Greetings from Sweden!

[J.F. Isaksson]

Hello,
My name is Jens, Im a 20years old guy living in the capital of Sweden (Stockholm). Lived here my whole life, been to other countries within Europe but still I havent been to Israel. Im jewish by birth thou Im not really religious other than celebrating shabbat at the synagog on various occasions. I've gone to a jewish school, but Im worthless in hebrew.

On my spare time I hang out with friends and my girlfriend, also working out and staying in shape is important to me. I love watching/training MMA, mostly UFC. I'd say Fedor is the greatest (if dont know him his the MMA Heavy Weight Champion of the world)

I've recently finished my service for the Swedish Army, went there a year as a Infantry Communicator mainly on foot and also working in a SISU (a armored personel vehicle). The swedish army can be pretty tough, mostly depending on what your entitled to do. But one thing you learn is to embrace the cold, living out in the minus 10-30 celsius climate for 2 weeks is not to be underestimated.

For my future plans I want to join the Mahal IDF in order to support my religious country, I see Israel as a safehaven for all Jews and I intend to make an effort on keeping it safe.

Also an unanswered question I still haven't found anywhere on the site is concerning my previous service to the Swedish Army, in other words - do any of you know if it makes any difference if I've done my military service in Sweden? Will it affect my chances in joining the mahal IDF in a negative/positive way?

Also I thought I'd add a picture so here it is:


Any help on this is very much appriciated.
My regards,
Jens Frenkel Isaksson

[rafi]

Welcome Jens,

In my experience, I have known a few people who served in other militaries prior to joiningthe IDF. From an enlistment point of view, unless there were special security clearances involved, your prior service is neutral. Unless you bring it up during basic training, chances are excellent that other than the CO, no one will know you are experienced. You will simply find everything easier.

If you are interested in continuing in communications, you should certainly describe your past experience. That is something that will be a point of interest.

Having served on Mt. Hermon myself for a period of time, special respect to the winter training. I hated going outside for first light in January! The only good thing was the inflatable boots that are so much more comfortable than regulation army shoes. (Quirk in hebrew: army "boots" are called shoes. not sure why)

Anyway, welcome!

[J.F. Isaksson]

Thansk Rafi, your reply has been most satisfying!

Concerning my previous experience as a communicator it was mainly keeping the communication with all the other units, things such as:
Reporting in enemy troops, asking for permission, stating our resources & casualties was my main assignment while working in a smaller infantry group. While working in a SISU carrier, I drew out enemies on a map by the location messages we got so we had a boardmap with diffrent plastic layers. one layer for neutral activity, one for allied and one for the enemy.

I was good at it, but I'd rather do something else, and if I were to be accepted into the IDF I guess I would have to speak and write hebrew perfectly being a communicator in their army. So I would probably aim for something else.

But anyways, you think I should bring it up for them? That I have earlier experience or perhapes just go unnoticed?

[rafi]

There are certain things that are common to all armies, and your experience will be reflected in your actions.

At some point you will be asked what you did in your prior military career, and then you can decide.

[Dan from Boston]

Welcome, Jens!

[J.F. Isaksson]

Alright, thanks for the help & the welcome.

[J.F. Isaksson]

It took some time, but now I've filled in and submitted the enlistment form. So hopefully I'll get an reply back, in the near future.

[Zionist4ever]

It took some time, but now I've filled in and submitted the enlistment form. So hopefully I'll get an reply back, in the near future.

Hi Jens! I live in Stockholm, Sweden too. Not too many times you meet a Jew from Sweden, but a Jew in Sweden who wants to join ?( and now, because it has gone a few years, you probably, if everything went good, already joined) That is really cool.

So how did it go for you Jens?