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!!