April

April- Week 1

 On Sunday morning we met at the Kotel and we started we had a week of learning about specific army things we need to know about

We got to the place we were staying for the week, we walked into the rooms , they had AC , beds, clean showers, for us its like a 5 start hotel even though its like a regular place like a Holiday Inn.

We got to the first meal and the food was actually amazing, something you would eat at home. We knew it was going to be a good week from now.

We had classes on a lot of thing, some were on why we are here and what are job is, classes on army morals, lessons on enemy countries, speeches from different people, one being an older guy that was in the second Lebanon war. The classes were actually very interesting, can't really get into details though.

Of course every night we had runs, this place was down hill so every run we did was all up hill, very hard. We finished this week knowing we are going to be in the field.  Big transition from the a/c rooms with beds to the ground outside in a sleeping bag. Off for Shabbat. I had Friday night dinner with some guys from the draft before me who are also in Nahal.  A few of us ate at their parents house and we had a good meal whoch cant hurt once in a while.

I bought a lot of food for the field this week. I always say I'm going to go home early so I won't be tired all week but of course I get 3 hours before I go back to base.

Week 2
I got to base Sunday and we left for the field Monday morning.

Shavuah Kita. We learned how to fight together as a group. Basically what I did all week was run up mountains with a lots of weight and drop down shoot my machine gun run up more and do it again all week day and night. We also walked around a lot. We started having same longer meal times so we can make the food a bit better. We burntt the tuna, open it up put toilet paper in the oil and light it. Comes out really good.  I obviously bought whole wheat bread for the field, white bread isn't that good coming from the army. Plus I had my protein bars and dried fruits.

We walked back to base 6km hike with 40% body weight on you. I didn't have to do more since I have 50% already. I wasn't feeling well so didn't end up doing the hike anyways in the end. You would think they could at least have the hot water working after a week in the field when we get back but no we took semi cold showers. We went to sleet at 430 am
Woke up 11 to find out there is a lone soldier speech soon for all the lone soldiers on base.

We had a very high ranking officer speak to us and he gave us something for pesach. Shabbat was on base, we had to guard also, so tiring...there is a hangout room on base with cable tv that they let us use for the first time and somehow the AC caught on fire , so that was done with quickly. I woke up Saturday morning dripping sweat and my feet sun burned since the tent doesn't close all the way and my bed is too small so my feet stay off , and what also woke me up were all the flies we had in the tent.

Very relaxing no? After Shabbat we had to help kosher the kitchen for passover. 30 people 8 hours and it was done 3am . A lot of work.

Week 3
I had seder on base along with a different part of Nahal. There were a lot of Americans so we ended making out own table. Food wasn't like at home but what can you do. Wednesday morning we woke up 4am to get ready for out 23 mile hike. I'm with full equipment for it too, around 70lbs. We took an hour long bus ride to the place we are walking. We started and the first 5 miles were up and down hill. It was getting really hard so I have a MAG helper sort of. So he took my gun while I held the ammo and we switch off because it is just so heavy. The whole hike your thinking of ways you can get out of this but you don't want to at the same time. I walked with 2 pulled hamstrings for the last few hours of the hike. It was also pesach so there isn't much to eat either besides for matzah. We finally finished the hike after 9 hours . We got pin for our beret they says Foot soldiers in hebrew  hayal raglayim.
I couldn’t walk normally for a week after the hike.
I'm fine now though. On base after Shabbat we had a night which we don't sleep. We work on our equipment until the morning and have it all checked by a high officer. I went Home for holiday on Monday morning extremely tired from not sleeping. I went to my cousins for a really good meal. Had to be back on base the next morning.

Week 4
This week we had Lashab, which is close quarters combat. We learned some really interesting and cool things. How to storm building and stuff. Short week but we are going to learn more of it. We brought so many sauces for the food in the field this week. Anything goes after eating plain tuna for so long. We got off for shabbat after this week . Back on base for sunday for the next month of training.