Seize the Opportunity: Make the most of wherever you Serve

Those seeking to join the IDF quickly learn about the elite special forces units – units that have achieved near mythological status for their ability to accomplish the impossible. It is no wonder that individuals with high levels of motivation and drive, such as many Olim (new immigrants), choose to pursue serving in these units.

Unfortunately for anyone set on reaching these top teams, only a handful are selected to begin training and even less finish maslul (the training period for each unit) and become warriors. This means that for many Olim, most will not end up in their “dream” unit. Too often, however, the desire to serve becomes the desire to serve in a particular unit and we lose sight of our main purpose. For those who do not reach these units or those who begin maslul and are cut before finishing, it is important to remind ourselves why we came to Israel in the first place: to serve.

I began my military career in an elite combat unit. The unit’s maslul is 2 years and throughout the first year, a soldier was “cut” nearly every month as the officers increased the pressure and expectations from us trainees. Finally, after nearly 11 months in the unit, I was told I was no longer continuing maslul with the team and would be placed somewhere else.

This was a devastating blow. Not only did my ego and self-confidence suffer a massive hit but my friends – brothers – I served with for nearly a year were going to continue on without me. Moreover, it was not easy transitioning from one of the most elite units in the IDF to the “big army”. I had to integrate into a new tsevet that had been together already a year, learn the culture of the “big army”, and re-prove myself.

While I was extremely disappointed, I remembered the reason I drafted in the first place. This thought drove me forward and helped keep my motivation high. As a warrior in Sayaret Tzanchanim (the reconnaissance unit of the paratroopers), I earned the prestigious position of chief navigator for my team and was also selected to lead a small, 4-man team that specialized in gathering intelligence in the West Bank. Through motivation, hard work and a warrior-spirit, I made the absolute most of my time in the military and not only did I make friends for life while having an incredible experience, but I also had a tangible impact on Israel’s security.

I experienced first-hand how easy it is to lose sight of what is important during our service. By succumbing to depression and tying our self-worth and motivation to a unit, we can quickly miss out on the opportunities that are right in front of us. 

In ANY unit in the IDF you can have a meaningful service where you make a tangible impact. This, however, is entirely dependent upon your attitude and motivation. With the right attitude, you will enjoy your service, make friends for life, and grow from the experience. In short, it is not about where you serve but what you do.

Written by B.Morris

No Matter What: The Special Forces Mindset

What makes us achieve the things we aim towards achieving or fall short of those same things? Is it circumstances? Is it other people? Nope it’s definitely not either of those because those are external. The reason great people are capable of achieving great things is because of their mindset. And there is a concept of mindset called a “No Matter What” or in short known as NMW. A “No Matter What” is actually pretty easily understood, but putting it into practice should be both grueling and sacred. 

    Break the term down slowly. NO...MATTER...WHAT. That is a really serious combination of words and shouldn’t be taken lightly. The distinction has to be made between a casual “I’d like to do that” or “Sure I can make that happen” to a “NO MATTER WHAT” this thing, whatever it might be, is going to happen. This is a commitment to oneself and the people around them, that they will fulfill on a personal promise. If the term were to be compared to anything, it most similarly represents giving your word. 

    Making a few NMWs to oneself, and then sticking to them no matter what, can shift a persons’ mindset in a whole new direction. The level of self-accountability and dedication that comes with a serious one of these will shape you as a person in a very influential way. Let’s take a look at a few examples:

-Training for and completing a marathon

-Reading a book a week for a year

-Sticking to a diet plan until a goal is achieved

-Finishing a degree plan

-Volunteering once a month for a year

-Committing to getting accepted to a special unit in the military

-Picking and going for your dream job

    These are just a few quick examples. Notice that they all have one thing in common. A GOAL. This can either be a window of time you’d like to commit to or a physical goal set out to achieve. Having this measurement device is very important or your NMW can end up being too open-ended. 

    Fulfilling a NMW does many positive things for mindset but highlighting two is very important. These two would be building grit and encouraging creativity. 

Grit can only be developed through gruel. There has to be some hard times endured, uncertainty present, and tunnel vision practiced. A significant “No Matter What” will not be easy and doubts will pop up somewhere in a person's journey. Being able to keep the goal in sight and not give up changes your psychological DNA for the rest of your life. It teaches you that anything is possible. 

What happens when someone hits a dead end or comes upon a seemingly impossible challenge? One of two things...either they turn around and quit or get very creative in order to keep moving forward. During a NMW this should and will happen several times. And every time a person goes into creative mode and overcomes an obstacle, their “anything is possible muscle” gets just a little bit stronger. 

    A NMW is putting your brain in the gym. Keeping your word to yourself really does slowly build up the belief that anything is possible and the sky REALLY IS THE LIMIT. If the phrase “No Matter What” can not just be added to your vocabulary but also practiced as a life skill, you're guaranteed to be on the path towards success. It’s a skill that once learned, can be applied to any field, profession, or aspect of a person's life. 

How can you apply this to your goal of getting into an elite unit in the IDF? MAKE THE NO MATTER WHAT AND THEN STICK TO THE THINGS THAT WILL HELP YOU GET THERE! Show up to the Tsevet Lohamim sessions and work hard. Network with current and former Lone Soldiers and Israelis. Go to an ulpan or figure out a way to learn the language. Do your research on the system and the pitfalls so you can avoid them. But most importantly, when the army does throw a wrench in your plan, be ready to adapt and keep that NMW in your head. You made yourself the promise now go fulfill on it! 

Written by - J.Lynn

Surviving is not enough: How a "never quit" mentality is not enough for SF

Every soldier preparing for their try out/ Gibush/ Yom Sayarot etc. has heard that saying. It means that at the end your mind will determine whether you’ll quit or continue – which is absolutely true. BUT, is not quitting good enough to get into the elite units? Not even close.

The competition for the elite units has always been fierce. However, with combat fitness becoming mainstream among Israeli youth and information about the Gibush and Yom Sayarot being available on the internet, candidates arrive better prepared than ever. Less people quit as they are mentally and physically more prepared, yet the same limited number get a Gibush for the units. If “It’s all in the head” was true in the 90’s – it’s just a starting point today.

So, if it’s not all in the head? Where is it?​
Its also in the head. But its in the lungs, in the legs, in the arms and every single aspect of your physical abilities. The mental part of the game starts when one reaches their physical limits. This means the fitter the person the shorter his mental game must be. What might be an extremely mental evolution for some, can be a walk in the park for others (who are much fitterof course).

Understanding this is the foundation to start your training for the IDF sorting process. Tzevet Lohamim builds its program to check all the boxes. Aerobic and anaerobic fitness, Physical and Mental strength, and injury management above all else.

Training to not quit is not enough. You must train to be the BEST – understand that every day that you are not training, someone else that wants it just as much as you do (if not more) is training hard. The real mental game is not on the day, its months before. Every morning, every session, every exercise must be executed as the one that will determine whether you’ll get into the unit of your choice.

Being in an elite unit is not what serving in the IDF is about – far from it. However, there is no shame in wanting to get to the top. For those who do, you cannot boil down what you need to one thing… But, if there is one most important thing a candidate must have to be in the 0.02% that end up in the elite units, it would be Work Ethic.

If you are willing to work harder and for longer than anyone else – YOU WILL TRIUMPH.

Written by - G.Aviram