Gadna Week

A few weeks ago, eleventh graders in my school came back from the Gadna Week. It took place at Sde Boker, in the south of Israel. The Gadna Week simply prepares seventeen year old teenagers for their military service. In a general look, I truly enjoyed the preparation for the IDF and this experience was unforgettable.

Our Gadna week was divided into four parts, which included team work, chores, training and classes in military theories. Nevertheless, they all had several things in common, such as keeping times. Generally speaking, keeping to a tight schedule allows one to be organized. It also helped me feel in control, since I knew exactly what to expect. For example, breakfast was at 6:30 am, lunch was at 12:30 pm etc. Another exciting, but rigorous, feature of army life was the training. I liked the challenging training because it helped me understand what is expected of me in the army. For example, doing well in the physical training part proved to me that I could do well in the Infantry Corps.

Yet, the unique army experience includes getting used to army hierarchy. Through the Gadna week, every team had a tough commander who told them what to do in every situation. This made me feel small and powerless. As a "soldier", I felt like an insignificant, helpless and superfluous part in a much larger system. This was because I felt like I could not resist them.

To conclude, the experience as a whole is recommended and worthwhile. The Gadna helps us understand the significance of the IDF and the importance of everybody's contribution to it.

Excellent! (and nice picture!).

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Daphna