Even though it is mandatory, I was still proud to start my military service. I had been protected by soldiers since my birth. Everywhere I went, I could see a soldier dressed in their olive uniform and rifle. I knew that they kept my family and I safe. Now, it was my turn to contribute.
I even knew in my heart from the beginning how I wanted to contribute. Krav Maga had become my passion and I knew I had the qualifications that would make me a good candidate to be an instructor, and that it was the best way for me to serve.
Therefore, I requested to train as an army Krav Maga instructor as soon as I began the process of joining the military. In Israel, this process starts at age sixteen and a half, where candidates get interviewed for what they want to do in their service. I brought diplomas for G2 (high intermediate rank) and I told my interviewer that I was headed for civilian instructor training in the summer. I made it clear, this was my chosen path.
The army turned me down. They decided based on my high profile score, I would be a great combatant.
A high profile score means I was in excellent physical and mental health, with no conditions that would prevent me from serving in the field. It also meant I had good moral qualities that would mean I could be trusted to serve honorably. I got a 97. In Israel, no one gets 100, we can always improve. It keeps us humble
The army needed more combatants than Krav Maga instructors. So I was sent to become a combatant.
I really felt my heart was sending me in a different direction. I sent the army more evidence and documents showing I was really suited to becoming a Krav Maga instructor, but I got the same answer. I was headed for combat.
Becoming a Soldier
Well, it wasn’t what I wanted, but I was determined to serve with honor. I passed through rigorous selections and chosen for the Kfir 900th infantry Brigade, and was sent to boot camp.
During the first week of boot camp, we recruits were told to report the next morning for training at an appointed hour.
The next day, the full platoon (around thirty soldiers) gathered. We waited in the formal position for instruction, hands behind our back and chest out. We were dressed in “half uniform” which meant army pants, sneakers, and a white shirt with our name written on it.
The instructor walked in, and he was a terrifying polar opposite. He wore a black shirt and dark sunglasses. In contrast to our required clean-shaven faces, he had a full mustache and beard that showed his level of authority.
He just stared at us for a moment, without moving. We were all so intimidated, you could cut the tension with a chopstick. He finally introduced himself as “Instructor” and began the lesson.
I was sure my Krav Maga background would give me an advantage. I was so very wrong. Despite being very good at the endless sprints due to my speed, I was still one of the smallest guys and it was brutally hard. I was struggling like everyone else, and felt the bruises from the first class for days to come.
Army Krav Maga wasn’t about angles and long discussions on strategy, but on intelligent brute force. In Civilian Krav Maga, you run away from the danger. Now, I would have to be the one to not only run towards danger, but put my life on the line to neutralize it.
I remember our second class vividly because it shaped who I am today as a teacher. Our commander Yair put on the same training clothing as us and began training alongside us. Everything we had to do (endless push-ups, sprints) he did with us. Yair wasn’t a big strong guy, and he allowed himself to be humbled by training with his own soldiers, many of whom were bigger than him. We all looked up to Y, and it meant so much to see him enduring alongside us. He wasn’t asking of us anything he wasn’t asking of himself.
It made me realize that being an instructor or commander was about setting a personal example. In fact, two minutes after Yair joined the class, two other commanders, Mor and Ariel, were inspired to join as well. This was the power of true leadership, which I took with me in every class I taught afterwards.
Out in the Field
After lots more training, I was sent into the field. I served for about a year and a half as where I served as a special operations combatant. My time was spent on patrol in sensitive areas to keep the peace, as well as executing arrest warrants for criminals. I dealt with stones, Molotov cocktails and crowds who always seemed on the brink of rioting. My duty was clear, to protect all innocent life.
It was everything my Krav Maga training, both military and civilian, prepared me for. It was stressful and terrifying at times, boring and lonely at other times. There were constant demands to be disciplined and courageous at all times, especially in the face of provocation. My uniform made me a target and I knew I had to be ready to defend myself as well as those around.
I could be called upon to help arrest a terrorist, and I would have to be completely professional. It didn’t matter that these people may have murdered innocent civilians, they were human beings and I could not allow personal feelings or anger to enter into the equation.
I am proud to say I served well, and was given a great honor. I was selected to attend the courses to become a commander and officer. This should have been the moment every soldier dreams of, being recognized for promotion.
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Fun fact: In the US army, the “formal position for instruction, hands behind our back and chest out” is actually called “parade rest.” I have no idea why, as it doesn’t sound like much parading or resting happens.
What is it called in Hebrew?