Two
weeks ago I started my 3 and a half month long course to train to become a
combat fitness instructor. Our base is placed in an institute for physical
education and fitness located in Netanya about a half an hour north of Tel
Aviv. It is a beautiful location with an amazing view of the beach and the base
itself is full of amazing facilities. There are around 120 soldiers in the
course- 20 boys and 100 girls. We are all split up in to tzvatim which includes
around 20 people. When we started the course we met our tzevet and our mefakedet
(commander).
If you
ask any former IDF soldier for a tip before enlisting in the army they would
probably tell you to never ever ever volunteer. I was told this many times by
many people and I still haven’t learned how to stop volunteering. The first
second I met my tzevet our mefakedet asked for a volunteer before she even knew
our names. After realizing that everyone shot their hands up the minute she
asked I reluctantly and hesitantly put my hand up as well. She looked in the
complete opposite direction and then out of nowhere pointed to me and asked for
my name. She then said I need to change uniform and go do kitchen duty for the
whole first day of the course. So…that was a bummer and I think I finally
learned why one should never volunteer.
The
first week we had a physical test that is called the Bar Or. It includes 86 sit
ups, 48 push ups, and 2k run that you have to do in a certain amount of time.
All soldiers in the IDF do this test a couple times throughout their basic
training or course in order to keep track of their physical shape and see if
they are improving. I passed the test but definitely need to improve and
attempt to get more points on my next Bar Or. We learned 4 different types of
work outs so far the first week which include different types of push ups, sit
ups, and leg exercises. Our mefakedet leads the exercise for us and then
teaches us how we would go about teaching it. This week they assigned each
soldier in the course one of the four workouts that we have to learn in order
to teach to our tzevet next week. I was assigned what is called emun gmishut
which is a stretching and flexibility workout. I was a bit disappointed and
stressed when I found out because this is the only one of the four workouts
that requires the leader to talk the whole time in order to explain how to do
each stress and which muscles the stretches work out. For Israelis it might be
simple but for me when I am still improving on my Hebrew, it’ll definitely be a
challenge.
This
week we started learning the curriculum for the course starting with two
lessons on Anatomy. Normally, the basics of anatomy wouldn’t be too difficult
to understand and study, but again, in Hebrew it makes it more of a challenge. Once
I get to know all of the words in Hebrew it’ll get easier but for now it is a
bit of a struggle. On a positive note, the mefakedet was teaching us the words
in Hebrew and also said the science words in English as well. One of the
Israeli soldiers asked if we are going to have to know the English words for
the test. Her answer was that the English words will be worth bonus points…that
ensures me that if anything at least I’ll get the bonus points!
So far
I am really enjoying the course although I know it will probably be the hardest
part of my service. I am looking forward to a challenge while learning and
getting in shape…more to come soon!
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