On Thursday of this week i will officially begin my service in the Israel Defense Forces. Despite the fact that I am long way from being an active soldier, meaning finished with training, it is a huge step forward in this long journey that I have undertaken.
For me there are two waves of feeling. One of immesurable excitement, and other of fear. Not fear of what is to come, but fear in the fact that we have no idea what is in store for us.
One thing I am truly excited for is getting my uniform. I have been waiting a long time to put this uniform on, and now that it is so close I can't hardly wait. To the best of my knowledge we will get beige airforce uniforms as our dress set or as it is here (Madeh Aleph) and the regular green for our day-to-day (Madeh Bet) set. Because the unit is a part of the Airforce I would also assume that we will get black boots, not the red ones that accompany the Tzanchanim and Nachal Brigades.
For the next couple of days I will be focusing on getting all the gear I need, trying to mentally prepare, and above all else relax, becuase once I start idle time will be a luxury . Tomorrow I am going to the draft of a very close friend, so hopefully that will give me a little bit of a first look at how its going to be. Other than that im passing the time by reading, writing and catching up with friends from back home.
I realize this is a turning point in my life but well have to see which way im turing and where it takes me before I can make any opinion or comments.
Regards from Israel,
אנדרו
PS i'll be sure to post some pictures of me in uniform in the coming weeks.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Determination + Tuna + Sand = Israeli Air Force
Day 1-5 Lunch: Tuna and Sand. Evening consisted of Running, Crawling, well a bit more running. Carrying sand bags, and yes, you guessed it more running. In short Gibush Matkal was perhaps the hardest week of my life, both physically and mentally but i can definitely feel that i got stronger both physically and mentally from it.
Day 6: Home. Dinner: Coconut Curry Soup, lentils and chicken, Israeli Salad, Ice Cream, Coffee and Rest.
Today is Sunday, last Thursday afternoon I finished Gibush Matkal in an army base on the sea not to far from the southern city of Ashdod. The day started later than usual, at about 6 am. After having 2 minutes to get up, go to the bathroom and eat our moring "meal" (two pieces of bread with a dab of jelly in the middle) we started a day chock full of many meaningless tasks, and of course as is present in all army activities-- waiting around. In the end we cleaned and packed up the entire base, and for the four and a half hours remaing hours just sat around and waited for the caravan of commanders to come and deliver the results of who was accepted into these top three army units.
4:00 pm the commanders from Sayeret Matkal, Shaldag and 669 showed up. Results in hand. In the most Israeli of fashion, all of the 160 or so men who finished the Gibush (it started with 400) sat in the dirt in the middle of a shooting range and looked longingly up at the Major from "the unit"(Matkal) to deliver the results. It was announced in order from Matkal, to Shaldag and then 669. My name was interestly called for Shaldag, and pending a psychological interview I was in. Honestly i was shocked. Even in my interview with the commanders I had said I wanted 669, not Matkal or Shaldag so the fact that my name was called for Shaldag was very suprising. I only found out later the I was also accepted in 669 and pending my performance at a "pool day" for 669 there was a possibility I could be accepted to both units and have to make a decision of which to go to.
This moring I had my interview for Shaldag and ill know by the end of the week how it went. Tomorrow is my "pool day" for 669: a one day Gibush to test how you handle yourself in the water. \
If I neglected to mention it before, the feeling of being accepted after such an inimaginable week was suffering was like some gift from god. I feel so blessed that I was able to perform at such a high level and perservere adversity to arrive at my goal.
Our garin hosted a huge part on Friday night, in which we organized a bus to pick up people from a few other Kibbutzim in the area and bus them to our party. It was a fantastic party and we were up until 6 am celebarting everyones succeses. (A bunch of the other guys in the Garin went to Gibush Tzanchanim on Monday and the ones that were able to participate, finished the Gibush in good position.)
At this point im praying that my Yom Brecha (Pool Day) tomorrow goes really well, and I will be accepted into the unit with that final stamp of approval. If i am so fortunate I will start my army service on December 2nd of this month with basic training in either the Nachal or Givati Brigade. Although, I will be with my team of guys that will move forward with me for training in 669/Shaldag.
The majority of this week will be taken up by a Garin trip to Eilat, so next week nstead of reading about sand and tuna in my mouth you will read about it squeezed between my toes while I sip on some beers.
I know this is a short post but I very much wanted to give everyone a wuick update on where im at, so they can know and not worry.
שבוע טוב לכולם
אנדרו
Day 6: Home. Dinner: Coconut Curry Soup, lentils and chicken, Israeli Salad, Ice Cream, Coffee and Rest.
Today is Sunday, last Thursday afternoon I finished Gibush Matkal in an army base on the sea not to far from the southern city of Ashdod. The day started later than usual, at about 6 am. After having 2 minutes to get up, go to the bathroom and eat our moring "meal" (two pieces of bread with a dab of jelly in the middle) we started a day chock full of many meaningless tasks, and of course as is present in all army activities-- waiting around. In the end we cleaned and packed up the entire base, and for the four and a half hours remaing hours just sat around and waited for the caravan of commanders to come and deliver the results of who was accepted into these top three army units.
4:00 pm the commanders from Sayeret Matkal, Shaldag and 669 showed up. Results in hand. In the most Israeli of fashion, all of the 160 or so men who finished the Gibush (it started with 400) sat in the dirt in the middle of a shooting range and looked longingly up at the Major from "the unit"(Matkal) to deliver the results. It was announced in order from Matkal, to Shaldag and then 669. My name was interestly called for Shaldag, and pending a psychological interview I was in. Honestly i was shocked. Even in my interview with the commanders I had said I wanted 669, not Matkal or Shaldag so the fact that my name was called for Shaldag was very suprising. I only found out later the I was also accepted in 669 and pending my performance at a "pool day" for 669 there was a possibility I could be accepted to both units and have to make a decision of which to go to.
This moring I had my interview for Shaldag and ill know by the end of the week how it went. Tomorrow is my "pool day" for 669: a one day Gibush to test how you handle yourself in the water. \
If I neglected to mention it before, the feeling of being accepted after such an inimaginable week was suffering was like some gift from god. I feel so blessed that I was able to perform at such a high level and perservere adversity to arrive at my goal.
Our garin hosted a huge part on Friday night, in which we organized a bus to pick up people from a few other Kibbutzim in the area and bus them to our party. It was a fantastic party and we were up until 6 am celebarting everyones succeses. (A bunch of the other guys in the Garin went to Gibush Tzanchanim on Monday and the ones that were able to participate, finished the Gibush in good position.)
At this point im praying that my Yom Brecha (Pool Day) tomorrow goes really well, and I will be accepted into the unit with that final stamp of approval. If i am so fortunate I will start my army service on December 2nd of this month with basic training in either the Nachal or Givati Brigade. Although, I will be with my team of guys that will move forward with me for training in 669/Shaldag.
The majority of this week will be taken up by a Garin trip to Eilat, so next week nstead of reading about sand and tuna in my mouth you will read about it squeezed between my toes while I sip on some beers.
I know this is a short post but I very much wanted to give everyone a wuick update on where im at, so they can know and not worry.
שבוע טוב לכולם
אנדרו
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