Tenuvot, Israel
That's it!
After serving the Idf for 3 and a half years, I can summarize this era and say few things about it.
When I joined the army I was a frightened teenager, who had no idea what he's going in to. I chose to serve the artillery unit because my sister's boyfriend served there, and was highly recommended me about it. in that time, that was the only thing I knew about the army.
So I joined in. It was the middle of the summer in August 11th 2002. I was the first of my friends to join so I had no clue what I'm going in to. from a spoiled teenager that all his worries were what party to go out to, now I had to deal with long distance journeys, discipline, taking care of others and mental distress.
I didn't do really well at the army at the beginning. after a long, difficult basic and advance training I've become a fighter. I wanted to go to the commanders course like my friends but they sent me to Qalkilia for 4 months. those were the most difficult four months of my whole serving period, and probably my life. I didn't believe in what I did there, I didn't get to sleep much at all (5 hours a night was a privilege), and I felt inferior.
I put all my efforts to make a good impressions on my commanders so they let me go to the commanders course, and after 4 months, they did. since now and on, my serving was much smoother. after a 3 months long commander course, they found me appropriate to go to the officers course. that was a longer course (about eight months) that after it, I became an combat officer.
The thing with being an officer is that you need to sign another year. that means I needed to serve four years instead of three. When I signed for this extra year I had so much motivation, and the feeling I need to prove my ex-commanders they were wrong and I can be more than a commander and be an officer.
Ater 8 months of officers course, I got my lieutenant rank and sent to the syria border to be a commander of 33 soldiers. I had an amazing time being their commander. We moved from place to place all over the country, from the north to the south, serving places like the Jordan valley and the edge of Ramallah. After another 8 months I got a new assignment, and did mostly desk work for another 8 months. During this job, I started regreting about the extra year I signed. That was a grind job, but that wasn't all. add to that, me falling for a temporary guest from the states and now you have pretty much of an estimate how I felt.
I ask to leave the army sooner than I was supposed to. When she left I got a new assignment as a new immigrants commander. I had soldiers all over the world, just name it! Australia, Russia, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, United States, Argentina and more... I did this job knowing I'm leaving after it.
Well, it didn't go smooth as I was hoping. After I finished, the army gave me really hard time about it, but after being stubborn enough, they let me go. (yay! I'm finally free)
The same day I left I met my travel agent, and after less than a week (today), I'm holding my ticket to freedom. Yes, I'm talking about the long journey most of ex-servicemen do. My destination is South America thru the states (I miss my girl).
Where in south america?
Well, I've got a ticket to Bogota so I guess I'll be in Colombia. Besides of that I don't have a real plan, because I believe that's the right way to travel for a long period. If you have suggestions I would like to read them, just leave them as a comment or email me.
Lets all have a wonderful year!
Ori.
