Lionsfan said:
What's your favorite ice cream?
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Vanilla with pieces of Oreo cookies.
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Barbas said:
Well, this was unexpected...regarding the IDF, tell us about the rifle you use in your duties. What's its proper name? Is it reliable? Also, do you have any pleasant memories you wish to share from your training?
EDIT: Ooh, actually , Lionsfan reminded me to ask: are there any things you can get at popular fast food chains (e.g. McDonald's) that are unique to Israel?
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I use the M16A4, but that's just because my unit is too lazy to sign me on an M4. I'm not bothered with it. The M16 is lighter, which is a life saver whenever you need to crawl around with the gun. There are three versions of the M16 - the long, short, and shorter. We use the short, the long had been recently retired and the shorter is for the Tankists.
My Regiment (Kfir) together with the Paratroopers are the only ones in the infantry branch who hadn't come around to their senses and embraced the Tavor (CTAR-21). Then again, it might be that the bull-up rifle isn't suited for our general use. It's usually safe to listen to the red berets, but who am I to tell? I'm just a sergeant.
My training doesn't have any pleasant memories with me, sorry. It's all dirt eating, dirt groveling and sweating blood. We were geographically in the hottest place on Israel, which placed at around 46 degrees Celsius in the shade at average. Some days it came to 50 - you could have cooked an egg on the sidewalk.
Hmm... McDonalds has the McKebab, but I usually avoid eating there when I can. When it comes down to it, I prefer eating at a good Shawarma joint over McDonalds. A lot of meat, pickles, onions, and as spicy as it gets, my steaming hot laffa bread will make your eyes water... Hmmm.... Shawarma.
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Zontar said:
What is your general opinion on the settlements and settlers, and the image they give to your country in the eyes of the world? Little serious compared to the other questions, but I'm genuinely curious, since most Israelis I've met are fiercely opposed to them for one reason or another.
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When I was in high-school, this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itamar_attack) happened. It was a terrible massacre. Our computer teacher slipped and accidentally spent ten minutes discussion the ordeal. Being the innocent little lefty I was, I asked - "Well, why are they there in the first place?".
Now I'm protecting them from the locals.
I'm torn. Before my service I never knew them as 'people'. They were just this mystic force who would foolishly set up shop somewhere they KNOW would get evicted in the future. Some of them continue building, continue provoking the locals just for the lols. That's how I felt back then - but now? They're just people. I live in the oldest neighborhoods in Israel - the first colonies came around a hundred and fifty years ago (Petah Tikva and Rishon LeZion). This place is a hundred and twenty years old. You can't even imagine it had been built on some obscure Arab village, its land grabbed from elsewhere... I live next to a mixed city, that of Haifa, and the place is just fantastic. I don't understand how you could separate the two people so much.
They're mostly good people - like any other. They invite us into their homes for the Sabbath, give out encouragements and always smile. When I get back past the green line people grumble at me on the bus or train. Lefties come at us to protest, when I've been in three different occasions when I stopped terrorists from going over with knives or guns with them. Would they protest when a bomb goes off in center Tel-Aviv? Oh, it would be in the news for a week, yet when three arabs stab settlers to death it's only merely mentioned, as if it's not really happening in Israel... The media shapes public opinion, but public opinion is overwhelmingly in favor for the settlers (unlike that of the media).
...I just want to get back home and away from all of that mess.
The world had already condemned us countless times. It doesn't matter that the other side sins even more. It doesn't matter we own it, and it is the homeland of the Jewish people - a friend of mine said that the same laws apply to Hebron and Tzfad (Safed). We're marked - the settlements are illegal, those living in them are religious fanatics and the Israeli government is eeeeevil. Then again, we wouldn't be liked either way, occupied territories or none.
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Sleekit said:
how's your social life ?
seriously.
i wanna know if there's some lethal hunny looking out for you down the canteen
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I don't have a girlfriend. It's hard to maintain one when you've got so little free time.
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dyre said:
Hooray, I have lots of questions that I never got around to looking up.
A general question about militaries that someone from the IDF can probably answer: how does the relationship between a senior NCO and a lieutenant work? I mean, it always seemed odd to me that the guy fresh out of the officer's academy has higher authority over the guy who has been working alongside the troops for years...
Is it just me or does the Israeli government always make cryptic statements like "well, we're not saying it's not true, but we're not confirming it either" when asked about things like nukes and cyberattacks and bombing raids?
I have a friend who used to be in the IDF who I engage in friendly debate over the Israel/Palestine issue, and he seemed to be unaware that the PLO formerly recognized the State of Israel back with the Oslo Accords...is that not general knowledge over there?
Lastly, how did you guys manage to turn the rather nice looking AK-47 into the butt-ugly Galil?
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Depends on the people in uniform. A lieutenant fresh from academy is looked upon as a young, inexperienced hot-head, and they usually are. NCOs under their service often have to teach them things (how it really goes on in real life). Sometimes they try to reign them in too harshly, and you get into a pickle - the officer can screw over his soldiers, but the soldiers can royally fuck him regardless (if they come together). If there's chemistry between them it's all sunshine and lollipops. If not... prepare for the worse.
The Israeli government is in a habit of not admitting to acts of aggression on its neighbors, since, y'know, it's acts of aggression not during a war.
The PLO recognized Israel in the Oslo Accords (but not as "a jewish country"). The Oslo Accords are a worthless piece of trash nowadays. It also said that the PLO can't change its status (to that of statehood) while the negotiations go on, and the two sides pissed on the agreement a thousand and one times. Plus, the demand for recognizing Israel as "A Jewish Country" is on purpose - it would put the PLO leadership at odds with the rest of the freaking Arab and Muslim world that hates our guts... Even though Arafat did that. They're still traumatized from the Kuwait exodus.
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TKhanman said:
How do you feel about Palestine and Palestinians? Also, what is life like in Israel?
(pretty generic questions I know)
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On one hand - Jewish Homeland - on the other - a lot of Arabs. Is there a middle-ground?
Well, Hagit, are you willing to have thirteen children? No? then we're in a pickle.
Life in Israel is schizophrenic. It's an upbeat, sunny, middle-eastern country on the med with lively people - and also a place where you're likely to get stabbed for a parking space or killed by a marauding murderous arab with a hatchet.
You should be more specific if you want better answers... there's just so much to cover.
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Shock and Awe said:
Professional Interest,
How would you rate the professionalism/proficiency of those who are just serving their terms versus that of those who are making the IDF a career?
How do you think your average IDF soldier rank up against that of other armies such as the Egyptian, Jordanian, or those of western countries like the US, Germany, and France? As far as training and proficiency go anyway.
Is the Tavor a good rifle? In comparison to the M16s? You guys have a lot of the A2s if I recall correctly.
What job(I don't know the Israeli equivalent of MOS/AFSC) are you serving in? Infantry? Armor? Supply? Intel?
How often do IDF soldiers train with their weapons? What about those who are in non-combat arms?
Is there any serious service rivalry between the Land, Air, and Sea branches of the IDF?
Do you think the IDF would be ready for an extended major conflict with another country such as Egypt or Iran seeing as Israel's strategy for most of it's large wars has been massive reserve call ups. Unless something has changed since the 73' war.
How well do women perform in the IDF? Is it common for them to be sent into combat on purpose or are they kept in support roles? I'm woefully ignorant on this topic.
How do you rate your equipment on average?
Personal Interest
What do you think about Israel's policy concerning settlements in the West Bank?
Do you prefer a one or two state solution?
Do you think that the situation in Syria may boil over into Israel more then it already has?
How do you reconcile your personal Atheism(if I recall correctly) and the fact you do fight for a Jewish state? Is the simple fact that it is the most modern and enlightened country in the region enough?
I could go on, but I think I've already asked enough!
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Officers in Infantry go through unimaginable difficulties in their training. They are supposed to lead their soldiers, and are the best at what they do. They are most fit, best trained with all the weapons they come by and know their tactics well. That said, officers aren't always god-like creatures that kill enemies with their gaze. They can be cowards, stupid, heartless and stubborn. Blokes doing their 3 years vary in fitness, proficiency with their arms and their devotion to getting shot at (or pelted with rocks). Sometimes we're better or as good as any officers, other times we're nervous wrecks that just want to get this shit over with. Overall, the rate of deaths (officers to non officers) is much higher in the Israeli army than in others. They are taught to charge first, and usually get hit with the first bullet.
We're better than our neighbors. Regarding modern western armies like that of Germany and the US, I'm not sure. I don't know much about those armies, their training, equipment, etc.
I haven't gotten around to fucking around with the Tavor. Sorry, mate. Can't help you there.
I'm Infantry. I'm a combat medic, meaning that I get to patch up any arab I beat up or shoot at - huzzah.
Before we leave the base for home there's a whole day where we screw around with our weapons, exercise and patch up our equipment (if we haven't gotten around to it). We do a more thorough job between each new placement (we rotate our sectors, for example I was in Bethlehem, then in Egypt, then in Qalqilya).
Not that I know of... we're glad the air and navy bombs the targets before we charge in, it makes our jobs easier. That said, we don't like other land units in peacetime - tankists (Armored), Batteries (Artillery) and Palhatch (Rescuers) give us a bad name...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57yj6DOAaRs
That's our armored divisions, if I'm not mistaken.
Do you know what we would do in their situation?
We kick their teeth in.
We have a love-hate relationship with the special units. They're awesome and we want to be like them, but they're sometimes pompous and take all of the glory.
I personally adore the border police. They do the dirtiest job imaginable. A lot of my friends share the same opinion.
Israel can't go into conflict with Iran, but it can crush Egypt or Syria. The problem would be knowing how far to go and what goals to achieve.
Women do an alright job - a few stand up with the men, serve in combat units, even infantry. They're often a sight for sore eyes. *grins* It depends on the person and what she wants to do in the army. Of course it's easier to stay in support - you serve less time in the army, and have a much easier time there. It's an option you can volunteer for. I didn't volunteer for infantry, I just got there.
Hmm... My equipment is mostly a US Army surplus store, so I would say roughly 6 out of 10, with the US being 9 out of 10.
I dislike Israel's policy in the west bank. I don't support further expansion, but I can't imagine pulling back so many people and leaving everything behind. We did it once and got Hamas&missiles, not peace.
A three state solution, where the three states are Israel, Jordan and Gaza. I like innovation, sue me.
The situation in Syria will boil over. Hezbollah is getting territory there and opening another frontier with us (Golan Heights) and the local militias don't really like us. I doubt it would explode, but we're worryingly following developments over there.
I am an atheist. I fight for my family and friends and their right to live in a Jewish country. I don't mind the paradox - I am not an 'anti-theist', and I am on good terms with religious friends. I dislike the faith shoved down my throat, but respect Judaism and see it as a part of my identity. *points to Jabotinsky*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ze'ev_Jabotinsky
I like his ideas very much.
