As our icnext group approached the IDF base, Havat HaShomer, we were greeted by friendly IDF soldiers. I was excited to be informed about the soldiers experiences in the military, but little did I know about the hardships, and the difficult times these soldiers had gone through before coming to Havat HaShomer. This is a special base, run by female officers to help soldiers with “adjustment problems” prepare to join the IDF.
We were introduced to Tal, who was a commander, is currently an officer, and is a woman. As an officer, Tal works with the program curriculum, with the soldiers (all men) who come from low income families, dangerous areas around Israel, have criminal records, and have adjustment problems. Tal explained that the base drafts as many soldiers as they can, starting from the age of sixteen. There is a longer course of basic training for this group, which lasts from five to ten weeks, depending on each of the soldiers strengths and weaknesses as determined by their physical strength, mental strength, and past experiences. Thus, each of the IDF soldiers are placed into different categories.
At first, I believed that physical strength, and obedience were the most important traits to gain from becoming an IDF soldier. However, Tal explained the importance of trust within the IDF soldiers; since all of the Havat HaShomer soldiers come from difficult past experiences, trust has to be built between soldiers, commanders, and officers on the base. In November of 2016, Tal was in charge of a soldier who had been left by his father at the age of five. He had been sent to boarding school (not like our private schools), and he had been in and out of foster homes. He had lacked trust, and he did not follow orders on the base. However, after three attempts at basic training, and special care and protection from the commander, he was finally able to finish his special training and become an IDF soldier.
After learning about these experiences, I was astonished by the hardships, and troubles the soldiers had gone through, and are currently going through as well. Although these special soldiers may lack trust in the beginning, they eventually finish their service in the army, creating a sense of humility, connection and success.