Basic Training Part 4

It has been a long time since I last wrote an entry and much has happened. I will try to recall whatever I can, but the mere fact that I have not had time to record most of my thoughts in the army is already a testament to how busy I have been,

I also want to apologize for not e-mailing anyone back who e-mailed me. I can check my e-mail in the army (via cell phone) but I cannot write back. That is why I am talking to everyone at once, ad bloc, via this blog.

The week was awesome. I had a lot of fun and became much better friends with the guys in my unit. Here is the rundown.

December 24

Back at the base nice and early. We got out guns and learned some basic stuff (how to clear it of any bullets and make sure it is safe to use. We also learned how to take the M-16 apart.

Sidenote: All the M-16s say “property of the US government” on them. They were donated by America during the Yom Kippur war. There were the same M-16s used by Americans in order to fight in Vietnam. Also, all the jelly for the sandwiches comes from America (Shoprite Brand.) I think it is part of the foreign aid package.

December 25

Monday was awesome. We went out and learned all kinds of different shooting positions and fighting techniques. The ground was covered in rocks to learning many activities, such as crawling, was extremely painful. Still, it was a lot of fun.

December 26

It’s raining; I’m freezing. We do most things inside. We learn different types of first aid (bandages, tourniquets, etc.) and more about shooting. It is good to relax.

December 27

Now there are really making stuff up for us to do. We were supposed to go shooting, but that is being postponed on account of the rain. I know rain is a blessing, but when you are freezing and wet every time you go outside, you begin to ask God to withhold His blessing just a little bit.

We were tested on the first aid stuff and parts of the weapons and portable phones. This was the written part. It was a complete joke. Everyone cheated in plain site, shouting answers across the room. I felt like I was in middle school.

December 28

Again, nothing to do in the morning, but somehow the army manages to fill up the time with nonsense. In the afternoon we had our physical tests (no cheating.) We had to know different shooting positions, how to disassemble and reassemble an M-16 etc. I passed. I think everyone did.

We got the packages from kids abroad. There are packages of food and blankets and some other stuff for lone soldiers. It felt just like the movies.

December 29

Wake up at 4:30 like every day. We were sent home for Shabbat at 6 AM. It takes about 4 and a half hours to get to my home in Jerusalem. Shabbat Shalom to me.

Basic Training Part 3

You know what’s great? Shacharit – the 45 minutes or longer that I have to pray to God and escape the wrath of bossy 19 year olds. Being religious has been much easier than I thought.

Not much happened. Aside from standard formation and physical stuff, we had a class on the different levels and officers in the Army. Now I can easily distinguish a capable leader from a punk 19 year old.

Every classroom has a picture of Dan Halutz, the commander in chief, and Moshe Katzav, the President. I have yet to see a single picture of Ehud Olmert, the Prime Minister, anywhere. I wonder if there is a reason for that.

Basic Training Part 2

The unit I was in was temporary; all of us needed to be divided based on our level of Hebrew. I took a test in the morning and by the afternoon we’d be given new units. That afternoon I was placed in the unit with the highest level of Hebrew. This is a mixed blessing, because while most of the guys are more serious, I don’t understand everything that is being said. I went to an Ulpan that taught mostly verbs and I am severely lacking in my knowledge of nouns.

There are 17 guys in my unit, coming from 10 different countries, United States, Canada, Argentina, England, Denmark, France, Holland, Russia, Ukraine, and Australia.

My new Mefakedet (commander) is much nicer than the one I previously had before. Nonetheless, whenever she senses a lax attitude, we have to do push ups, then sit ups then push ups again. We do just enough until it hurts and you can barely move anymore.

I am so tired. My body is so sore. Every time someone speaks I end up falling asleep and end up having to stand for the rest of the speech as a punishment.

We never just walk somewhere. We are just told “line up there in 20 seconds” and we run in order to get there and line up. The thing is that you can ask for more time if you need, but you cannot just move once time is up. You have to admit and plan for your abilities.

We got Madei Bet uniforms. These are the ones that you wear around the base, they are much dirtier and can take a beating. Only one pair of my Madei Bet clothes fits me, and the 19 year old girls who run the place keep giving me the same size every time I try to exchange the pair that doesn’t fit. I now wear the same clothes every day that I get all disgusting and sweaty.

We have to keep changing from Madei Bet to Alef and back to Bet again. It is a huge pain because every time I change I have to untie and retie my shoes, which can take up to 10 minutes. This is nearly impossible considering we are only given 7 minutes to go upstairs, change, and come back down. I keep getting in trouble. Finally I decide to come down without the shoes tied so that I can be on time. This was the best idea and now I am not yelled at every time I change.

One of the most difficult things about being in the army is managing bodily functions. Planning to use the bathroom or even scratch your face could be a tumultuous, difficult task.

Oh.. I got a gun, but no bullets. We can only have the guns during the week; soldiers in training are no longer trusted to take guns home on weekends.

Opening Day - Basic Training Part 1

Interesting morning. I found out that I am not in shlav gimmel (tier 3.) Apparently the government phased out shlav gimmel this past summer and now I am in shlav bet (tier 2.)

In the morning I met up with a bunch of other people as Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem. All the guys there were given a brief induction and taken into an absorption base near Tel Aviv, where the army took down our information, gave us any necessary vaccinations, and gave us our uniforms. (These uniforms are the nice one people wear to special occasions and in public –called Madei Alef.)

That afternoon we were taken up to Michve’ Alon, our current base. We were divided into units and met with our commanders. Our commanders are all a bunch of bossy 19 year old girls. We started learning basic formations and tasks and eventually we were driven to out limits.

My unit was mostly Russian. There was one Canadian guy who speaks English.

The food is okay, but the dining room is cramped and kind of dirty. The army does not give out napkins of any sort at meals. There are Menorahs and time to light Chanukah candles during dinner.

The housing is disgusting. I live in a room with bunk beds against every inch or wall; there is no place to put anything. If you have anything, you have to put it on or under your bed (and share that limited space under the bed with the guy who sleeps in the bed above you.)

There is only one hour at night to relax, talk on the phone, shower and prepare stuff for the next day. It is nearly impossible to choose to do all of these activities every day,

"...we have nothing to fear but fear itself."

The purpose of this entry will be to document any fears I have about going into the army.

1) Being captured – I have heard what Arabs do to prisoners; it’s not pretty. It reminds me of my grandfather’s description of how the Japanese treated the American prisoners during World War 2. While the Germans would usually transport POW to a POW camp, the Japanese were infamous for torturing Americans in defiance of rules of warfare. Come to think about it, the whole idea of “rules of warfare” sounds subjective and debatable.
But the main fear I would have would not be for myself. I would hate to think of what news of my capture or death would mean to my family. I understand that this entire fear is far fetched, as I will probably be no where near any action, but it still crosses my mind.

2) Cheating on my girlfriend – The Israeli army is reputed to have quite a promiscuous atmosphere. When I was Shana Bet (2nd year in Israel, 3 years ago,) there was a kid in my yeshiva whose girlfriend was in the army. She told him that the army offers unlimited birth control, condoms and pays for two free abortions. I am aware that the army is promiscuous because it is filled with 18-21 year olds, and maybe I will be away from such an atmosphere because I am older. For one, I am going to be recruited in a group that consists of men over 22, so I think that will help take care of the problem. I do not think that I am the type to do something stupid, but you never really know for sure. I am reminded of the Gemara at the end of the first chapter of Kiddushin that states that a man who overcomes his desires to sin promiscuously will be saved from physical danger. Maybe overcoming this fear will save me from my first fear.

3) Becoming lax in my observance of Judaism – This fear is really just an extension of the second fear. The army is reputed not to have an atmosphere conducive to religious life. Basically, these two fears boil down to one idea: when you play with cripples, you start to limp. That does no excuse any decisions I make while in the army. Every single person is responsible – meaning that he or she is able to choose his or her response; there is always a choice. I hope I choose wisely.

I think that stating what I fear as I enter the army is only natural. Also, knowing what is right and wrong, what is helpful and hurtful, will help me to face, and hopefully quell, anything negative that comes my way.