The AK-47 in Israeli Service

[rafi]

Originally Posted by LoneRider

Nahal, that's like a foreign volunteers unit, right?

NAHAL infantry

MAHAL foreign volunteer program

[IDF50]

lots of immigrants ended up in the nahal cos they had a special programme for immigrants.thats how it was in the 80s at least.u served alongside israelis

[rafi]

Originally Posted by IDF50

lots of immigrants ended up in the nahal cos they had a special programme for immigrants.thats how it was in the 80s at least.u served alongside israelis

It is also easiest to train people for infantry. They have the lowest literacy needs. Israel has always been notorious for doing this.

Some of our biggest fashlahs in the War of Independence were a result of this policy.

[GB_FXST]

Originally Posted by IDF50

lots of immigrants ended up in the nahal cos they had a special programme for immigrants.thats how it was in the 80s at least.u served alongside israelis

A veritable tower of Babel of sorts…

In addition to Israelis of all backgrounds, we also had guys from:

Argentina
Australia
Austria
Brazil
Canada
Chile
England
France
Germany
Italy
Peru
South Africa
Uruguay
USA (California, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, New York)

[IDF50]

i feel bouchris,s famous refrain coming on

[GB_FXST]

Originally Posted by IDF50

i feel bouchris,s famous refrain coming on

Bisli, Choco, Kit-Kats, and Cokes … ah the days when you could eat empty calories with impunity .…

His funky van is indelibly etched in my mind …

I seem to recall reading some time ago that he got into some sort of trouble …

Anyhow, he and Rasar Banai add a lot of color to Mahane 80 …

[IDF50]

i was referring to his views on our gallic cousins

[GB_FXST]

Originally Posted by IDF50

i was referring to his views on our gallic cousins

Yeah that too; he was, shall we say, out spoken on certain issues ...

[rafi]

Banai?

During Lebanon II I had the pleasure of serving with his Royal Moustache.

We debated for hours whether we should allow him to have bullets for his M4. Fortunately the IDF is not like the US Military, and officers respect Sgt. Majors, but we hardly fear them.

But I will say this for the guy, in his own bizarre way he is a chick magnet. They just line up to be photographed with him.

The best part of this volunteer reserve unit is the variety of sadir units we get attached to. From Handasah Kravi to Magav to Tankim to Nahal Haredi, and others, it has been a real adventure.

[GB_FXST]

Originally Posted by rafi

Banai?

During Lebanon II I had the pleasure of serving with his Royal Moustache.

We debated for hours whether we should allow him to have bullets for his M4. Fortunately the IDF is not like the US Military, and officers respect Sgt. Majors, but we hardly fear them.

But I will say this for the guy, in his own bizarre way he is a chick magnet. They just line up to be photographed with him.

The best part of this volunteer reserve unit is the variety of sadir units we get attached to. From Handasah Kravi to Magav to Tankim to Nahal Haredi, and others, it has been a real adventure.

Banai evoked utter terror until we learned to appreciate his unique perspective on the world and the IDF … On the very last day of Tironut, he was out and about making all the to-be-graduates do various and sundry clean up tasks … He eventually came to my mahlacha (platoon), and when he realized that we were mostly Olim, he said that we had done enough, and told us to sit down and relax. The reprieve was short lived, however, as one of our mem-kafim (Sergeants) quickly reminded us that we were not yet done with basic …

The guy seems to be ageless …

[rafi]

It was very different to hang around with him as a fellow grown-up.

He is actually allot younger than given credit for, I think around 65.
There was a two page Maariv spread on him about 3 or 4 years ago and his work as a rather renouned farmer. It invoked thoughts of Ben Gurion washing dishes at Sde Boker.

I'm always amazed when I hear people speak of him in fear, as we first met when I was in my late 40s early 50s. To me he was the guy who made the coffee, had car problems and sat up all hours talking about zionism, family and solving the world problems with the rest of us. (Did you know he loves Orio cookies?) And yes, he has a deep respect for Olim.

But he certainly is an institution.

[GB_FXST]

Originally Posted by rafi

It was very different to hang around with him as a fellow grown-up.

He is actually allot younger than given credit for, I think around 65.
There was a two page Maariv spread on him about 3 or 4 years ago and his work as a rather renouned farmer. It invoked thoughts of Ben Gurion washing dishes at Sde Boker.

I'm always amazed when I hear people speak of him in fear, as we first met when I was in my late 40s early 50s. To me he was the guy who made the coffee, had car problems and sat up all hours talking about zionism, family and solving the world problems with the rest of us. (Did you know he loves Orio cookies?) And yes, he has a deep respect for Olim.

But he certainly is an institution.

No; but that is incontrovertible evidence that the man has good taste!

He would have been approx. 42 when I first meet him. Interesting; he seemed much older to me; older than my father, who was in his late 40's at that time …

[IDF50]

one of my garin stole his kumta whilst we were working in the stores at shmonim
the tache went ballistic and never got it back

[GB_FXST]

Originally Posted by IDF50

one of my garin stole his kumta whilst we were working in the stores at shmonim
the tache went ballistic and never got it back

If I am reading your post correctly to say that someone from your basic training platoon stole Sergeant Major Banai’s red paratrooper beret (which must be earned by completing a 90km hike), I can only say that that dude had a set of brass ones …

[scelli]

Originally Posted by GB_FXST

If I am reading your post correctly to say that someone from your basic training platoon stole Sergeant Major Banai’s red paratrooper beret (which must be earned by completing a 90km hike), I can only say that that dude had a set of brass ones …

Oh, so that's what he said!

I thought so, but a second opinion always helps.

[IDF50]

yep a true story

david blane abbott the best maggist youll ever see
and let me tell u that is unarguable
dont make me give u other examples of the mans abilities

[GB_FXST]

Originally Posted by IDF50

yep a true story

david blane abbott the best maggist youll ever see
and let me tell u that is unarguable
dont make me give u other examples of the mans abilities

Actually, those may make for some good stories ...

We need some politicians with your friend’s sense of daring and fearlessness …

It is hard to be a good Magist. It’s a heavy cumbersome weapon, requiring a lot of heavy and bulky ammunition and spare parts. As platoon point or fire support, the Magist has a complex role requiring initiative and intuition. I think it takes about a year of training to truly master it.

But, it is a very effective and powerful weapon. There is a reason that the Magist is on the Syrian sniper’s top five list of targets …

At any rate, I always considered myself an okay Magist. Segel (staff) must have held me in a bit higher regard as it was my pakal for pretty much my entire service.

[IDF50]

if u carried the mag throughout you must have been pretty good and pretty strong.maggists deserve a thread of there own
ive started one "mad maggists"

[GB_FXST]

Originally Posted by IDF50

if u carried the mag throughout you must have been pretty good and pretty strong.maggists deserve a thread of there own
ive started one "mad maggists"

Thanks … but you could also say it’s a lack of better sense …


Strength and stubbornness are good qualities for any pack animal or Magist …

[Mini14]

Take an AKM with synthetic furniture, pop a Krebs ghost ring sight on it; paint the front sight post a neon color and it will give the M16 a run for accuracy. I'll take my AK/Mini14 anyday over an M16 rifle, gas piston beats gas tube; even our AR15A2 rifle-fanboy admits the SKS/AK is superior.