears during this whole process from all of the girls - whether of happiness or anger. I felt like it was during American Idol when the contestants come out of the audition room with the yellow Hollywood ticket, or of course, with nothing. After that, all of the family and friends came for picnics and some talks/ videos by the commanders explaining what we’ve gone through the past two months. Then there was the actual ceremony part. We walked in perfect formation, barretts on our heads and guns at hand. We heard speeches from the head of our unit in the army and the head officer of our course who remarked how important our job in the army is - that because of infantry instructors, the soldiers know how to defend themselves, and in turn the nation. She spoke about what a big role the instructors played during last year’s war - working all hours of the day to teach as many soldiers as possible so they can go into Gaza. It was an empowering feeling to be standing in the ceremony knowing that despite the hardships of this journey, I am here for such a direct and important reason. Our commanders and officers then went around to each girl and gave us a Rabat which are the two stripes on both arms of our uniforms which show that we are now “ranked” in the army. They played hebrew songs that I’ve been hearing since I was a kid in my dad’s car on the way to school - so it was a very emotional experience!

Sadly, my parents and siblings couldn’t make it, but my aunt from Chicago who also served in the army and boyfriend were able to be there as well as my host families! It was so, so nice to have my Aunt Binnie and boyfriend there to support me because they understand how long I’ve been dreaming of being in the army for, and to have people who have known me for a shorter amount of time but who have really adopted me as their own meant so much. I spent that weekend in Tel Aviv and that Sunday, I returned to base to start my new course.

My Commander - Dana 

Week 7- Week 9 (End of First Course)

The last time I updated my blog I was in the middle of my first course. Now, I am an instructor and will explain what has happened until the end of the first one!

The second half of instructor’s course was anything but simple. As I said in an earlier post, during week 7 I was in charge of making sure the girls got everywhere on time and of telling the commanders who’s not there, where they are and why. Every time we had to be anywhere, we had to stand in a “chet” formation, wait for the commander, and I had to “accept” them with a certain phrase in Hebrew. I was very nervous- even for that - because I had such a hard time remembering what the words were! In addition to that, I chose the value of determination and will and had to give three classes pertaining to that topic. I spoke about the importance of persevering no matter the circumstances - explaining how hard it was for me to get to the army and that it’s still hard now, but with the will to succeed you can and will! I also spoke about how Israel is still around today as the great country it is because of our will to survive no matter what. After the class I got good feedback from the girls and commanders so I was happy! Other than that, as per usual, each girl got assigned a weapon, learned about it, and had to give a class on it. At the end of the week, we had a test on all of the weapons we learned about. Needless to say, there was barely any down time - actually no down time at all. But at the end of the day, I learned a lot about myself and did things I would’ve never imagined I could do.

Week 8 was the last full week of the course, so of course everyone was very excited - however we still had to keep the distance with the commanders and act as though we were in the first week of basic training! The finish line seemed so close yet so far. It was also my birthday that week! It was a bit of an interesting schedule...the first half of the week, we were tested on level “C” of the course. We were given a weapon/ armored vehicle to teach and then tested at the end on all of the weapons. The only difference between these classes and the ones we gave in the previous weeks is that all of the commanders interrupt the class more than a hundred times posing as different types of soldiers to see how we deal with them. There could be someone who doesn’t stop playing music on his phone or interrupting the instructor or someone in reserves who keeps talking about how he knows everything and wants to go home already. Barely anyone got through their entire lesson, and no one got through their lesson without laughing a lot. It was so funny sitting in those classes. We then went to a base in the North of Israel to help out there...To be honest, not exactly sure what the point of us being there was. It was my birthday though! My class surprised me by singing happy birthday when I walked into my room with signs and such a thoughtful gift. All I can say is that my first birthday in the army was a lot different than my birthday last year when I went to Disney World…! We stayed on the base that Shabbat - our last one in the course- it was nice! The last few days of the course were very fun. It was a lot of wrapping up loose ends, and we broke distance with the commanders on the last night! For the whole 2 months, we had distance with them.. Had to call them by their title (ex “commander), they don’t smile at you - everything is very very formal. Braking distance was by far the weirdest experience ever. All of the commanders suddenly become your best friends, and the strict, stressful atmosphere turns into one of complete normalcy.