Reply #17: lots of choices.... [View All]

[pelsar]

The first choice is to be inducted or not...though there is no official way out for him (standard jewish kid at a secular school), it doesnt take much to get out (he had asthma as a child, that would be enough, or saying he doesnt believe in it, etc-i understand there are whole websites dedicated to the system of getting out....)....and the army doesnt seem to make much of a fuss about it-they dont want those that dont want to be there (lessons of intifada I)

Second choice is which direction: combat or non combat. Again officially the army can put him where they like, realistically they prefer to put the soldiers where they want to go. Hes also a bright kid, so military intel might try to pick him up. The combat units have too many volunteers so they generally dont have to have anybody who doesnt want to be there. He can go for one of the non combat areas, of which there are many (intel, communications, etc)

also there is the university path...but its a long one and its the army that decides: sign up for the university and the army owns your ass for the next 8 years..but you get to work in your profession as an officer (though the army can decide they dont want you....).

There is also a 'boy/girl" combat unit.....for the "lesser" intense combat roles-males with minor physical problems that restrict their ability to carry loads.....(a unit that i have many doubts about after having seen them......).

lots of choices for the next 3 years.

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and just for fun, my girl is trying to figure out which unit has the cutest/hotest boys in it...that seems to be her criteria....