IN THE ISRAELI ARMY -

My "Spring Break"
by Sergeant A.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
Assigned to the M.P. Guard Unit : GAZA

	Here is an account of 28-days of reserve duty in the Military Police, with exclusive pictures taken at the "Erez Checkpost".
		WELCOME TO THE GAZA STRIP BORDER CHECKPOINT "EREZ"
	ENTRANCE TO THE CAMP

Induction Day: Undergoing the transformation from civilian to soldier. We are each issued a weapon, and assigned to our various posts. The first thing we do is go to a nearby firing range and verify that our assault rifles are in good working order. The location of the base, in the Gaza Strip, requires us to be prepared.

Dawn - Day 2: Thick fog cover has descended over the area. I can't see ten feet in front of me. The base commander sounds the alarm for a drill of base defenses, as a precaution. When the brief exercise ends, I sit down in the dining room to my first army breakfast: Avacado and French Toast.

And so begins the routine of patrols. For 6 hours, I'm on duty. For the next 6 hours, I'm resting, and then back on duty again. This continues around-the-clock for days on end.

A cool sea breeze blows in from the nearby Mediterranean. The female soldiers on the base check out the "new guy" - and they do a bit of innocent flirting. (Very good for my ego!)

- Almost a week has passed by already... and today is Purim, with the festive holiday atmosphere in the air! We are given special packages with sweets (a tradition in Israel - all soldiers are offered these treats by the nation's schoolchildren).   - I am able to arrange a 12-hour pass to go home and enjoy a quiet dinner together with my wife at a restaurant (the first opportunity we have had to see each other since induction day). - Drove back from Tel Aviv (an hour away) arriving into Gaza at five am in the morning, and the weather suddenly turns ugly -- Heavy rains and hail. I run to huddle in the shelter of my small guard booth. Hail beats so loud on the tin roof, it is deafening! Finally, the sun breaks through at dawn, and the skies clear. That is really the end of winter---- Two beautiful birds land in the tree near my post. One has a yellow breast and black head, and the other is a brilliant incadescent aquamarine blue.   - The entire base gathers together in the mess hall for a full Shabbat dinner. Really, it's a delicious meal, with all the trimmings.

Once the sun goes down, it is very, very cold. Some nights, I am on duty from midnite 'till 6 a.m. (called a "white night" because we stay awake until dawn). Often, the peace and tranquility is broken by the sound of gunfire nearby at the Gaza Crossing Checkpoint. Some Palestinians have started shooting and a few mortar rounds land only 100 yards away! Although our unit inside the encampment is not normally ordered to go out and get involved with these battles, I am ready, in my flak vest and steel helmet. The firing only lasts a few minutes, as the Palestinians run away, cat and mouse, and then the base returns to normal status : just another night in the warzone.

WHAT A VACATION!!!

- Breakfast at the "IDF Hilton" : hard boiled egg, olives, tomato slices, and vanilla pudding. - Lunch at the "IDF Trattoria Tuscany" : spaghetti and meatballs, onion rings and deli salads. - Dinner at the "IDF Diet House" : cream cheese, cucumbers, mint tea.

YES, THAT'S THE WAY IT WENT -

NOTHING GLAMOROUS.

NOTHING SPECTACULAR.

ALL IN ALL, A VERY SATISFYING MONTH-LONG TOUR OF DUTY.