October 2
Following the three weeks of tanks all day, every day, we took a "break" of sorts to concentrate on and learn about other aspects of being a commander. First up was learning navigation skills using topographical maps, compasses, and smarts - none of that technological stuff. There was a very fun atmosphere in doing this, especially because we would eventually be sent off in pairs without our commanders to find random points according to the map. The downside was simply continuing to walk and walk for at least ten kilometers with plenty of weight on our backs. Being in the tanks, I simply hadn't done anything like this in a very long time. It made me realize several things, the main being that i was certainly happy to be in the tanks and not infantry . Overall, the two days were challenging and fun and I had learned a whole new skill - map reading in Hebrew.
Next we headed to a very nice base on the beach in Netanya to learn the job side being a commander. We were faced with different scenarios with soldiers and performed simulations while also talked about traits and personalities of what a commander possesses. I felt like I was in college again learning about education, only this time it was in Hebrew and dealing with rude 18/19 year old Israeli kids. I knew before taking the step to become a commander that it would be challenging on many aspects but I didn't fully realize until now how difficult it might be, particularly in a simulation when dealing with a troublesome soldier. It was hard, but I convinced myself like I always tried to do that if I had accomplished what I had up until now, why wouldn't I do this as well. I headed into Rosh Hashanah with a greater sense of what a commadner needs to be and with the idea that I could be that commander or even better.
Rosh Hashanah brought a very nice break for all of us. The holidays in Israel are something that one has to experience in order to understand. Everyone celebrates in their own special way, really wishing a warm new year to each and everyone they see. I enjoyed my holiday at JJ Jonah's and co. for a nice family experience and capped it off with another with my adoptive family at my "cousin's" 11th birthday party, of course with some fun with my friends in between. Although this was my third Rosh Hashanah in Israel, this one I really felt a part of the society celebrating it. I don't know what it was exactly, but part of me feels like I was now more Israeli than ever, appreciating these holidays not just because of the time off but because of their meaning to our every day lives.
We returned to base on a Monday morning, a treat unlike anyt other in the army (including my opportunity to watch my Giants beat the Dallas Cowboys over the middle of the night). On my way to the army I applied for my Israeli passport which was a very exciting thing because now I could leave and enter this country with the document proving my citizenship to the whole world, which only brings more pride. The whole week was working hard on the tanks and preparing them for the second half of the course. I learned a lot of new things in taking care of the tank, which is at least (if not more than) half of the job in being a tank commander. Although working on the tank isn't the most thrilling thing, it is important and we very much knew how to make it a good time.
We entered the next week after a Shabbat on base straight into Yom Kippur. I was somewhat looking forward to the experience of observing the holiday in the army. I went to services like I normally would; I sat around and talked with friends like I normally would; I fasted Like I normally would. But the biggest difference wasn't the fact I woke up in the middle of the night to guard (although this was a strange feeling). It was that I felt one of my strongest connections to Judaism in my life even though I was somewhat "stuck" inside of the army. As I looked back on my year and what I had done, seen, accomplished, created, etc., I saw myself as a whole different person, particularly in my connection to my religion. So what if I stopped wearing a kippah - in America that was a symbol and my way of expressing my belief. Being in the army, I genuinely felt as though I was a part of Judasim, of its history, of its values, and and of its people. As I broke the fast, I knew I was in the right place and the upcoming year would be even better than the past.
We finished the week learning how to fight with a platoon of tanks (three) which is very complicated in relation to fighting alone (which never happens in reality anyways). Things were getting bigger in the course and the challenge to keep up was becoming larger as well. We then practiced fighting as a company, with me taking the reigns as the gunner for the commander of the whole company. Just written like this doesn't sound like much, but when I say it in the sense that I fired 11 rockets in a four hour span, about 70,000 shekels worth of ammunition, you get a sense just how fun those four hours were for me (and hitting 8/11) wasn't so bad either). As I left the base for Shabbat, my comrades and I looked into the future and saw that we had almost made it to the end. Just one month separated us from becoming commanders. I didn't feel fully ready for that title, but I surely looked forward to what was to be a great learning experience on that account - a week of war in the tanks.
Following the three weeks of tanks all day, every day, we took a "break" of sorts to concentrate on and learn about other aspects of being a commander. First up was learning navigation skills using topographical maps, compasses, and smarts - none of that technological stuff. There was a very fun atmosphere in doing this, especially because we would eventually be sent off in pairs without our commanders to find random points according to the map. The downside was simply continuing to walk and walk for at least ten kilometers with plenty of weight on our backs. Being in the tanks, I simply hadn't done anything like this in a very long time. It made me realize several things, the main being that i was certainly happy to be in the tanks and not infantry . Overall, the two days were challenging and fun and I had learned a whole new skill - map reading in Hebrew.
Next we headed to a very nice base on the beach in Netanya to learn the job side being a commander. We were faced with different scenarios with soldiers and performed simulations while also talked about traits and personalities of what a commander possesses. I felt like I was in college again learning about education, only this time it was in Hebrew and dealing with rude 18/19 year old Israeli kids. I knew before taking the step to become a commander that it would be challenging on many aspects but I didn't fully realize until now how difficult it might be, particularly in a simulation when dealing with a troublesome soldier. It was hard, but I convinced myself like I always tried to do that if I had accomplished what I had up until now, why wouldn't I do this as well. I headed into Rosh Hashanah with a greater sense of what a commadner needs to be and with the idea that I could be that commander or even better.
Rosh Hashanah brought a very nice break for all of us. The holidays in Israel are something that one has to experience in order to understand. Everyone celebrates in their own special way, really wishing a warm new year to each and everyone they see. I enjoyed my holiday at JJ Jonah's and co. for a nice family experience and capped it off with another with my adoptive family at my "cousin's" 11th birthday party, of course with some fun with my friends in between. Although this was my third Rosh Hashanah in Israel, this one I really felt a part of the society celebrating it. I don't know what it was exactly, but part of me feels like I was now more Israeli than ever, appreciating these holidays not just because of the time off but because of their meaning to our every day lives.
We returned to base on a Monday morning, a treat unlike anyt other in the army (including my opportunity to watch my Giants beat the Dallas Cowboys over the middle of the night). On my way to the army I applied for my Israeli passport which was a very exciting thing because now I could leave and enter this country with the document proving my citizenship to the whole world, which only brings more pride. The whole week was working hard on the tanks and preparing them for the second half of the course. I learned a lot of new things in taking care of the tank, which is at least (if not more than) half of the job in being a tank commander. Although working on the tank isn't the most thrilling thing, it is important and we very much knew how to make it a good time.
We entered the next week after a Shabbat on base straight into Yom Kippur. I was somewhat looking forward to the experience of observing the holiday in the army. I went to services like I normally would; I sat around and talked with friends like I normally would; I fasted Like I normally would. But the biggest difference wasn't the fact I woke up in the middle of the night to guard (although this was a strange feeling). It was that I felt one of my strongest connections to Judaism in my life even though I was somewhat "stuck" inside of the army. As I looked back on my year and what I had done, seen, accomplished, created, etc., I saw myself as a whole different person, particularly in my connection to my religion. So what if I stopped wearing a kippah - in America that was a symbol and my way of expressing my belief. Being in the army, I genuinely felt as though I was a part of Judasim, of its history, of its values, and and of its people. As I broke the fast, I knew I was in the right place and the upcoming year would be even better than the past.
We finished the week learning how to fight with a platoon of tanks (three) which is very complicated in relation to fighting alone (which never happens in reality anyways). Things were getting bigger in the course and the challenge to keep up was becoming larger as well. We then practiced fighting as a company, with me taking the reigns as the gunner for the commander of the whole company. Just written like this doesn't sound like much, but when I say it in the sense that I fired 11 rockets in a four hour span, about 70,000 shekels worth of ammunition, you get a sense just how fun those four hours were for me (and hitting 8/11) wasn't so bad either). As I left the base for Shabbat, my comrades and I looked into the future and saw that we had almost made it to the end. Just one month separated us from becoming commanders. I didn't feel fully ready for that title, but I surely looked forward to what was to be a great learning experience on that account - a week of war in the tanks.
