ARMY NEWS

ARMY NEWS

Five of my grandchildren are still serving in the Israeli Defense Forces. Memi, who is a commander in a prestigious commando unit of the IDF, has decided to extend his army service. He  is at present participating in a three month’s course. This includes soldiers from all sections of the army. They will be serving as future commanders  of platoons in their particular field.

Some time during the course they will be flown to Poland for a week’s tour,  where they will be learning about the Holocaust. This is part of a project called “Witnesses in Uniform”.

One of his trainees is his cousin Ohad, who was the first of my triplet grandsons to join the IDF. He was recruited over two years ago, and has already carried out various undisclosed missions

His brother Amitai, serving in an armoured battalion, is now a platoon commander. He has recently been promoted to the rank of lieutenant.

Aviad is the last one of the triplets to join the IDF and is serving in the Golani infantry brigade.

My granddaughter, Adi, finished her army service this week.She began as an infantry instructor and, after taking an officer’s course,  was given a new role. In the last one and a half years, she was in charge of 22 female instructors who were trained to teach fighting skills to crews of the armoured battalion. In her three years of service, Adi acquired many new skills – in particular how to cope with heavy responsibility.

The first ever international drone drill, called "Blue Guardian", led by the Israeli Air Force took place during the last two weeks, in the airforce base in Palmahim. The US, Britain, Germany, Italy and France sent airforce crews. The goal of the drill was to place the IDF as a global professional leader in the operation of RPA’s (remotely piloted aircraft), as well as joint learning, and strengthening cooperation between airforces.

My grandson Yair, who is in the airforce reserves, took a key role in the drill. He was asked to take part, as not many airmen are skilled instructors of RPA’s. His first task was to acquaint the foreign airmen with the Israeli system, since they didn’t know how to fly our aeroplanes and, of course, don’t know Hebrew. After the basic flights, Yair helped carry out joint exercises and  training, together with the foreign crews. Between times, they had interesting conversations on their army experiences, on the differences between the armies - and a little bit about their private lives.

To sum up the two weeks: Yair felt that all the foreign crews enjoyed the hospitality, and willingness of the Israeli airforce to share their expertise with them. They learned a great deal and came away with a very favourable impression of the IDF and the state of Israel.

 

Having so many grandchildren in the army at one time or another, I have been well-initiated into the army. The most surprising thing I have learned is the education and values it teaches and instills,  reaching  far beyond military training expertise.