First Shabbot in the army

So i know its been a while since i wrote on the blog. The reason for this was because i had to close base for the first time.

Last week (December 28 - January 1) Monday:

We spent the week shooting with our M16. This was going to be the last week we spent at the advanced base we were in because on that Friday, we moved back to bach Nachal Tov (our original home base)

The other great thing that happened this week, was that we got our Pacal (or specialty) weapon. The options were: sharp shooter (or Cala in Hebrew), negavist (light machine gun), Magist (heavy machine gun), law (anti tank), and a Matador (also a rocket).

It turns out that the reason why we've been shooting so much (for a month strait) was not only for us to get to become acquainted with our rifles, but so that our commanders can best gadget us on what weapon we should get. For example, the ones who shot the best on the M16, were sent to sharpshooter school. For me, since i am a big guy, good looking and never giving up, i was sent to be a magist.

On Friday:

We were sent back to the original base and given time to go to the store on the base and buy some goodies for the week. After that (at around 2 or so) we were given Shabbat time. basically it is all the rest of Friday and Saturday to do what we want (mostly sleeping or going to shul to pray.) The only rules that apply to Shabbat on base is that we must either be in our uniform or civilian clothing, we must have our gun on us at all times (this i found a little bit annoying because Shabbat is a time of rest and we shouldn't have to walk around with guns on a restful day.) we had to attend certain meals (lunch and dinner) and that was pretty much it. There were also some rules regarding meals, such as we weren't allowed to leave the dinning hall, until our MP (highest official lest, and we weren't allowed to start until he started. There was also a rule that we cant write on Shabbat, so all our pre and post meal reports (a report on how many people are in our group, how many are with us at the present moment, how many are missing and where they are.) all had to be given by word of mouth.

While the time to our selves was great and relaxing, the moment Shabbat ended, our commanders took full advantage of us not running all day.

Saturday night: we went for a quick (35 min.) run around the base. Then we did some pushups, sit ups and went to bed.

Sunday:

we spent the day learning about our new weapons. For me this meant having a class about everything relating to the mag, including history, specifications, and other technical things. We then spent of the rest of the day getting ready to shoot the guns at the shooting range.

Monday-Wednesday

We spent the next few days at the shooting range. On Monday we were led out of the base and marched to the shooting range. The first few hours, we spent the time setting up tents. That right, we were going to be sleeping in the field, even though the base was only a few hundred meters away. After setting up the tents, we went to the shooting range and finally got to see our new "toy" in action. There is nothing more impressive, then seeing this giant gun shoot a tiny target 300 meters away. We also spent the rest of the time learning how to shoot from the sitting, standing and lying down position. WE were also given many time test (such as shooting three targets in 1 min., setting up the gun on a stand and shooting three more targets 3min. and finally a running, crawling, shooting test in 2 min.)

Thursday:
Today was parents day at the base. Basically, the base is open up to all parents of soldiers and they can come by and see what the base is like, get to meet the commanders and the higher officials. For me , and other lone-soldiers, we were taken to a spa, pool club in Rananah. from there, I went to Jerusalem to see the swearing in ceremony for my friends in Tzanchaniem. IT was a quick ceremony, only 30 min., but it means that now these guys are sworn soldiers of the state. They receive a bible and a gun and our now proud Israeli soldiers.

My swear in Ceremony will be January 21, so if anyone is in Israel and near the Jerusalem area, please feel free to come.