August 20th Enlistment and a few questions

[utahrafi]

Hi everyone,

I would like to introduce myself. My name is Rafi and I am a 22 year old college graduate working in Washington, DC studying for the June LSATs.

I plan on enlisting in the 2010 August 20th gius, most likely non-combat (I am happy to serve whichever way I am needed). I also will be 23 at the time. I probably will not have to do army ulpan, in which case I will just volunteer elsewhere until enlisting at a later date.

Of course, I would like to position myself to get the best placement as possible. I previously completed the Mechina program at Hebrew University in 2006, so I can read/write decently well ( I took a semester of classes taught in Hebrew (albeit it was designed for new immigrants learning the language). Additionally, I was a Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Fellow at the Israeli Embassy in DC last year. I would like some advice as to how I can leverage these past achievements with the IDF, if this is at all possible.

I would prefer working at Dover Tzahal (which I hear is extremely difficult to get a job at) or perhaps in an office in the city. I also worked at a Public Relations firm and currently do marketing for my law firm (website, twitter, blog, articles, etc.)

If I end up doing basic rear echelon work, I will be happy to do so, but I want to make sure I try every route possible first to get a good job.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Comments are most welcome and please let me know if you will be enlisting this summer as I would like to meet you!

[rafi]

Welcome to the board Rafi.

The first important question is whether you are looking to enlist via MAHAL or whether you are intending to make aliyah.

If you are going the MAHAL route, the there is little to no chance of you working as a Dover Tsahal. No language, no education, no connections, it simply won't happen. They want to love you for your body, not your mind.

Not that your chances are much better as an oleh. You should certainly use your connections to position yourself prior to going to Israel, as any influence or help will be coming from there.

You mention law work, but i am assuming you have not actually passed the bar, have you? This might work in your favor, please let me know.

Good luck to you.

Rafi

[utahrafi]

Nice to meet you too, Rafi!

I intend to make aliyah eventually, but not until I complete my law degree in the states. I want to come back and do law school after Mahal for the JD, then make Aliyah.

So the IDF would not care much about the Mechina diploma from Hebrew U nor my undergrad degree? The fact of being a Rabin fellow probably would only help with connections to Misrad Ha'chutz.

How much of a difference would a law degree make, however?

[rafi]

Nice to meet you too, Rafi!

I intend to make aliyah eventually, but not until I complete my law degree in the states. I want to come back and do law school after Mahal for the JD, then make Aliyah.

So the IDF would not care much about the Mechina diploma from Hebrew U nor my undergrad degree? The fact of being a Rabin fellow probably would only help with connections to Misrad Ha'chutz.

How much of a difference would a law degree make, however?

If you are going MAHAL, it really doesn't matter about your background. To use your intellect would take longer to train you, and your service is short. Sorry. If you were going mainstream army and willing to sign for longer upon entrance, there are possibilities.

If you wanted to enter the IDF as an attorney fluent in hebrew, obviously your options increase.

Without completion, a good school and good hebrew can get you into a better unit (or even Air Force) but that is about it. And that actually is quite allot.

[Dan from Boston]

Another restriction on the types of non-combat roles you can be assigned as a Mahalnik comes from your level of security clearance. You will not be cleared for Dover Tzahal if you haven't made Aliyah. I know of someone who tried to join through Mahal but had to make Aliyah to be allowed to work in Dotz.

[utahrafi]

Thank you for the candid feedback. I am glad to know this now although it is a tough reality.

For my desires, it seems aliyah is the more viable option. I strongly desire to serve in Israel, sooner as opposed to later, however; and it is important to me to finish the JD degree state-side.

I will have to think this over and I thank you both very much for the information.