I would love to say that in my first week of the army I did something really cool. But its quite the opposite.
Despite being Purim on Sunday, we were told to arrive at a base in Baer Sheva where we met up with our unit and mefaked. From there we took a bus for n amount of time to our training base (bach).
I've heard the base was nice but I didn't realize how true it was. Tzanchanim is an American funded unit so they built us a beautiful modern base. Each plugah, or group of about 100 soldiers has their own building, a central courtyard plus a building for the mefakdim. Unlike other bases where soldiers sleep in tents, we sleep in rooms with closets and air conditioners. The other facilities are also new and top of the line. The food is amazing too which is really important.
On Sunday we heard speeches from the Mefaked of the base and other Mefakdim about Tzanchanim and about the main event of the week: the gibushim. The gibushim that took place were for gadsar and maglan and a separate one for duvdevan. Hundreds tried it but I decided not to.
On Monday, everyone, even those not trying the gibush, had to prepare two bags with borrowed equipment from the army, so that of course took all day.
We woke up on Tuesday at about 3 am to organize for the gibush that I wasn't doing. Then we were separated into groups and they left. Those not going cleaned our building for a few minutes but then we went back to bed for an hour or two. And then for the next three days all I did was pick weeds. Tuesday. Wednesday. Thursday. There are just too many of them. It's impossible to get kill them all.
On Thursday, I got to do the coolest thing I had done all week. After picking weeds in the morning, I painted boxes for Maglan and Duvdevan. I'm no Picasso, but I think I did a pretty solid job.
And then on Friday we were sent home.
Our Mefaked was awesome, didn't yell at us and laughed at all the jokes we made. But the week that I am entering will most definitely not be like that. This week things will get serious. And I'm pretty sure we will start shooting. And running. But probably not at the same time.
Despite being Purim on Sunday, we were told to arrive at a base in Baer Sheva where we met up with our unit and mefaked. From there we took a bus for n amount of time to our training base (bach).
I've heard the base was nice but I didn't realize how true it was. Tzanchanim is an American funded unit so they built us a beautiful modern base. Each plugah, or group of about 100 soldiers has their own building, a central courtyard plus a building for the mefakdim. Unlike other bases where soldiers sleep in tents, we sleep in rooms with closets and air conditioners. The other facilities are also new and top of the line. The food is amazing too which is really important.
On Sunday we heard speeches from the Mefaked of the base and other Mefakdim about Tzanchanim and about the main event of the week: the gibushim. The gibushim that took place were for gadsar and maglan and a separate one for duvdevan. Hundreds tried it but I decided not to.
On Monday, everyone, even those not trying the gibush, had to prepare two bags with borrowed equipment from the army, so that of course took all day.
We woke up on Tuesday at about 3 am to organize for the gibush that I wasn't doing. Then we were separated into groups and they left. Those not going cleaned our building for a few minutes but then we went back to bed for an hour or two. And then for the next three days all I did was pick weeds. Tuesday. Wednesday. Thursday. There are just too many of them. It's impossible to get kill them all.
On Thursday, I got to do the coolest thing I had done all week. After picking weeds in the morning, I painted boxes for Maglan and Duvdevan. I'm no Picasso, but I think I did a pretty solid job.
And then on Friday we were sent home.
Our Mefaked was awesome, didn't yell at us and laughed at all the jokes we made. But the week that I am entering will most definitely not be like that. This week things will get serious. And I'm pretty sure we will start shooting. And running. But probably not at the same time.
Hi Aaron,
ReplyDeleteRemember me? Menashe Kestenbaum, your counsellor in Camp Agudah from way back when. I enjoy reading your blog. It fleshes out what it's like to be a soldier in a way that really brings it home. Until now, it always sounded like an abstract concept rather than a real live experience. You are able to paint the picture with all the real details. I hope to read more what it's like. If you ever need a place to eat for Shabbos, please let us know. We would love to have you. I live in Sanhedria Murchevet and my number is 02-532-3643