#proud idf alumna

[laineystein]

Throwback to a younger me in tzahal.

I had no idea what was ahead of me in terms of wearing this uniform and serving my country. Endlessly proud and grateful for our army - today and everyday 🦊💜

[laineystein]

What’s been really crazy to me during this whole thing is to watch people that clearly have no knowledge of the IDF and how strict our ethics are when it comes to conduct comment as if Of Course This Was Israel. There is a belief by some Israelis that we treat soldiers that violate codes of conduct worse than we treat terrorists. We take misconduct so seriously. We are trained to avoid civilian casualty at every possible cost. *If* this was somehow caused by the IDF, the IDF will take responsibility and the issue will be addressed. Soldiers and their commanders will be held accountable. Training will occur as a result, in hopes of it never happening again.

Now we had an incident at Shereen’s funeral that displayed Israeli police acting in a less than favorable way. All I’m seeing are Israelis decrying the behavior. Even though we could get into what caused that to happen which - as usual - is not a black and white issue.

What do we hear from P*lestinians when an Israeli gets an axe to their heads in front of their children? Silence or celebration.

Israel is not perfect because no country is perfect. But the way this has been spun to once again vilify Israel is absolutely disgusting. This is blood libel.

[laineystein]

this "idf chick" is the coolest, I said what I said.

Much love🤍🫡

Thank you!! 🥰🤍

There are for sure worse things to be known for!

That’s the funny part. To them it’s an insult and to me it’s one of the things I’m most proud of.

[laineystein]

They grow up so fast 🥹

[laineystein]

Facebook reminded me what I was doing 12 (TWELVE!!!) years ago 😅

Guys I am so old

[laineystein]

I have a lot of people reach out to me on here asking about making Aliyah. I am not an expert - I was born with my citizenship. What I can say is this:

The ability to make aliyah is granted by Hashem but it is secured by the IDF. Olim have a place to go because of the sacrifices made by the men and women that serve in our armed forces. Israel would fail to exist without the IDF. We owe them everything. So please remember that when contemplating whether or not to make Israel your home. Chayalim have died for your ability to live freely in your homeland.

🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱

[laineystein]

zionism is just manifest destiny. nobody deserves to live in an open air prison no matter what hamas has done. please rethink your worldview. israel is a beautiful country but palestine could be too if it wasn't under constant occupation by the IDF. it is not israelis vs palestinians but IDF vs palestinians

“Please rethink your worldview”

BRB guys, off to stop being Israeli.

Yalla BYE ✌🏼

[laineystein]

Yalla BYE 🇮🇱

I’ll say it again for those of you still not listening: Never Again is Now.

[laineystein]

Had the best morning dropping off care packages and food to some of our Givati chayalim. What an honor - my heart is so full! Thank you, Hashem!

🦊💜🌵

[laineystein]

And that’s how it’s done.

[laineystein]

It’s a good day to piss off an antisemite 🇮🇱✊🏼

[laineystein]

IDF’s paratroopers giving me Toccoa vibes #iykyk

[laineystein]

can you serve in the idf more than once? like if you did mandatory service and then decided wanted to do something else in the idf, could you transfer?

Kind of!

Most able-bodied Jewish/Druze/Circassian Israeli’s are required to do their service in some capacity. Most go the IDF route but there are Sheirut Leumi programs for those who abstain for religious reasons or maybe aren’t healthy enough to be in the military. Those years, whether IDF or sheirut leumi, are compulsory. If you want to remain with the IDF after your conscription ends you certainly can but at that point it’s a job/career.

This is going to seem long winded but bear with me because I promise it’s all useful to answering the question:

So for the IDF, there are tests/training required if you want to be in specific units. Everyone goes through 00 level training — tironot or “basic training”. From there you have flexibility (based on your initial physical, psych evals, interviews, etc.) to join certain units. But you don’t necessarily have a choice. When you draft you do fill out a questionnaire that essentially tries to see what your preferences are. The SSDB then uses your stats and preferences to pick a good unit for you. There are also basic staffing needs to consider. From there, based on your unit, you enter different levels of training. Obviously the more specialized your unit, the more training. But mostly the training is just meant to prepare you for your compulsory service.

If you finish your conscription and want to remain in the IDF but enter a different unit you go through more tests and then more training. It’s not really a transfer at that point because beyond your basic training it is a whole different set of skills you’re learning. At that point it’s a job. Your pay is better, you don’t have to live on base, etc. Many people do make a career out of the IDF. There’s also an option to begin that career without conscription…which is what one of my brothers did. There are jobs that aren’t available to those completing their compulsory service and require a degree/specific classes/military college.

Basically: yes, this is possible. Compulsory service/female soldiers aside, the IDF is really like any other army. Some people make a job of it. Others commit their life to it as a career. It’s all about your individual capabilities and the training you can withstand/succeed at.

[laineystein]

I’ve given mahal serious consideration. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for awhile but my family is very against it because they don’t think it’s safe (I’m a girl) which is ridiculous. Any advice on helping me to convince them to let me go?

Hi!

Oh goodness. This is a tough one. I have so many questions that I’d need answers to before I could truly answer this. I’ll do my best without knowing all of the facts. So some things to consider:

1. How’s your Hebrew? This would be my biggest recommendation. Sharpen your Hebrew. If you don’t you have to take a 3 month crash course and everything I’ve heard about it makes it sound like a nightmare. AND even after the course, if you’re coming into it blindly, your grasp on the language isn’t great so it makes communication awkward anyway. Yes, everyone speaks English, but that’s out of necessity. You want to be close to your unit and that will be hard if you can’t communicate with them.

2. How homesick do you get? Let’s say your Hebrew is great…a lot of us would go home on the weekends or on breaks. If you’re not from Israel, you stay with a family on kibbutz. It’s technically a host family. I had a friend who lived on kibbutz and loved it but it’s not for everyone. Being a “lone soldier” really does mean that you need to be incredibly independent. We have limited access to our phones and can’t be in constant communication with our loved ones. If that’s an issue for you, mahal might not be for you.

3. Why do you want to serve? I’d read the Code of Ethics (I can recite it for you if you’d like 🤓). All conscripted soldiers serve because they are bettering the world they’ll eventually return to. It’s the Jewish way. Do you want to make aliyah? What does it mean to you to be a soldier? Are you okay with not being in a “elite” unit? These are things I think you should have strong opinions on. There’s a lot you can work toward in the IDF but there’s also things you can’t control. You have a choice to serve, the rest is often determined by factors beyond your own control, ie. where you’re stationed, the people in your unit, the direction within your specialty.

4. It is safe. If you’re worried about safety, just don’t join a combat unit. The whole point of the IDF is safety. It’s protecting one another and protecting Israel as a whole. They will teach you everything from firearms to defense. You have a unit that constantly has your back. Even as a medic, there were weeks that I spent all my time at a desk. I genuinely organized supply audits for the entire Southern Command. It sounds extensive but it wasn’t. But then weeks later I was dealing with car bombs near Gaza. I chose to serve in a combat unit but it’s not for everyone and that’s okay! As a female you’re not required to serve in any combat (or even “supporting combat”) roles.

5. Shit ain’t glamorous. Food on base is decent but it gets old after awhile. You’ll sleep 8-12 girls in a single pod that’s about 12x12? You’re on old creaky bunks and the mattresses are paper thin. There’s mice, bugs, and snakes. The AC oftentimes would not work…and you’re in a giant metal room in the middle of the effing desert.

6. It can also be super boring sometimes. Night patrols. Waiting around for orders. Downtime after dinner - no tv, no computers, cell service is nearly nonexistent. Again…communicating with your team is what we do to pass the time.

7. Lots of travel! It seems fun at first but it can be exhausting. And travel includes a lot of waiting around - waiting for trains, buses, etc. I was constantly carrying like four bags when I was traveling on and off base. Two of those we travel with when we’re working…and they’re literally giant sacks. These are not suitcases. All of your stuff just gets thrown in with a hope and a prayer.

8. Pay is…not great. Like…that’s it. Pay isn’t great.

Listen. Your heart really has to be all in. To be honest, I can’t imagine serving without a strong support system. You will get a lot of that support from your unit and especially from the ladies in your pod but it’s nice to have support outside of that. I don’t want to discourage you but it’s definitely not a decision that should be taken lightly and if you have any doubts I’d say it’s probably not the path for you.

If you want to DM me, I’m happy to answer more questions based on your individual circumstances! Good luck! 💛

[laineystein]

The IDF’s search and rescue training is some of the best in the world. They are specifically trained in building collapse (for what I hope - unfortunately - are obvious reasons). Seeing Israel protect and help the diaspora is what being a Jew is all about. So incredibly happy to see this.

💪🏼🇮🇱

[laineystein]

Have you watched Zero Motivation (2014)? Its an awesome movie, it's so funny and interesting, even though I had to turn on subtitles. DONT trust the trailers, they dont do it justice. If you did see it, do you have any thoughts?

Of course I have!!! I actually really liked it!! It is hilarious! And it’s sadly pretty accurate (as accurate as a film can be). The Hamas propaganda machine has convinced everyone we’re out there in constant war mode when genuinely I spent so much of my time at a desk! I preferred combat but I also spent nearly a year on base organizing seasonal vaccination rollouts, scheduling MDA shifts, and teaching other medics the absolute basics (we’re talking comedy level basics). When we’re not working we’re spending time in our shitty containers, eating stale cereal at 2am, missing our friends and family and wondering when our next civilian (vacation/time off) will be. We’re dumb young adults serving our country. I genuinely think Zero Motivation does a decent job portraying that.