Comments on Israeli by Day, American by Night: Time Passes Like A Demon In The Night

Anonymous - Yeah, I don't think the regular br...

2010-12-07T22:59:49.983+02:00

Anonymous - Yeah, I don't think the regular brigade guys are like US Rangers... I mean, we ended up by the end of the two years having done a lot of training that they had, like boulder warfare, mountain warfare, advanced urban warfare, hostage situations, etc, but there is still a big differences. I'd say it's fair to say, in terms of training, that the special forces between Israel and the United States are similar. The big exception is that guys don't get to even start US special forces (SEALS, Green Berets, etc) training until they've been in the army for a while. Israeli guys just start right out in those units. Obviously they are the cream of the crop, but there's still a big difference in experience.

On the other hand, the regular infantry brigades do all the work. They win the wars, as you did with your men in 73. The kids nowadays have lost that feeling of patriotism, but still for every open spot in Golani there are 8 applicants - the demand is still there, but maybe on an overall level it has gone down.

My generation knows what yours did, and trust me, the respect and honor and appreciation is there.

Hi,I was in Golani brigade unit 51 from 1971-1974....

2010-12-06T10:40:23.074+02:00

Hi,I was in Golani brigade unit 51 from 1971-1974.The before & after photos are well understood!Someone asked if Golani is like the USA army Rangers.I have an American friend in Israel who was a Ranger,and having seen them on YouTube it "seems"like they are more elite.First, they volunteer we are drafted 3 years.We defend our home,they volunteer to fight anywhere for who knows what.They are so few and can pick from a population of the whole USA!Israel in my time 1971 was 3 million people mostly older people.They have to be super-animals with knotted muscles to get in.We had the heart,belief and courage to do the impossible and did with G-D's help. A guy in my unit was a former USA Marine & he said we were basically the same.12 of our 75 guys died.

Anonymous "everyone's a critic" guy ...

2010-09-25T19:23:49.233+02:00

Anonymous "everyone's a critic" guy - I never responded to your question, and I know you won't get this, but in case someone else was looking for the answer. I would only compare the brigade-level special forces guys to Rangers, not us. I think we do a lot more various training than regular infantry guys do in America, but we were not special forces. But, Sayeret Golani (Golani SF) is probably pretty similar. I did not even do the tryout (gibush) for SF. Honestly, I wanted to go straight into the action after 8 months of training, not wait around for a year and 4 months of SF training, and then sit around and wait for some mission once a week, maximum. You know what our SF guys are doing? EXACT SAME THING AS US. Was a year and 4 months of hell worth that? Uhhhhh.... No regrets.

Holy crap. Kipp. What a freaking difference time makes. I do look pretty badass in that second picture, though. When I finally got to walk around with all my gear, no bullshit green kumta or empty shirt, I felt content. Like, I've got my job in the army and don't have to worry about any of the superficial stuff. It was really comforting to feel... appreciated?

I remember getting that pin, bro. Tekes hashba...

2010-09-24T21:30:51.183+02:00

I remember getting that pin, bro. Tekes hashba'ah was too unreal; Tekes kumta still didn't cut it, but tekes sof maslul... It felt great.
We sat around the Eshkol Regional Council for hours after the ceremony feeling like accomplished army kings. Glorious.

Oh, and by the way... ezeh chong in that mikveh alon picture!

Well expressed ya'Golanchik!

You went into the army as a "boy" and yo...

2010-01-27T22:49:55.790+02:00

You went into the army as a "boy" and you have grown into a "man." We are all so proud of you. Mom

Danny, you may have lost weight, but I tell ya, yo...

2010-01-21T00:52:12.051+02:00

Danny, you may have lost weight, but I tell ya, you look bigger. Buffer. Between that and the demeanor, there's a definite difference between your green photo and your experienced photo.

I really enjoyed this post. Not that I don't enjoy your other posts. I do. You have a great writing style. Maybe when your done with your army days and you've hung up your gun, you could put together a memoir or some such.

Until then, keep the posts coming, sling in more photos when the opportunity arises, and above all, stay safe.

- Shari R.

ahahahahaha you look so dorky in the first picture...

2010-01-17T06:55:12.870+02:00

ahahahahaha you look so dorky in the first picture compared to the second!!!! (the second is definitely a bit intimidating)

i miss you - don't get too addicted to the army!

Thanks, everyone. BZL - Yes, this is like our Com...

2010-01-01T10:50:33.351+02:00

Thanks, everyone.

BZL - Yes, this is like our Combat Infantry Badge, but it is specific to the brigade. Each brigade in the army, combat and non-combat, has an "end of training" pin. This is ours. It's easily the most kickass of all the pins in infantry, and I'd only say that like 2 or 3 are cooler in the entire army. Maybe.

I actually lost weight in the army! I went in at about 220, which was the heaviest I have ever weighed in my life, and in the first week lost about 3 kilos (6.6p or so). I'd say those few pounds were fat, but if you were to have seen me before that week, you wouldn't say there was much fat to lose. I had a 6-pack and all, but you know, there's always fat to lose. From there I kept losing weight, but it was a combo of fat and muscle. You see, they want runners in this army, and I've always been more of a heavy lifter type. "Combat Fitness" demands running and carrying heavy weight, and when you combine those two things, you lose more fat than you gain muscle. And, we don't lift weights, so... Essentially, I now weigh about 200 pounds MAX, if not 195 after a week in the field. Which is the lightest I've weighed since high school, and that was 7 years ago. I've always been in shape, but more of weight room and situps shape (beach body, I'll admit). Now I'm a runner.

Long answer to a short question.

Congratulations, Danny. What more need be said? :)...

2010-01-01T04:56:30.608+02:00

Congratulations, Danny. What more need be said? :)

Danny, mazal tov and b'hatzlacha! Is this pi...

2009-12-28T22:08:09.109+02:00

Danny,
mazal tov and b'hatzlacha! Is this pin like the Combat Infantry Badge?

BTW, did you put on weight (obviously all muscle) since you've been in the army?

Man, great post. I really liked it. And there'...

2009-12-28T14:29:35.204+02:00

Man, great post. I really liked it. And there's no mistake in those pictures...I see two different guys, you have to be blind not to see it. Be safe soldier.

I enjoy your writings. - Will

2009-12-28T06:47:16.994+02:00

I enjoy your writings. - Will

great post. youve got to add pictures more often, ...

2009-12-27T22:36:07.766+02:00

great post. youve got to add pictures more often, at times they really convey the experience more powerfully than words. the second pic makes you look like a ten year veteran or something.

hearing some pretty bad news from west bank. stay safe man.
-danielC

I'm curious. I've seen Golani analogized ...

2009-12-27T05:18:14.901+02:00

I'm curious. I've seen Golani analogized to the US Army Rangers. Do you think, if you could make such a comparison, that it would be a valid one? Additionally, you talk about the brigade-level special forces guys. Have you ever thought about gibush for Sayeret Golani?

The everyone's a critic guy

Sweet pics. The second pic simply says "Do no...

2009-12-27T04:27:49.057+02:00

Sweet pics. The second pic simply says "Do not f*ck with me. Ever".

Word.

yeah yeah, posterity. everyone's a critic.

2009-12-26T23:10:29.195+02:00

yeah yeah, posterity. everyone's a critic.

Uh, posterity, not prosperity, me thinks. Great p...

2009-12-26T23:01:51.031+02:00

Uh, posterity, not prosperity, me thinks.

Great post, as always.

i see what u mean...in the first pic it looks as i...

2009-12-26T19:19:33.833+02:00

i see what u mean...in the first pic it looks as if just the strap of your gun is weighing down your entire head/neck, meanwhile in the next pic its like throw 50 lbs. of more gear on my back cuz i dont give a shit! i def. see a transformation - way to go man

Really? Look at the body language, one is an awkw...

2009-12-26T17:44:53.090+02:00

Really? Look at the body language, one is an awkward pose, the other is real confidence. It's all in the body language.

Honestly I don't see much difference between t...

2009-12-26T13:29:00.323+02:00

Honestly I don't see much difference between the two other than the tziud. In one you have pure michve alon shit, including the m16 aroch. In the next picture you have real combat gear.

I am really proud of you even though I do not know...

2009-12-26T10:01:43.260+02:00

I am really proud of you even though I do not know you at all. Your blog is an inspiration to many. I just came back from Jerusalem though the hassle at the immigration it did not deter me from visiting again in near future. The Haram el shariff and the other Muslim sites are simply awesome. You are blessed to be in this holy land.

Contrast between the two photos is amazing. Thanks...

2009-12-26T04:54:12.039+02:00

Contrast between the two photos is amazing. Thanks for letting us see the changes, and stay safe.

sports illustrated had an article on omri casspi i...

2009-12-25T20:48:26.467+02:00

sports illustrated had an article on omri casspi in the nba. After i read that article, i read yours as well and wow pride just swept in. I saw the two pictures and wow what a difference.

May you be safe, and enjoy the present.