Year In Review 2010

As 2010 comes to a close, here is a year in review - a complete year spent in the IDF. It started with the completion of my basic training and the start of tank training. I was chosen to be a tank loader - the job that I wanted. I spent the next 2 months learning my job and getting to shoot guns mounted from tanks. I even got the opportunity to drive the tank one day! I received my black beret in completion of this training. In advanced training we did interesting work - learning how to operatethe tank as an entire crew - commander, gunner, loader and driver working together. In addition to getting more familiar with the tanks, I became well acquainted with the outdoors, the desert and the summer heat. At the end of training my tank crew was awarded the outstanding crew within the company. With the completion of all the training, we finally received our warriors pin - indicating that we had become fully qualified combat soldiers in the IDF! I even received the honor of having the company commander give me his personal pin!

After trainig it was time to put that training to 'good' use, where I would guard the border with Lebanon from July until the end of December. All that intense training did not prepare me for the boredom that I was to face. My wide range of responsibilities included standing for extended periods of time, staying awake and maintaining the tanks. Most of the last 6 months was spent outisde, and after a quick estimation, about half of the days (3 months) I spent sleeping in a tank. It's hard to believe that 1/4 of the year was spent sleeping inside a tank.

In October, I had the chance to visit home for 2 weeks - the first time that I had been home in a year and a half.

2011 should be another interesting year. With a bit more than 3 more months left in the army, it should make for some more intersting times as now we will start training in the Golan Heights. With my release in April, it should be interesting to see what life outside the army has in store for me.

Thanks to my loyal readers of the korner. Hope you enjoyed my last year of blogging and will continue to read what life has in store for me in 2011. Don't feel shy to share the blog with friends and family.

Wishing everyone a successful 2011!