One word describes the experience we went through a few days ago: ow.
For the several weeks / months leading up to our respective military tests and enlistment, we’ve been taking part in a pre-army Combat Fitness Training program called Yuval Eilam. Basically, we go to these workouts in Herzliya and do army-style exercises for two hours, three times a week. This program is designed specifically to help kids entering the Israeli army. Whatever unit someone wants to enter, this program will help get them there. The majority of the kids enlisted in the program, are aiming for the best of the best, such as the Air Force, special operations units, and the paratroopers. To be accepted into these units, you need to have intelligence, drive, and be in incredible shape. Yuval Eilam takes care of the latter two.
The training takes place on a beach in Herzliya called Sidna Ali, which would be a beautiful sight if we had enough time to look around and take it in.
Some typical exercises we do in the program are: sprinting up and down a steep sand dune (with or without sandbags and stretchers), sprinting on the beach, sprinting into the ocean, or pretty much sprinting into and onto anything. In between sprinting we do push-ups (while somebody is putting downward pressure on your back), pull-ups, wrestling, crawling for what seems like eternity, squats and lunges in the water, and the list goes on. Needless to say, these workouts are helping us prepare for our military service.
Last week, at the end of one of our training sessions, the staff passed out information about Yuval Eilam’s September Camp. We were warned that it would be one of the hardest things that we will ever go through physically. So much so that they are considered more difficult than the IDF’s own special forces tryouts. Like a couple of dopes, we immediately signed up.
We started to get nervous about 24 hours before the camp when we looked at the list of required items.
- Sleeping bag
- A bag to carry equipment during missions
- Hat
- Fake Weapon (a piece of wood with weights to get used to the feeling)
- Sports shoes
- IDF Uniform
- 10 bananas, 5 carrots, 5 tomatoes, 5 cucumbers, 2 cans of tuna, 1 can of corn, 1 loaf of bread, 250 grams of dates, 1 box of chocolate spread
- Cutlery and cups
- 3 one and a half liter bottles of water
- Box Cutter (We’re still not sure why)
- A flashlight with extra batteries
- Storage for dirty laundry
- 4 pairs of underwear and socks
- Sweatshirt
So first of all, we’re straight off the boat from the US. Where are we going to find army uniforms, fake weapons, and box cutters?! Second of all, why the hell do we need fake weapons and box cutters? Finally… Tuna, cucumber, and chocolate spread sandwiches? After some calls and improvisation, we got most of what we needed ready. We had the most fun with the fake weapons though.
Before:
After:
So we get to the camp just before noon on Sunday. After signing in, dropping our bags and a quick introduction, we were split into our groups for the next 30 hours. The staff wasted absolutely no time transitioning from our introduction to the intense workout. We started with a group camouflage drill, then immediately went to the sand dune for sprints (later adding sand bags and stretchers). The first day went like most other trainings, with a heavy emphasis on sprinting. We ran, ate dinner and then ran some more. We were finally dismissed for the night around midnight.
After a thorough de-sanding (though no showers were allowed) and setting up a timetable for guard-duty for the night, we were all in our sleeping bags and ready for a full night’s sleep. Only about two hours later, our instructors started banging on the walls, turned on all the lights and yelled at everybody to wake up. Five minutes later we were on our feet, dressed, and headed to the beach for our “Masa Layla” (Night Journey). We filled stretchers with sandbags, picked them up, and started chasing our instructors down the beach. For my (Adam) group, the masa ended in digging holes on the beach to protect ourselves from the “invading Syrian Army.” An hour later, after what seemed like it had only been a dream, we were back in bed for another satisfying and long (read: sarcasm) two hours of sleep. We were woken up again and told that, now, the camp was really starting.
Our best assumption as to what time we were woken on Monday is 5AM. All we know for sure is that we were tired as hell and it was still dark out, though that didn’t matter one bit to our instructors. The day started with a two kilometer run and quickly turned into a full morning of sprints, both on the beach and sand dune. Sprints were broken up with rope work, push-ups, dips, abs, holding push-up position for an extended period of time, and other creative means that the instructors used to torture us. The morning ended with more camouflage drills just before lunch. In the afternoon, all four groups (about 60 kids – down from over 90 to start with) came together for an intense water workout on the picturesque, Herzliya beach. With passersby stopping to watch, we spent several hours running, crawling, leaping, lunging and rolling through the water.
After some more thoroughly satisfying Tuna sandwiches and a couple of motivational speeches, we were told not to exercise for at least the next three days, that we had done a great job, and that they would see us on Friday for the next training. The exhausted remains of what were people the day before walked off with more than their fair share of pulled muscles, blisters, cuts, and complaints. What seemed like it had lasted two weeks now seemed like it had been over in five minutes – what we could remember of it at least. We headed back to Tel-Aviv, gorged down a monster Shawarma, and were both passed out by 9pm. Looking back, we both agree the camp was one of the greatest things we would never do again… aside from the several months of very similar training that we now have ahead of us.
לחיים| L’Chaim
Yon and Adam
You guys are absolutely fucking nuts. You make me proud.
Klaz, did you happen to forget the conclusion of your trip?? You know what was waiting for you upon your return…
That sounds terrible… i would never do that, i mean how you could you ever eat tuna sandwiches (i just threw up in my mouth a little thinking about it)
Wow. You’re such wusses.
I could do that all backwards while holding Braddles and watching What Not to Wear in my underwear.
Sounds rough & tumble, but you’ll heal up just fine. One can imagine that it only gets tougher from here on out.
Man guys, reading this almost made me pass out from exhaustion!!! Keep up the good work!!!
good job! keep it up!
save me some shawarma, and i like your fake guns.
love you,
noosh
I did the exact opposite of that back on September 30th. You guys are champs.
looks like your fake guns kicked the shit out of the syrian army haha