Girls and Guns
Did you know at the age of 18 in Israel you are placed in a “national guard” like program for two years (boys and girls both)? I didn’t:
The life of an eighteen-year-old girl in Israel is interrupted when she is plucked out of her environment at an age when sexual, educational, and family values are at their highest exploration point. She is then placed in a rigorous institution, where individuality becomes a secondary matter, making room for nationalism. “I solemnly swear…to devote all of my strength and to sacrifice my life to protect the land and the liberty of Israel,” repeats the newly recruited soldier during her swearing-in ceremony. She enters the two-year period in which she will change from a girl to a woman, a teenager to an adult, all under a militaristic, masculine environment, and in the confines of an army that is engaged in daily war and conflict.
This is a great photo-essay of a little-known (at least in the US) part of Israeli life.
Visit: http://www.serialno3817131.com/
Better not make them angry!
Wow. Amazing pictures!!
im a 17 years old girl from israel… im going to the army next year, and im preety scered,,
hi Iam masih from iran . I want coming to israel .
I can?
Great pictures! I met an Israeli Air Force officer in training when I was in my own USAF training (some come to the US for specific training) who was absolutely gorgeous and kind.
The concept of mandatory service at age 18 is one the US should certainly look into. Too many forget what their own freedom costs and spend their lives spoiled, never learning what it means to serve.