DYNAMICS OF GRANDCHILDREN IN THE IDF

Apart from Nir (see blog 34), two of his three brothers are also in the Reserves (miluim). Omer served as a squad commander of recruits  in the Givati regiment during his army service, and was later assigned as commander of a  squad dealing with anti-tank missiles. He was in the middle of his service when his father was murdered. Six months later they lost their home in Gush Katif when the whole of the Gush was evicted. Unfortunately, it was the army which had to carry out the eviction. Omer refuses to speak about it. He was certainly not the only soldier whose home was in Gush Katif at the time and faced with such a terrible dilemma.

When Omer is called up for miluim, he is responsible for a specific sector on the Gaza Strip border (an area where he once lived). Apart from his regular miluim  - whenever there is trouble in the area an emergency call goes out to the Reserves, which has to be answered to immediately.

Like his father and three brothers, Assaf also served in the Givati regiment, first in a special squadron and later in an army cadet programme - in charge of training high school students who were officer material and wished to make a career of the army. Assaf does his miluim, like Omer, in  the same sector of the Gaza/Egyptian border.  

Both grandsons who are in the commando’s but from different regiments are progressing in their army careers. One grandson, Nir’s youngest borther, is already an officer and  has been promoted from unit commander to the rank of deputy Company commander of his regiment. His duties entail taking complete responsibility for the  missions carried out by his Company from every aspect, professionally and  logistically. He is also expected to take the place of the commander when necessary. The task includes the ability to deal with unexpected challenges and to take the initiative and responsibility at all times.

The second is now doing an officer’s course. Participating in the course are soldiers from every regiment in the army, every soldier who belongs to a fighter unit - approximately 500.

One of the triplets has been accepted to the same special commando unit (the war against terrorism), as his cousin above and he will shortly be beginning his service. His two brothers will probably be following him by the end of the year.

My pilot grandson, Yair,  has just finished his service in the airforce, after serving for nine and a half years! He believes that there aren’t many “work” places - as the one in which he served in  the last few years - which contributes so much to the defense of Israel. He is profoundly grateful for the many skills he acquired during his army service  which will be of tremendous benefit when he joins the workforce as a citizen. On the personal level, he has become a very different person from the day when he was recruited. As an ex-officer, and particularly one from the airforce, he has acquired self-confidence and how to cope in challenging and stressful situations.

Yair’s sister, Roni,  served in the army as a form of social worker dealing with the soldiers’ welfare problems. These included financial problems of the soldier and family, health problems in the family, accommodation, etc. Her army base, near Carmiel in the north dealt with a special population including  new immigrants, and soldiers who were given the opportunity of completing their high school certificates (bagrut), etc. Most of her service was devoted to catering to lone soldiers  including every-day needs and, most important, an ever-willing ear. In order to assess the specific situation in depth, she frequently carried out home visits. Every soldier received maximum care and attention in order to facilitate his/her army service. Today, not surprisingly, Roni is studying to be a nurse.