My cousin is a commander in the IDF!

I had an amazing experience on Thursday to see a Commander's Ceremony. 

This was a "graduation" for the soldiers in the Commander's course and after this ceremony they are officially commanders.  The equivalence is a sergeant in the US army.  It was amazing seeing all of the soldiers, who were all my age, walk in formation and in perfect unison to the middle of the blacktop.

Each and every one of them has gone through so much during their training to become commanders, from lack of sleep to days with only a can of tuna and a piece of bread.  What to do after?  That differs from every soldier out there.  My cousin, Yoni, is going to be a commander for the Basic Training in the Chemical Warfare unit.  He is going to be the "Drill Sergeant".  This is a very high honor in the Israeli Defense Force because they need to be the most charismatic and enthusiastic soldiers.  One of Yoni's friends, nicknamed the Son of a Hedge Hog, is going to be the instructor for the commander's course that he just graduated from. 

Another of the soldiers that I talked to is going to be a commander in Gaza.  So there are many different possibilities for the "What next?" question. 

I came with my Great Aunt and Uncle Naomi and Irving, my cousins (Dudu, Gabi, Mika), and a couple of Yoni's friends (Moriah and Gabbi). I am very happy that I took off working with MDA for this once in a lifetime opportunity. 


PICTURE INFO:

The first picture is my favorite one of the day because it is pure happiness.  Yoni went through a lot of hardships to make it here, and he said it was a fantastic and uplifting feeling once "we finally made it".

The third picture, the man who is fixing Yoni's cover is the Highest Officer of the entire unit. 

Fourth picture: the man Yoni is hugging is his commander whom he became extremely close with.  It was a pure act of brotherhood. 


The last picture is of Yoni and the Son of a Hedge hog (yoni's best friend).