Gadna

Sunday February 23, 2014

This morning we woke up at the Bedouin Tents. Surprisingly I had a really good sleep considering all of our EIE group was shoved inside the tent and it was really squishy! I now finally feel like a real Israeli tourist because I went on a camel ride in the desert! My partner on the camel was Avi Goldstein. We named our camel White Chocolate because for some reason it was the only one that was not the typical “camel” colour. Instead it was white! I really did enjoy the camel ride even though our camel decided to walk out of line. This caused the camel behind me to come a little to close for comfort.

After camel rides we had a presentation from one of the Bedouins who taught us about the culture. First we were greeted with home made coffee, and music played by the host.  We had the opportunity to learn how to grind the coffee and gain more knowledge about the Bedouin people.

Now it has come to the part of our trip everyone has been a bit nervous for… GADNA. We loaded the buses and headed our army base for the week. Gadna is the opportunity for high school students to understand and participate in a week of army boot camp.  

As the bus drove into the base all our faces were glued to the windows as we stared out in fear of the Israeli kids that were also getting off buses to participate in Gadna for the week as well. Now we had been warned before we arrived that the Israeli students who participate in Gadna usually come from lower end schools and it became very obvious to us American/Canadian kids in just the first moments of being there. When our commander said go to an EIE kid we RAN as opposed to the Israeli kids who were smoking and back talking!  As we got off the bus we were divided into our groups for the week I was put in צוות 10/Team 10! For the first day I don’t think we sat down once!

In the army everything is timed. Our commander would say go to this location in 10 seconds and we would respond saying Yes commander 10 seconds= כן מפקד  and we would have to sprint to the location while counting down from 10 in Hebrew. Once we got to the location we had to be in two straight, even lines with our water bottle touching our left foot and our jackets and bags directly behind us. If one of these things was not done within the 10 second time limit we either had to go back and redo the task or do push ups. 

On the first day we all got legit IDF uniforms that we were required to wear our entire time on the base. We had to ensure all the buttons we done up except the very top one and our shirt must be tucked into our pants. Our first meal at the base was dinner. Before entering the dinning hall we had to take off our hats and walk in two straight lines. The food was pretty good from the army but it definitely did not look appetizing.  After dinner we would get a bit of free time but once free time was over we had to be 2 minutes early in our designated meeting spot with our water bottles 100% filled to the top and in a “n” shape. A “n” is a Hebrew letter and we needed to ensure that the base was always the longest part and the two sides always had the same number of people. I can honestly say my least favorite shape is a “n”.

Our base was in the Negev, which is the desert. During the day it was extremely hot, getting up to 30+ degrees, but at night it would be freezing cold out! Sleeping in army tents outside with heaters that don’t work was not the most pleasant experience. But I was so tired at this point anything would do!

Monday February 24, 2014

Rise and Shine! Wake up is at 6:00 AM! When we woke up we had to be dressed in full uniform, teeth brushed, water bottles filled, hair in a pony tail, hiking boots or running shoes on, tent flaps rolled up, beds all in a straight line, nothing on the floor, sleeping bags rolled up and in the middle of our beds, our suit cases on top of our beds closest to the heater… oh and we have 30 minutes to complete all of this and be in a “n” before our commander arrives.  In the morning we were required to run around picking up trash. Our commander would give us four minutes to collect trash from around our tents and then we have to be back in two straight lines and she would go around and inspect the grounds to see if she sees garbage we did not pick up. If garbage was found we would have to do another set of four minutes. In the morning we are also required to do 30 minutes of exercise before breakfast. Today our commander’s commander made us run from two straight lines with all of EIE group to form a giant “n”. If one person moved, or there was an uneven number of people on the side, or someone’s water bottle was not touching their left foot or any reason you could possibly think of, we would have to go back and start over again!

After breakfast we loaded the buses to head to the field for the day.  This was a little weird for me. When I used to think of the desert, I used to think of miles and miles of flat sand. But I was very wrong. The desert is rocky gravel with giant hills and mountains. Random fact but I thought it was interesting. Today in the field we learned how to camouflage ourselves by wetting dirt and rubbing it all over our faces. Yuck! But we had to do it! We learned how to army crawl. Which is crawling on our elbows and tippy toes without having your thighs touch the ground. The commander would know if you did it wrong because when we stood up everyone who’s pants were dirty touched the ground. We also learned about grenades and how to run and cover when one is thrown.

For lunch they gave us the most disgusting canned/packaged food imaginable!

After lunch we all got geared up to walk our army hike. For a real solider in order to become a certain position in the army you must complete a specific hike coinciding with that position. After you finish it you get your (funny) hat! For this hike we had to walk/keep up with the head commander who was practically running. We had to remain in two straight lines the entire way. I think the most amazing experience about this hike was as we walked the cars that drove by would honk their horns because to them we looked like real soldiers and they were paying their respect to them/us. By wearing this official army uniform we had a certain responsibility, even though we were just in the Gadna. I was able to put myself into the shoes of a real soldier and understand what the army means to them and the citizens of Israel.  I was so proud to wear the uniform!

We ended the hike at David Bengurion’s grave overlooking the desert. It was really amazing to think about all the people who have been though the army and have walked the same path we just finished!

After the hike we got back to the base to continue doing useless tasks. In the army even when you finish everything you need to do they will always find something else to waste your time because god forbid you have two extra minutes of free time!

After dinner we had a meeting with the Memem who is the head commander of our unit who talked to us about the safety of guns. While she was talking you needed to take your hat off, your back must be straight; both feet must be on the ground, and both hands on your lap. If she saw you falling asleep she would make you stand at the back of the room until the very end. After her talk we had an hour of free time to shower and get our beds organized. Also the IDF must not believe in electricity because the only time there would be light in the tents was for four minutes when you got into your sleeping bags and then they would take the light bulb out. The light was never on when we had to find things in order to shower and get ready for bed.

After free time we met our commanders in the “n” to talk about our day. Even after one day we could all tell my group had the nicest commander. Throughout the day we made her laugh but she was not allowed to show any emotion so she would turn around. She only spoke Hebrew but she could understand us most of the time.  Thank goodness for Gali Zaborowski, who translated everything she said into English and everything we said into Hebrew. After a very long day we finally were given four minutes to get into our tent and get into our sleeping bags for the night.

Tuesday February 25, 2014

This morning we woke up at 6:00 AM and again had 30 minutes to get ready for the day and be in a “n” by the time our commander arrived. Today for our cleaning my group had to clean the washroom… YUCK! It was not so fun cleaning toilets and showers at an army base but we got the job done as fast as we could!  Today we sat in classes for most of the day learning about the parts of a gun, how guns work, and the safety precautions to use a gun. We also learned the proper procedures to using a gun.

Step 1: Sit with your back facing the gun and shooting range with your hands behind your back making a diamond.

Step 2: When the commander says so, put on your head phones on to cancel out some of the sound from the gunshot.

Step 3: When the commander says so, turn around and lay down on your stomach have your right leg in a straight line, parallel to your body and your left leg out to the side creating a 90 degree angle with your body. Pick up the M-16 gun, your right hand holding the handle (no fingers on the trigger) and your left hand stretched out holding the barrel.

Step 4: When the commander says so, load the magazine into the gun with your left hand and tap it on the bottom three times to ensure it is fully in place.

Step 5: When the commander says so, pull the charger on top of the gun.

Step 6: When the commander says so, switch the gun from safety to semi.

Step 7: When the commander says so, pull the trigger, aim and fire.

Step 8: After you have finished shooting all of your bullets, switch the gun back from semi to safety. Lay it back down on the ground. Sit back up with your back facing the gun and the shooting range with your hands behind your back making a diamond.

Step 9: When the commander says so, take your head phones off and leave the shooting range.

We learned all of this because the next day we were going to go to the real shooting range and shoot a gun. After our gun lesson all the groups had a friendly competition! All the groups went around doing different tasks such as running back and forth with a stretcher or seeing how fast our entire group can army crawl. My group did not win but we had a lot of fun!  

It was my group’s lucky day because we were in charge of serving and cleaning up all of dinner. It took us three hours! First we served all the food. I was in charge of taking out the garbage every time it got full. I also helped by clearing the tables and wiping them down so the next group could come in. After dinner was finished I went into the kitchen and started washing all the dishes. After we finally finished we had some free time and then we went right to sleep.

Wednesday February 26, 2014

 Today wake up was at 6:00 AM, and for today’s workout we were able to decide what we wanted to do. My group decided to do LOTS of stretches and the then do two minutes of a work out. 

Following breakfast we loaded the buses and headed to the shooting range! The shooting range is a big area in the desert with a pile of dirt and behind that a mountain for the bullets to go into. We got off the bus and were divided into groups of nine and one group at a time we would go up and shoot. I was in group five so I got to sit and wait - freaking out hearing what other people thought of the experience. Many people liked it, others said it hurt their shoulder. Finally it was my turn. We stood in two lines and our commander gave us 7 seconds to run and sit on a mat with our backs facing the gun and gun range. My heart was beating out of my chest! I did all the commands as I was told. First put my head phones on. Then I laid down on my stomach and picked up the gun.  I loaded the magazine into the gun. Pulled the charger, switched the gun from safety to semi, and when the commander said so, I pulled the trigger… I never knew how powerful a person can be. When I pulled the trigger a sense of responsibility and authority went through me. Holding and shooting a gun gave me a lot of power. Almost too much power and personally I did not enjoy it. As I pulled the trigger the gun would push back into my shoulder and then I would readjust and shoot again. After I was finished shooting I turned around and sat back up I was shaking, to think about what I just did. To think about how fast it is to shoot a gun and how quick it is over. To hold a gun you need to be responsible. To think how fast it was over. To think about how fast someone’s life could be over if used in the wrong way. Of all places to shoot a gun. I am so lucky to say I did it with the IDF, knowing that I was under the supervision of the best army in the world made me feel a lot more relaxed. Also who can say they have shot a gun with the IDF using their guns? Not many people.  

After the shooting range we went back to the base for some presentation with the Memem.

One of the moments I will never forget from my time at Gadna, was when my commander had us stand in a line with our eyes closed. She lead us throughout the entire base. When we finally ended up at a location she had us open our eyes, and oh my god we were overlooking the most amazing view of never ending mountains. She told us just like these mountains, we have no limits. There is never an end to our journey. It is always moving forward. We came into this week scared and weak but we are leaving with a never ending bumpy life ahead of us. I got chills throughout my body. Even trying to retell the experience I have missed so many of the encouraging words my commander said to us that night. We only knew her for a short week but she understood how strong and united we are leaving this week. This is a moment I will never forget. The words she said and the message that came across will stick with me for life! It is time for our last sleep here at Gadna and I just have so many thoughts running through my head.

Thursday February 27, 2014

Good morning. Today’s wake up was at 5:00 AM. Our last day at Gadna, therefore we had to clean everything to ensure it would be clean for the next group of students.  First we were in charge of organizing all the uniforms. We had to put them into piles based on broken and unbroken and refold everything.  We had to clean all the classes. In the army they have a strange way of cleaning. First you clear out all the classrooms. Then you take buckets of water and squigee all the water out. Then you put everything back into the classrooms. We had to repeat this for six classrooms.  Our final cleaning was to put back all of our beds and sleeping bags and have it look like we were never there.

We concluded the week by having a closing ceremony where people were give awards! Our final step before leaving was to give back our uniforms. This part was bitter sweet because as I took off my uniform I felt naked. When required to wear the same dirty uniform five days in a row you start to miss it when you don’t have it on.

The coolest part before we loaded the buses was our commanders talked to us like real people and were allowed to show emotion! My commander’s name was Tirtsa. She is 19 years old and said we were the best group she has been a commander for and she is really going to miss us. After saying good-bye we loaded the busses and I have never been happier to see Sami (our bus driver) in my life! Gadna was by far the hardest thing I have ever done both emotionally and physically. Trying to write this blog I am struggling so much because in the core moment the feelings are so real and even trying to write them down I am slowly forgetting the little parts. Trying to retell the stories and how I was feeling is so difficult. I feel like as a person I matured so much in just five days and it is an experience I won’t be able to relate back to with my friends from home. They just won’t understand. I am so grateful that Gadna is part of the EIE semester because I came to Israel for four months to learn about the Israeli culture and the IDF is one of the most important aspects of Israeli culture. This week in the army was eye opening. I now feel like I am educated on why it is important for Israel to have an army, and why people risk their lives at a young age for the land and the Jewish people.  Overall this week made me feel grateful and really made me come into myself and allowed me to learn so much about me. I am also grateful that I was able to do this with EIE because the friends I have made were already strong, but going thought Gadna brought us so much closer together.