This post is the second part to Conversations With An Anarchist Soldier. If you have not read it yet, then please do so, even briefly. Otherwise, this post will not make much sense to you.
My mom called a friend, who knew a rather high ranking officer, in one of the bigger military bases in central Israel. He gave me a quick interview, a private one, and let me join his little section of army life.
Today, I would refer to the job I got as "assistant clerk to officer of education and parties." It sounds like a fun title, but I can guarantee that it was nothing more than pushing papers and missing on sleeping and living time. Basically, I was drafted to co-clerk the desk of some less-important officer.
Being a computers specialist by hobby, I volunteered to do technical jobs for them. I even got the rare opportunity to work on their public-relations website, which entertained a well known actress, commonly known as "Roni Superstar." Most folk do not believe this real story, anyway, but I can testify to spending alone time with her. She was good company. :-D And I will say no more.
My five(5) month service as a clerk was heavy on my conscious. I went for a jog almost daily, just to keep my energy levels up. Waking up in the early mornings, sometimes near dawn, just to serve a meaningless purpose in the army, was far from fulfillment. I was forced to shave and cut my hair short. I wore the same green uniform that everybody else wore. It felt like pretending to be real soldiers. The army is more than just a duty in Israel. It is an ideology and a social trend. If you are not in, then you are out.
Finally, I could not ignore the fact that I was wasting my life away, due to cowardice and conformity. I stopped forcing my superfluous exercise regime and went to speak with the army shrink. That is how most people get out of the army. You simply insist that you are not suitable for service, psychologically. It has become a sort of art form in itself, in our country; but, in reality it is often just being extremely real and open in front of that stranger, who calls himself a doctor. That is what I did, and after a month's time, he accepted that I was not suitable to be a soldier boy.
It is true, you know. I am far from suitable to serve under others. I am a rebel by nature; unable to live a lie and treat life as if it were a game. I am made of what all entrepreneurs and adventurers are made from: Guts!
I imagine that most who fantasize about army life, dream about intense combat situations of Bad versus Good. Maybe, even those who would like to support the soldiers as clerks, dream of a job full of justice and loyalty. Those things, whether you are an infantry soldier or a clerk, are very rare in reality. Most of the work is just dragging yourself daily doing menial chores. It is cheap and socially popular slavery in the name of security. Nothing less, nothing more. There are no heroes in the military; only regular occupied people.
So, while I do admit to meeting some very interesting people during my service, none of whom have I kept contact with, this confession is as accurate as I can write. My purpose in sharing this with my readers is to show another perspective on life. My own unique perspective. It is why I write this blog.
These couple of posts are very special to me, because I had not planned on sharing my rather miserable history in the army; it is not something to recollect without discomfort. Then, in doing so, I have made this blog - and you my readers - that much more part of who I am.
Please, feel free to ask me questions in the comments! I will do my best to expand on all these events.
My mom called a friend, who knew a rather high ranking officer, in one of the bigger military bases in central Israel. He gave me a quick interview, a private one, and let me join his little section of army life.
Today, I would refer to the job I got as "assistant clerk to officer of education and parties." It sounds like a fun title, but I can guarantee that it was nothing more than pushing papers and missing on sleeping and living time. Basically, I was drafted to co-clerk the desk of some less-important officer.
Being a computers specialist by hobby, I volunteered to do technical jobs for them. I even got the rare opportunity to work on their public-relations website, which entertained a well known actress, commonly known as "Roni Superstar." Most folk do not believe this real story, anyway, but I can testify to spending alone time with her. She was good company. :-D And I will say no more.
My five(5) month service as a clerk was heavy on my conscious. I went for a jog almost daily, just to keep my energy levels up. Waking up in the early mornings, sometimes near dawn, just to serve a meaningless purpose in the army, was far from fulfillment. I was forced to shave and cut my hair short. I wore the same green uniform that everybody else wore. It felt like pretending to be real soldiers. The army is more than just a duty in Israel. It is an ideology and a social trend. If you are not in, then you are out.
Finally, I could not ignore the fact that I was wasting my life away, due to cowardice and conformity. I stopped forcing my superfluous exercise regime and went to speak with the army shrink. That is how most people get out of the army. You simply insist that you are not suitable for service, psychologically. It has become a sort of art form in itself, in our country; but, in reality it is often just being extremely real and open in front of that stranger, who calls himself a doctor. That is what I did, and after a month's time, he accepted that I was not suitable to be a soldier boy.
It is true, you know. I am far from suitable to serve under others. I am a rebel by nature; unable to live a lie and treat life as if it were a game. I am made of what all entrepreneurs and adventurers are made from: Guts!
I imagine that most who fantasize about army life, dream about intense combat situations of Bad versus Good. Maybe, even those who would like to support the soldiers as clerks, dream of a job full of justice and loyalty. Those things, whether you are an infantry soldier or a clerk, are very rare in reality. Most of the work is just dragging yourself daily doing menial chores. It is cheap and socially popular slavery in the name of security. Nothing less, nothing more. There are no heroes in the military; only regular occupied people.
So, while I do admit to meeting some very interesting people during my service, none of whom have I kept contact with, this confession is as accurate as I can write. My purpose in sharing this with my readers is to show another perspective on life. My own unique perspective. It is why I write this blog.
These couple of posts are very special to me, because I had not planned on sharing my rather miserable history in the army; it is not something to recollect without discomfort. Then, in doing so, I have made this blog - and you my readers - that much more part of who I am.
Please, feel free to ask me questions in the comments! I will do my best to expand on all these events.
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