A rollercoaster of a week

The title basically sums up my emotional and physical status for the past two weeks.

Last week (February 7th - 13th) we went back to the shooting range to relearn the basics of shooting. It was nice to return to our basics because there's a lot of things you forget when you are busy learning other things. The week went by fast and a few things have changed for the better (namely the weather has gotten warmer and so being outside isn't so bad.)

Friday: believe it or not, already four months have passed since i started the army and seven months since i have left the states. At the end of basic training (two weeks) the army grants you a week off, as a present. I decided that i have been away for too long and that i think its time i come home for a visit. I have been asking my commander for a month now to let me go home for the time off, as well as another week (according to Hayal Boded rights I have 30 days when i can be home.) Finally Asher and I (another Garin Tzabarnic who is in my group) have receive the news we have been waiting for and are coming home. Of course after receiving the news we both started crying and as such got made fun of by our Israeli counterparts (i love Israeli Humor.)

On Friday we also finished up shooting and started our new task of guard duty. This time we were guarding the main base, which is a lot nicer and bigger so it is more fun to guard. At night we were sent to our guard posts and started our shifts.

Gal and I (an Israeli from my group) were sent to guard the bunker. The bunker is a large storage area for ammunition. In fact from one end to another is aprox. 40 min walk. The purpose of the bunker, is that if there were to be a war tomorrow, we could all run to the bunker, grab ammo, fuel or anything else and go strait to the battle front.

Anyway, while we were guarding we received a surprise visit from one of the MM's (2nd in command.) The reasons for the visit was to make sure that we were on our A game and nothing got by us. The visit also wasn't a normal visit because instead of coming up to us and checking our ammo clip and water, he "hid" in a dark corner for us to pass him. Once we did, we followed us for a while and then without warning, he grabbed Gal and screamed Soldier. (again it was dark and we didn't see him.) Gal quickly grabbed him and shouted what are you crazy?!?!?! My response to this was to take my gun, raise it to the head of the MM and put my thumb on the safety switch. Gal then quickly says; "Shit MM." and I proceed to lower my gun. The MM then said while we did end up reacting in the right way, we should have heard and saw him from the beginning and since we didn't, we could have been killed or captured by Arabs or Bedouins, who live in the area.

After the little incident, we returned back to our sleeping area and enjoyed the rest of Shabbat. Of course there were more guarding shifts to do.

At the end of Shabbat, we were sent out again to guard (this was going to be my 4th time guarding.)

While standing in my guard tower, i suddenly felt pain in my knee. After my guard shift i went to the medic and showed him a very swollen knee (the size of a baseball) and he said: "I don't know whether to send you to the hospital now or in the morning." i told him that since this was not life threatening, i could wait till the morning to go.

On a side note: While Asher and Eton (another Israeli from my group) were guarding the bunker, a group of Bedouins came within 500 feet of them. They quickly got on the radio and within 20 seconds, the MP (1st in command), Magad (head of the training base), the ready team and a lot more soldiers were there and the Bedouins were quickly escorted off the area.

As for me:

Sunday morning i went to the doctor, where it was discovered that i had bacteria in my knee and since there was major swelling, i was supposed to take the week easy. As such, i spend the week in the tents doing nothing. Most of my day was spent either sleeping in the tent or reading a book. The rest of my group however went down to the shooting range again to do advance shooting. From what I hear it was a great week.

Then the rollercoaster ride finally hit the last drop.

Even though Asher and I had permission to go to go back home, we were missing a big item before travel. That item was our Israeli passport. Even though our American passports are still good, we are not allowed to enter the country (Israel) because we are now holders of Israeli citizenship. As a result we got a Yom Sidduriem (a day that you are off from the army to take care of bank work, passports or any other official business. ) WE left the base on Wednesday and by Thursday afternoon, we completed our passport paper work. I can now proudly say that i am coming home some time soon!!!

P.S.

I know it seems like I don't update the blog on a regular basis. I apologize for that. However, I only get access to a computer once every two weeks. (mainly on the weekends) and that is when i write my update. Hope everyone understands and enjoys reading this blog as much as i love writing it.