Hi,
Atzva asked me how it is to be a soldier. Not what it means to me, or how important it is, how is it. I tried to answer her quickly we several sentences. But I later thought to myself – how is it to be a soldier?
First of all, you are always dirty – you do not change shirts everyday like at home. Not to talk about taking showers for whole weeks. I do try to change my underwear and socks everyday, but that not always possible. You have only two pairs of uniforms: one is the “clean” one, while the other one is dirty.
And you always eat, not because you are hungry, but that is what you have to do. and you mostly eat crap, not healthy stuff. As there are no vegetables or fruits in hand, you eat sweets and snacks all day. The are products to cook, but we do not have the power to cook most of the time.
Everything is far – the toilets, the showers, the food, the car the ammunition. You always walk, even if it only a small post – you walk. An that is usually with heavy equipment on you.
You do not really know your schedule. And if you know it generally for the day – there are always bombing and siren alarms. I do try to work when I have the time – but you may finally find the mental power to sit and go through e-mails – and you called up for an order.
You always have a guard. Even if you are in Israel – you always have to keep an eye on something. You cannot just leave the equipment and go, or go to sleep – you need someone to keep an eye. Of course that if you are in Lebanon it makes more sense – but still.
No privacy what so ever – not in the shower, or in the toilets, while eating or sleeping. There are always people around you, even in your most intimate situations.
That is how it feels to be a soldier.
Take Care
Gad
Soldiers working at night in south Lebanon
Night patrol (it is actually a retreat from home about to be demolished)
A soldier practicing during night in Golan Heights firing zone