Basic training is like learning to be a duck

 I had an epiphany the other day while marching after my Mefakedet and realized that soldiers are basically well-armed ducks. How so, you ask? Allow me to elaborate:

Firstly, the first and most important thing we learn is how to follow the leader. If you were to peek onto our base during training you would find our mother ducks/mefakedets marching around closely followed by their ducklings/soldiers. And woe unto she who falls behind or out of line, because Mama Duck sure knows how to scold.

Secondly, the ability to wade through lake-size puddles is an important trait come winter-time in Israel. While we lack that nice oily sheen that keeps us dry, that does not stop us from standing, marching, running, and sitting in the rain as if being perpetually wet was the most natural state for a human being.

Thirdly, not only do 18 year old girls tend to eat like birds, but the army loves to feed us nothing but bread and will frequently regurgitate breakfast and serve it as dinner.

Okay, enough of that analogy. I am done with basic training and that is the exciting part. I have finished all of my tests, am now certified to carry a gun, and most importantly, I got my first piece of army bling- the awesome Air Force pin I put on my beret.

We had our ceremony on Monday (which I unfortunately have no pictures of), and I was named the Mitztayenet of our Machlaka. Which means, that of the 61 girls in my group, my mefakedets' all thought that I was the best soldier. And the coolest part was the girls all agreed and told me I deserved it. So at our Tekes (ceremony), I and the four girls chosen from the other Machlakas went up to the front, saluted the general of the base and received certificates and handshakes and "Good Job"s from the big man with all the knots on his shoulder. There was some embarrassment during practice while I tried to perfect the Israeli version of "Hut" in order to signal to all the girls when we should salute, but it all worked out in the end.

After that, we all swore ourselves to the army, first repeating the oath as a group, and then each individually being handed a gun and Tanach (Bible) and shouting "I swear!" to our Mem'Mem. I cannot even begin to describe how it felt to walk up there and shout my allegiance to the Israeli army. I cried, of course, because I was just so overwhelmed with emotion it had to come out somehow. At that moment I really became an Israeli soldier and all the running through the rain and crawling through the dirt and standing for hours in the sun- it was all worth that moment. I don't even know what I will be doing for the next year, but thats okay, because whatever it is, its going to be for the IDF and thats all that really matters.

I have to say that at that moment I also very much felt like a lone soldier and wished my parents were there so my mother could cheer so loudly I would blush and my father could watch us march around in formation and salute with our guns. My friends came to support me, but missed the whole ceremony (thus no pictures). They did however bring love and cookies and a much needed show of pride and emotional support.

Anyway, I am off for Shabbat and headed back on Sunday to hopefully find out what I will be doing for the next 11 months. I am thrilled to be home where I can shower alone and wash all my clothes and eat whatever I want whenever I want. And of course, so I can come online and catch up with everyone. Because even though its only been 2 1/2 weeks, it felt like months. Its crazy how life can change in such a short time.