IDF appeals to Israeli expatriate veterans

[rafi]

A recent call has gone out to further the MAHAL and IDF experience.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite? ... 2FShowFull

For those veterans over the age of 45 and under the age of 65, you are invited to sign up for a two week tour of duty in Miluim in the West Bank.

To be very specific, this is intended for veterans beyond the age of normal miluim. The army is currently examining options for those of you who want to return to Israel for a similar type of service, but are of the regular age of serving in miluim. You are not eligible for this program.

Some key points:
1. You must have a mispar ishi and be over the age of 45.
2. travel is at your cost in both directions as well as all expenses (ie. lodging) while in Israel.
3. You will be required to complete a physical exam and submit it's results with an application form prior to acceptance into the program.
4. Service is two weeks.
5. This program is in hebrew, including completion of all forms.
6. Participants are drawn from those who served in kravi units.
7. During your service you are under full army command as a regular miluimnik, which includes all rules and regulations governing miluim.

Forms can be obtained via contact with this website. You should be prepared to fax your applications to Israel as well as speak with the Hativa office at least once prior to your arrival in Israel.

I have completed seven tours of duty under this program, the most recent in July 2007, and will be happy to answers all questions.

Rafi

[peterm]

Rafi,

I request information about IDF service as an expatriate past the age of reserve service.

My service record is as follows:

1978-1979 Compulsory service: Nahal
1980- 1989 Reserve service: Jerusalem Brigade

I hold two degrees from Hebrew University and currently reside in the Philadelphia area where I am pursuing doctoral studies at Temple University while working as a multimedia instructional designer in academia.

I am 54 and in good physical fitness.

Please advise.

Thank you.

Peter Margolis

[rafi]

Hi Peter,
Welcome to the board.
You are, in fact eligible to volunteer.

There are a number of detail you will certainly be interested in, and there is a great Q&A about the program that can be found at http://www.usidfvets.com.

Some key points to be aware of:
All transportation to and within Israel are on you (you get 2 bus passes as with regular miluim)
Duty is in 12 day units, you are allowed two a year (consecutive if wanted)
All time out of the army, leave, etc. are on you
During the time you are on active duty, you are under full military command as any other miluimnik.
You will be required to complete a physical here in the states and have it signed by a physician, there will be a cursory exam upon arrival at the initial training base.

Check out the website I listed, then get back to me with any additional questions. At that point, if you are still interested, we can discuss forms, how to get them and who we will contactwithin Israel. We have our own Hativa - name of Tikva.

[peterm]

Rafi,

I’m interested.

What happens next?

Peter

[romanf]

Hi Peter,
There are a number of detail you will certainly be interested in, and there is a great Q&A about the program that can be found at http://www.usidfvets.com.

Check out the website I listed, then get back to me with any additional questions. At that point, if you are still interested, we can discuss forms, how to get them and who we will contactwithin Israel. We have our own Hativa - name of Tikva.

I checked out the website, but did not see any info regarding the IDF. I am intrested in volunteering for miluim - is this still possible? Can you provide me with the relevant info.

Shalom ve lehit

[2311203]

Hey, I'm 54, in good shape, in fact serve as squad leader in the Dallas City Troop (www.dallascitytroop.org). Are you still accepting geezers for reserve service? And just what would we be doing, cleaning latrines?

[rafi]

First, IDF reserve duty is full active duty reserves, served under complete military structure.

Duties for me have included working at Checkpoints, transporting prisoners, doing border
patrols in jeeps, working demonstrations, fighting in Lebanon II, supporting local Police efforts in the
West Bank, securing Jewish border villages and more. We are deployed after arefresher boot camp
that includes weaponry, both days and evening on the range, first aid, communications, poilitical atmosphere, most recent smuggling activities
and so on.

But it should be clear that this a prgram is for those who retired from the IDF and can withstand a backbround check in
Israel as well astheir current country of residence, and can of course pass a physical exam.

If you are not a veteran of the IDF, there is great program called Sar-El that is open to all. This program
does mostly support duties and as you might expect is issued no weapons.

[2311203]

First, IDF reserve duty is full active duty reserves, served under complete military structure.

Duties for me have included working at Checkpoints, transporting prisoners, doing border
patrols in jeeps, working demonstrations, fighting in Lebanon II, supporting local Police efforts in the
West Bank, securing Jewish border villages and more. We are deployed after arefresher boot camp
that includes weaponry, both days and evening on the range, first aid, communications, poilitical atmosphere, most recent smuggling activities
and so on.

But it should be clear that this a prgram is for those who retired from the IDF and can withstand a backbround check in
Israel as well astheir current country of residence, and can of course pass a physical exam.

If you are not a veteran of the IDF, there is great program called Sar-El that is open to all. This program
does mostly support duties and as you might expect is issued no weapons.

Thanks for the info, Rafi, of course I am former IDF, I am using my Personal Number as my ID.