I just wanted to put out a quick good luck note to the March draftees. I'm not giving away a secret when I tell you that there are only three infantry draft dates each year, and March happens to be an important one at that. If you're an immigrant getting drafted this month, kol hakavod, and I hope you're gonna try for Golani. Might as well.
If you're worried at all about the prospect of all this craziness, being in the army and all that goes with it (not sleeping, huge hikes, being yelled at, your entire life being timed to the second, etc), totally ignore all those butterflies and nerves and just look forward to the pride of wearing the uniform. At first it'll feel like a costume, but as the weeks and months go by, you'll almost feel strange wearing civilian clothes. Army life is one big dream, it almost never feels real, and so all those things you're so afraid of now will become a natural part of your life.
Don't worry about what you need to buy, what you need to say or do, where you need to be, the language, the culture, or any of it. Everything totally works out. It's going to be great!
I want this message to be short and sweet for a reason. I want all upcoming draftees, March and beyond, to know that everything will be totally fine! I swear to you. It's all so simple. All you have to know is that the discipline is a game, so be quiet and have fun with it. The months before my draft I spent every second trying to read everything I could find on what it means to be the army, what I had to do to prepare, and so on. I wish I could tell Danny of pre-October 2008 all this.
You know how nervous I was? Read this pre-army post. At that point I didn't even think I would survive one day. I really just couldn't imagine how I could do all this. And to think I'm getting awards left and right...
It's going to be so amazing, I promise.
3 comments:
how sweet of u bro, now kick some a**
even if you had read this message from someone else, you would still have been nervous!
Great post Danny, from a former August volunteer (not drafted)
Sometimes its good not to know too much. I had no clue WHATSOEVER about what happens in the Army. None. Zero. The first person I met on the base when I arrived was the Rasar (Seargent Major) and for your readers, God reports to him in basic traning. The next person I met was the Magad (Base Commander and rank of Aluf Mishne (Lieutenant Colonel). I knew he had to be some big guy but nothing other than that. So, I am standing close to them having a cigarette, and I hear the Magad ask the Rasar "Why is that soldier not saluting" The Rasar says something about Oleh Chadash. Suddenly the Rasar yells "Put out the cigarette, stand at attention and salute the commander" Though no one had shown me how to salute, I figured that part out pronto.
Later that day, after running us ragged getting our stuff, we were called to an amphitheatre, where we had to run up to the top, get a glass of juice and a piece of cake and thats when the real tironut would start. The Rasar recognized me, saw that I was nervous, put his on my shoulder, said relax, finish your drink and cake ;-)
Enjoy Imun Mitkadem.
Naftali
Post a Comment