There are a lot of very frustrating things about the army. Let me give you an example. Last week was Shavuot and my machlakah is going to Chevron. However, because I'm not Israeli (yet), I am keeping 2 days of chag. So I didn't go with them. I was told a couple days before that I would likely be going home. But instead, it was decided to keep me here. I and a few other Americans did absolutely nothing on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and we went home on Friday for Shabbat. Does that make any sense at all? Not only that, but there was no minyan here for us the second day. We tried speaking to everybody about it but to no avail. Even some of the mefakdim agreed with us. Finally we got the reason: everyone else is staying, so you have to stay. That makes sense, but we aren't like everybody else. We need that second day. But no. That's not how the army works. So frustrating!!!
Now I'll try to sum up what I've been doing the last month or two because I have a bit of time. I don't remember the exact order of events but its something like this.
Luckily, after Shavua Sada'ut, or what I called hell week, we were able to rest a bit during our extended weekend. We were let out for Shabbat, Sunday we had a culture day, Monday was Yom Hazikaron, and Tuesday was Yom Haatzmaut. Yom Hazikaron is always a very solemn and special day, but never like this past one. It is the promise of Tzanchanim to send a current Tzanchan to stand at every single grave of any Tzanchan during the tekes. I personally stood at a grave and felt a deep connection to a fellow Tzanchan. It was also extremely important because this particular Tzanchan died in the 50s and I was the only person standing by his grave. That night, things take a total 180 and turn happy. Every year that Israel survives is a complete miracle and it can really be seen in the way we celebrate. My parents and I went to the center of town in Jerusalem where there were a bunch of different concerts, huge crowds of people and of course that string that the kids spray at everyone. We also walked over to Kikar Safra where there was folk dancing. Who knew that macho Israeli men enjoy folk dancing? And then of course, like all Israelis, during the daytime, we made a BBQ. Classic. Then sooner than it should have been we were back on the base. At least all we did was learn first aid. Mostly we listened to classes and practiced bandaging up our friends. After successfully completing the course, we now carry around an "Israeli Bandage" and a rubber rope type thing that stops blood flow to a limb.
Remember when I complained about cleaning and picking weeds? Well ever since the army started actually being like the army, these menial work weeks are actually kind of a relief. You either get put in the kitchen, on guard duty, or clean and stuff. The kitchen is pretty fun because even though I don't think its allowed, you often sneak some food. My friend and I even made ourselves some pasta.
The next week was a shetach (wilderness) week. But unlike sadaut, this was a much easier week. We took the same heavy bags but also our sleeping bags, which would at least provide a little comfort. Luckily, instead of carrying that ridiculous bag, I was the radio guy. Kind of funny that the non-Hebrew speaker is chosen but maybe that's a sign that my Hebrew has improved. This week was called Tzemed and it was the first time we would be using live ammunition outside a proper shooting range. Tzemed means pair and this week was all about learning how to conquer a hill with a partner. I can't say the exact movements, but we learned when to provide cover fire, when to run, what to say, when to throw a grenade, and finally when to make the last move the terrorists will ever see. In reality, two people, or even a whole class would never risk taking a hill, but we learned the basics then. In the future we will start conquering land with more people and with more of a variety of weapons.
Sometime after that week was the week where we did our masa for the Hashba'a or swearing in. It was 7+1 kilometers. The +1 means that that kilometer was done carrying a stretcher. After we finished, the staff lit a huge fire sign of my battalion. We were finally starting to feel a sense of belonging. Especially because we received tags with the Tzanchanim logo to put on our shoulders. On the day of the Hashba'a we had a culture day. This one was special because we retraced the steps of our heroes who fought gloriously through the narrow streets of Jerusalem. And of course it was the Tzanchanim who captured it. We walked through Sha'ar Arayot, the gate of the old city where they broke through the walls until we reached the Kotel where we would be sworn in. Before it began there was a light dinner for lone soldiers which was nice. And do you know the tunnel to the left of the Kotel? Well as we were getting in formation, like every year, each battalion started singing their cheers. But it definitely wasn't singing. It was absolutely deafening that tunnel. But the pride really showed. And of course competition between the battalions. At 8:00 pm sharp we started marching to the square. I saw the ceremony last year but it was totally different participating in it. You just get this feeling of pride that can't be found anywhere besides in Tzahal. Here you are about to embark on a journey that could lead you to fight for the lives of your people. It's a bit frightening but also inspiring. Of course the most exciting part of the ceremony was definitely receiving our Tanachs and guns. From then on, the guns were ours to take with us and protect everywhere we go. Then we swore in, sang Hatikva which still sends chills through my body, and that was it. By the way, thank you to all my friends who came to see it. Your support is appreciated beyond your understanding.
One of the next things we did was a week of shooting. Nothing too crazy but we became a lot more professional in that week. We shot a lot further and better and practiced shooting on moving targets. You might be asking how these targets move. Well at 200 meters there is a 4 meter deep reinforced concrete ditch that runs the width of the range. Half of us were in there with big targets moving back and forth or lifting up the targets. It was a lot of fun.
After that, another week of cleaning and stuff. Fine with me.
This past week was probably one of my favorite weeks but unfortunately it didn't end as quite as I had planned. Aside from our regular guns, most soldiers are given either a new gun or an additional weapon. There is a gun for sharpshooting, a gun with an attachment for shooting grenades, an anti-tank missile, a Matador missile, a light machine gun, and a heavy machine gun. I requested to be a sharpshooter and luckily it was given to me. So this past week I trained with an M4 with a Trijicon scope during the day and a Lior night vision scope at night. I've heard the Lior costs about $10 000 dollars and its believable because what it does is just the opposite. Shooting with the night scope makes you feel exactly like you are in a movie or playing a video game. Same thing with the day scope. So accurate and simple to use. We did a lot of shooting up to a distance of 300 meters, shooting on moving targets, shooting from uncomfortable positions, shooting after physical exertion and of course the famous static position. Each weapon has its own "thing". For example the machine gunners have to crawl with their guns to 300 meters. Sharpshooters have to stay in the kriyah position for over an hour. Kriyah is basically sitting on your heel while the knee of that leg is on the ground. The other leg is at a 90 degree angle facing the target with the foot flat on the ground. In the past we did it for 25 minutes but we knew this was going to take a lot longer. We had 5 bullets loaded and at any time they could say fire and we would have to shoot. So we always had to be in the sights. After about 10 minutes, my foot fell asleep. After 15, I couldn't feel it at all, although we were told that that was supposed to happen and be most comfortable. Its the weirdest feeling not being able to move a body part. After 30 minutes and 2 bullets, I thought it would help to adjust my position. BAD IDEA!!! OH THE PAIN!!! Seriously it killed. And we had another 40 minutes go. Great. When we finished the 5 bullets everyone let out a sigh. But the mefakdim had a little surprise for us. Instead of ending there, they told us to switch magazines. More time? No way. I was dying at this point. Everyone was. Luckily we only shot one bullet from the new magazine. Then we stood up. Or we tried to stand up. But one of my legs just didn't work for a few minutes. So odd.
When I said the week didn't go as planned, it means that in the end I had less hits than the people I was competing against and was not chosen to be a sharpshooter now. However, I am now a certified sharpshooter and will probably get the gun in the future.
There are so many details to fill in but these are the main events. I'll try to write some more in the next couple weeks as I spend 21 days on base, the longest ever for me so far.
3 weeks left of basic training and then my regila, a week break. Can't wait!!
Shabbat Shalom!
Now I'll try to sum up what I've been doing the last month or two because I have a bit of time. I don't remember the exact order of events but its something like this.
Luckily, after Shavua Sada'ut, or what I called hell week, we were able to rest a bit during our extended weekend. We were let out for Shabbat, Sunday we had a culture day, Monday was Yom Hazikaron, and Tuesday was Yom Haatzmaut. Yom Hazikaron is always a very solemn and special day, but never like this past one. It is the promise of Tzanchanim to send a current Tzanchan to stand at every single grave of any Tzanchan during the tekes. I personally stood at a grave and felt a deep connection to a fellow Tzanchan. It was also extremely important because this particular Tzanchan died in the 50s and I was the only person standing by his grave. That night, things take a total 180 and turn happy. Every year that Israel survives is a complete miracle and it can really be seen in the way we celebrate. My parents and I went to the center of town in Jerusalem where there were a bunch of different concerts, huge crowds of people and of course that string that the kids spray at everyone. We also walked over to Kikar Safra where there was folk dancing. Who knew that macho Israeli men enjoy folk dancing? And then of course, like all Israelis, during the daytime, we made a BBQ. Classic. Then sooner than it should have been we were back on the base. At least all we did was learn first aid. Mostly we listened to classes and practiced bandaging up our friends. After successfully completing the course, we now carry around an "Israeli Bandage" and a rubber rope type thing that stops blood flow to a limb.
Remember when I complained about cleaning and picking weeds? Well ever since the army started actually being like the army, these menial work weeks are actually kind of a relief. You either get put in the kitchen, on guard duty, or clean and stuff. The kitchen is pretty fun because even though I don't think its allowed, you often sneak some food. My friend and I even made ourselves some pasta.
The next week was a shetach (wilderness) week. But unlike sadaut, this was a much easier week. We took the same heavy bags but also our sleeping bags, which would at least provide a little comfort. Luckily, instead of carrying that ridiculous bag, I was the radio guy. Kind of funny that the non-Hebrew speaker is chosen but maybe that's a sign that my Hebrew has improved. This week was called Tzemed and it was the first time we would be using live ammunition outside a proper shooting range. Tzemed means pair and this week was all about learning how to conquer a hill with a partner. I can't say the exact movements, but we learned when to provide cover fire, when to run, what to say, when to throw a grenade, and finally when to make the last move the terrorists will ever see. In reality, two people, or even a whole class would never risk taking a hill, but we learned the basics then. In the future we will start conquering land with more people and with more of a variety of weapons.
Sometime after that week was the week where we did our masa for the Hashba'a or swearing in. It was 7+1 kilometers. The +1 means that that kilometer was done carrying a stretcher. After we finished, the staff lit a huge fire sign of my battalion. We were finally starting to feel a sense of belonging. Especially because we received tags with the Tzanchanim logo to put on our shoulders. On the day of the Hashba'a we had a culture day. This one was special because we retraced the steps of our heroes who fought gloriously through the narrow streets of Jerusalem. And of course it was the Tzanchanim who captured it. We walked through Sha'ar Arayot, the gate of the old city where they broke through the walls until we reached the Kotel where we would be sworn in. Before it began there was a light dinner for lone soldiers which was nice. And do you know the tunnel to the left of the Kotel? Well as we were getting in formation, like every year, each battalion started singing their cheers. But it definitely wasn't singing. It was absolutely deafening that tunnel. But the pride really showed. And of course competition between the battalions. At 8:00 pm sharp we started marching to the square. I saw the ceremony last year but it was totally different participating in it. You just get this feeling of pride that can't be found anywhere besides in Tzahal. Here you are about to embark on a journey that could lead you to fight for the lives of your people. It's a bit frightening but also inspiring. Of course the most exciting part of the ceremony was definitely receiving our Tanachs and guns. From then on, the guns were ours to take with us and protect everywhere we go. Then we swore in, sang Hatikva which still sends chills through my body, and that was it. By the way, thank you to all my friends who came to see it. Your support is appreciated beyond your understanding.
One of the next things we did was a week of shooting. Nothing too crazy but we became a lot more professional in that week. We shot a lot further and better and practiced shooting on moving targets. You might be asking how these targets move. Well at 200 meters there is a 4 meter deep reinforced concrete ditch that runs the width of the range. Half of us were in there with big targets moving back and forth or lifting up the targets. It was a lot of fun.
After that, another week of cleaning and stuff. Fine with me.
This past week was probably one of my favorite weeks but unfortunately it didn't end as quite as I had planned. Aside from our regular guns, most soldiers are given either a new gun or an additional weapon. There is a gun for sharpshooting, a gun with an attachment for shooting grenades, an anti-tank missile, a Matador missile, a light machine gun, and a heavy machine gun. I requested to be a sharpshooter and luckily it was given to me. So this past week I trained with an M4 with a Trijicon scope during the day and a Lior night vision scope at night. I've heard the Lior costs about $10 000 dollars and its believable because what it does is just the opposite. Shooting with the night scope makes you feel exactly like you are in a movie or playing a video game. Same thing with the day scope. So accurate and simple to use. We did a lot of shooting up to a distance of 300 meters, shooting on moving targets, shooting from uncomfortable positions, shooting after physical exertion and of course the famous static position. Each weapon has its own "thing". For example the machine gunners have to crawl with their guns to 300 meters. Sharpshooters have to stay in the kriyah position for over an hour. Kriyah is basically sitting on your heel while the knee of that leg is on the ground. The other leg is at a 90 degree angle facing the target with the foot flat on the ground. In the past we did it for 25 minutes but we knew this was going to take a lot longer. We had 5 bullets loaded and at any time they could say fire and we would have to shoot. So we always had to be in the sights. After about 10 minutes, my foot fell asleep. After 15, I couldn't feel it at all, although we were told that that was supposed to happen and be most comfortable. Its the weirdest feeling not being able to move a body part. After 30 minutes and 2 bullets, I thought it would help to adjust my position. BAD IDEA!!! OH THE PAIN!!! Seriously it killed. And we had another 40 minutes go. Great. When we finished the 5 bullets everyone let out a sigh. But the mefakdim had a little surprise for us. Instead of ending there, they told us to switch magazines. More time? No way. I was dying at this point. Everyone was. Luckily we only shot one bullet from the new magazine. Then we stood up. Or we tried to stand up. But one of my legs just didn't work for a few minutes. So odd.
When I said the week didn't go as planned, it means that in the end I had less hits than the people I was competing against and was not chosen to be a sharpshooter now. However, I am now a certified sharpshooter and will probably get the gun in the future.
There are so many details to fill in but these are the main events. I'll try to write some more in the next couple weeks as I spend 21 days on base, the longest ever for me so far.
3 weeks left of basic training and then my regila, a week break. Can't wait!!
Shabbat Shalom!
No comments:
Post a Comment