The 52 kilometers from the Yatir Forest to Masada is the distance that hundreds of soldiers of the Givati Brigade traveled by foot. They walked for twelve hours, sweaty and tired, wearing uniforms and flak jackets, carrying their guns by their sides and stretchers on their backs. Their trek ended on Thursday morning (Nov. 20) when they finally reached the top of Masada.
At the festive ceremony held that evening, which was attended by the Givati Birigade commander, Col. Ilan Malka and the soldier's families, the proud Givati recruits wore their purple Givati beret for the first time. They will never forget the challenge that they undertook and surpassed in order to receive those berets. I joined the soldiers to witness just how far they would go to fulfill this dream.
52 km To Go
When Private Gal Manir from Kfar Saba was drafted, he was particularly happy about the fact that he was going to be in Givati. "As far back as I can remember, I've always wanted to be in the brigade," says Gal. "My uncle was in Givati and I remember how, when I was a child, he would come home and put his purple beret on the table, and I would look at it with pride. I am doing this in order to continue this legacy and complete the cycle that my uncle began."
Although they were told about the long trek that the Givati recruits will have to face, the march did not scare Gal. "I am very excited; fom tomorrow on I will be walking around with the Givati beret," he explains. "I am waiting to receive the beret to feel that I belong to the family called Givati, and that will be worth any challenge. I have already done things here that I never thought I could and I succeeded. In the end, you always know that it was worth the effort."
14 km To Go
With 35 kilometers and a light snack (during which Gal tells me that "so far everything is fine, his legs only hurt a bit") behind them, the ambitious soldiers start to feel the toll of the trek. Many are worn out and are struggle to continue, but they don't give up and carry on marching to their destination. Although the soldiers have gone on several marches in preparation, this one, without doubt, poses a challenge for everyone. "My feet have started to hurt a lot," says Gal. "We are all on our last leg and it's really hard to walk, but no one is giving up."
"When someone finds it difficult, we help, we push each other forward, walk hand in hand. During marches like this you see the true character of the people around you; you see who will help you. I'm one of those who help others and I believe that I have been like that until now. I have come this far because I didn't give up. I was definitely not as strong mentally before I got drafted, that improved in the army. And until we reach Masada, we will dream of the moment when the commander puts the beret on all our heads," he adds proudly.
Completing the Trek
It is seven o' clock in the morning; the soldiers slowly, slowly begin walking up the incline of Masada, the finial stretch of the march. While they approach the peak of the mountain, they sang the Givati Brigade song. "I reached the end with mixed feelings," says Gal. "I didn't know whether to cry because of the physical exhaustion or to laugh because I was so happy that I had managed to do this. When I saw Masada from afar, I remembered how my uncle had told me about his beret march. The whole time I thought of my family, of my mom and my little sister Roni. I told myself that I can’t not finish the march, especially since they're coming to see me tonight at the ceremony, along with dad, my grandparents and my uncle. The march was hard, but finishing it is an amazing feeling. It takes a lot of physical effort, but we succeeded thanks to our will to do so."
The ceremony that night, where the soldiers receive their berets, marks the consumation of their basic training. After the ceremony they will be given a short break from their intensive training to spend time at home with their families. Upon their return they will start the three month period of advanced training. This period will turn them into fully qualified Givati soldiers, and they will start joining operations on the State's borders. "There were almost no soldiers who stayed behind," notes Lt. Col. Yossi Drori, commander of the Givati training base. "We have excellent soldiers who were trained by excellent commanders, so I am not surprised. The next phase is the advanced training, which will focus on learning how to fight in the open field and in urban areas, and how to operate the Israeli designed Achzarit APC."
"I will never forget this march," concludes a overjoyed Gal. "It was difficult to see my friends suffering; that’s why I fought so hard myself. We helped each other as much as we could, and the commanders also helped a lot. I know that the advanced training period will be harder, but our physical strength can only improve from here. I couldn't have done this march by myself. After the ceremony we will be able to wear both the beret and the tag of the Givati Brigade, and I will be beaming with pride, too."
http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/2008n/11/2401.htmMicro Sez:These people are tough. That is all.
