‘Soldier A’ serves in an elite, undercover combat unit in the Border Guard along Israel’s southern border, came from southern California beach life for IDF service.
‘A.’, ‘My father and grandfather imbued me with the virtue of IDF service’
When he was 12, “A.” left Israel with his family and moved to Malibu in southern California. After finishing high school, and a little over a year after he started studying in university, A. decided to head back to Israel and join the army. Now, he serves in the Israel Defense Forces in an elite undercover unit along Israel’s southern borders abutting the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
“This is something everyone should do,” says undercover border guard, an Israeli native who moved back from California to serve in the IDF – Photo: Courtesy
“I know that this was no small sacrifice, but I see it as a mission, I am responsible for my country’s security,” A. explained. “Everyone looks at me like I did something huge, but I feel this is something everyone should do. My father and my grandfather served in the naval commandos and imbued me, through their educating, with the insight and sense of virtue to serve in the army.”
After A. landed in Israel and settled, he headed to the recruitment office. There, he decided to forfeit the pilot’s course, choosing instead the undercover border guard course. He completed Border Police basic training with honors, and movedonto pre-draft team building, the undercover border guard course, and finished his training to join the unit.
These days, he is fulfilling his dream serving in an elite combat unit.
The Border Police’s undercover unit along the southern borders is a tactical unit whose operations are classified. The unit works to prevent terrorism in hostile territory using camouflage and assimilating into the area.
“It is an amazing unit and I really feel a sense of family there,” A. said proudly. He is expected to begin a commander’s course in a few months, and sees a future for himself in the officers corps. “This is my home, my future,” he concluded.
View original Israel Hayom publication at: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=9935
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