Wonderful 2 weeks volunteering in TSAHAL

[philtang]

Hello !
i am just coming back from 2 weeks in Tsahal with a group of non-jewish volunteers! just amazing and extraordinary experience! i recommand it to everybody. Very good feeling and welcome everywhere; we did not work much but sometimes hard! Exchanges with soldiers, NCO and Officers were excellent and friendly.The refectory was the right place to meet and discuss with them (and food was delicious!)
Sorry but i am not allowed to tell you where i was and what i have done!...
The 2 female corporals in charge of us organised plenty of activities : evenings, tour in another base (border guard unit near the separation wall), week-end in jerusalem.... we got a lot of attention and presents from the army (i could complete my IDF berets collection!)
I decided that every year i will organise a group to dive into the IDF atmosphere!
Shalom velehitrahote
Bonjour !

Je viens de rentrer de 2 semaines de volontariat dans Tsahal, une expérience unique et sensationnelle. Ce programme développé par le général Davidi a pour but d'incorporer au sein d'unités des volontaires de tout âge du monde entier afin de limiter le rappel des réservistes et d'aider les appelés du contingent dans leurs tâches de base (nettoyage des armes, des blindés, pliage des parachutes, préparation des paquetages et matériels...). Le renfort moral aux troupes reste aussi primordial.
Les volontaires ne connaissent leur affectation que le jour de leur arrivée: ils peuvent tomber près des frontières, dans une base de paras ou dans une unité de logistique, ce qui fut notre cas! mais ce n'était pas sans intérêt car notre base se trouvait au sein d'un immense complexe militaire comprenant de nombreuses unités: B......, notre affectation est le centre de sélection principal du pays, tous les appelés passent leurs premier jour ici, toutes les unités et matériels utilisés y sont présenté! Un régal pour un "fana mili" comme moi!
Les maîtres du camp sont 2 adjudants-chefs responsables du casernement et de la chaîne d'incorporation; les autres gradés et officiers sont tous appelés, les officiers supérieurs peu visibles. 2 caporaux féminins francophones étaient nos guides et restaient à notre disposition en permanence.
Nous devions travailler environ 6 heures par jour à diverses tâches notamment à la préparation des paquetages ou à la réfection des tentes de mobilisation. Les repas (exellents!) sont pris en commun avec les bidasses dans un réfectoire , véritable lieu de communion avec les soldats de Tsahal. Toujours à souligner l'extraordinaire beauté des soldates qu'elles soient d'origine russe, ethiopienne ou orientale!
Les caporaux avaient la charge d'organiser des veillées, des conférences et des sorties pour nous: visite de musées militaires et d'autres bases ; nous avons été reçu dans un poste avancé de la Police des frontières chargée de la protection du fameux mur de séparation: un accueil mémorable trés festif ! A noter que ce corps militaire (sorte de GM) est le seul à incorporer en son sein toutes les minorités orientales du pays: circassiens, druzes, musulmans, chrétiens, bédouins)
L'ambiance est évidemment trés différente des armées occidentales, beaucoup plus fraternelle et conviviale (ex:les conscrits appellent leurs gradés par leur prénom!)
Nous avons rencontré de nombreux jeunes soldats nouveaux immigrants de France qui trouvaient l'atmosphère des banlieues parisiennes de plus en plus irresponsable pour eux!
Certains étaient trés emus quand nous leur faisions savoir qu'aucun du groupe de Lyon n'était juif!
Bref une expérience extraordinaire ouverte à tous et que je compte renouveler en 2009 en tant que que responsable de groupe, avis aux amateurs!
Shalom véléhitraote

[philtang]

i was so proud to wear the IDF uniform!

[tanks_alot]

Was it through the Sar-El progrem? either way, thanks for your contribution!

[philtang]

In France there are SAR-EL correspondants in every large cities;
anyone who has been once in this program can form and be in charge of a group

[Noiro]

Great pictures - thanks for showing them.

[philtang]

i write this pro-israel article in our local newspaper which is quite amazing, french medias being so scared to do that ! (i guess they received a lot of insulting letters!)

[BrittleSteel]

Thank you so much for your contribution! (btw any interesting captions for those photos?)

[Israel48]

Awesome pictures! Good work!

[sabradan]

Thanks for your contribution! Judging by your photos, you were either on an artillery base or a navy base...

[rafi]

Just another voice of thanks.

During the war I watched people like you work 18 to 20 hour days, and when you saw us coming back into base at midnight from patrol, you ran to bring us cold drinks, see if we needed to replace uniforms, and so on.

Don't ever think that the soldiers who met you and benefitted from your help will ever forget it.


PS A special thanks to the guy who wangled me the new boots!

[[MakkabI]]

Mate, Thank you so much for your contribution!

Awesome photos!

Thanks again mate :)

[[MakkabI]]

Just a question, are there many Non Jews volunteers in TSAHAL?

[rafi]

Originally Posted by [MakkabI]

Just a question, are there many Non Jews volunteers in TSAHAL?

Yes, there are.

[OttawaLoneWolf]

holy !! is that YARDERN?

She was my majuha too ?

do u have her email ? what a freaking SMALL WORLD

[philtang]

here is a photo of yarden decorating me officialy of the volunteer insignias

[Bigduke1]

Shalom.

a few days ago i heard by coincidece of the Sar-El Programm and this fascinating chance. I tried to get all possble information and i am glad to found this forum. I hope there will be the chance to join the Sar-el Programm in the next year. As i am a reservist in the german airforce i hope that joining the IDF, as a non-combat volunteer will cause no problems with the german government. I will trie to get infos about that, too.

Does anyone know if there is the chance to choose the IDF base before starting to israel? Do you think there will be the chance, at least in spare times to join the regular comarades in som military related things? (i would like the chance to qualify for a shooting badge or things like that)

Is it allowed to wear the insignia of the unit you are attached to? As a matter of "esprit de corps"

Hope to see you in israel, soon

bist wihes from germany
Frank
Captain, German airforce reserve

[philtang]

You will discover your affectation base only in the coach leading you to it! you can work in a commando base or ,bad luck, in a logistic one! you will not touch a rifle but to clean it! if you make a good friend among the warrant officers you can get the possibility to shoot exceptionally....You will wear the same basic uniform and nobody will object to carry the regimental beret and tag
anyhow you will feel well, eat well and soldiers will be grateful to you! legally you are considered as a civilian , so no problem with your government! have a lot of fun... you will have the feeling to be in a summer camp!

[Bigduke1]

...sounds wonderful. Will you go for another trip?

cheers
Frank

[philtang]

i plan to organize another volunteering with 10 people on march 2009, when the weather is ok ! (as a german you will be affected to a canadian or american group)

[Bigduke1]

... i am thinking of going in the first decade, too. time enough to prepare in isreal military history and maybe catching up som hwebrew as well. I m lookin forward to it. !!