Finally, the moment I was waiting for. I made it into Tzanchanim!! Soon I'll be jumping out of planes and wearing the famed red beret. Luckily, both my English speaking friends made it as well. More to follow...
Hey Aaron Its Ryan here from South Africa I just wanted to ask you a few questions if you don't mind 1) Are you on the program machal, because I am very interested in joining next year 2) Because you in tzanchanim, do you have to serve extra time in the army, for that specific unit
thanks so much, really appreciate it firstly, did you go to kibbutz ulpan before, if yes which one. Im thinking of going to maagan michael in the north, have you heard anything about it. Secondly hows the basic training going, is it extremely difficult, and lastly how are the Israelis in your unit to you, like do they treat you as one of them, just interested to know. once again thanx so much and kola kavod for what your doing
I didn't. Because I learned in a hesder yeshiva before the army, my hebrew was good enough that they didn't send me to an ulpan.
Basic is a lot easier than I thought it would be. We've only run 4 kilometers and done a masa of 4 as well. There isn't so much structured endurance and strength training; that usually comes by punishment, but its not terrible. In terms of getting used to the army lifestyle, I've heard at some point you kind of go into shock about what you've gotten yourself into, but it never happened. Although tzanchanim is definitely a lot easier to get used to because it has the best conditions of any unit in the army.
It's impossible to turn into an Israeli overnight. They'll always know you're different (which can be fun), but from what I've seen, they will respect you immensely for what you're doing and will integrate you. Because its the army, and there is no such thing as an individual, you have to be a unit; alone you couldn't accomplish the tasks or missions, so you'll end up making life long friends.
Hey Aaron
ReplyDeleteIts Ryan here from South Africa
I just wanted to ask you a few questions if you don't mind
1) Are you on the program machal, because I am very interested in joining next year
2) Because you in tzanchanim, do you have to serve extra time in the army, for that specific unit
Thanx
Hey Ryan,
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading.
1) Yes I am, which means I am serving approximately one year and 2 months
2)No, it is not elite at all so you do not have to sign on more time. If you would want to try for the elite units, then you would.
Feel free to ask me more questions if you have.
thanks so much, really appreciate it
ReplyDeletefirstly, did you go to kibbutz ulpan before, if yes which one. Im thinking of going to maagan michael in the north, have you heard anything about it. Secondly hows the basic training going, is it extremely difficult, and lastly how are the Israelis in your unit to you, like do they treat you as one of them, just interested to know. once again thanx so much and kola kavod for what your doing
I didn't. Because I learned in a hesder yeshiva before the army, my hebrew was good enough that they didn't send me to an ulpan.
ReplyDeleteBasic is a lot easier than I thought it would be. We've only run 4 kilometers and done a masa of 4 as well. There isn't so much structured endurance and strength training; that usually comes by punishment, but its not terrible. In terms of getting used to the army lifestyle, I've heard at some point you kind of go into shock about what you've gotten yourself into, but it never happened. Although tzanchanim is definitely a lot easier to get used to because it has the best conditions of any unit in the army.
It's impossible to turn into an Israeli overnight. They'll always know you're different (which can be fun), but from what I've seen, they will respect you immensely for what you're doing and will integrate you. Because its the army, and there is no such thing as an individual, you have to be a unit; alone you couldn't accomplish the tasks or missions, so you'll end up making life long friends.
Thanks and no problem