My Gadna Experience

My friends and I at the shooting range.

As people have suggested, Gadna was pretty horrible in the retrospect of the bathrooms and the Israelis that were there with us. During my experience in Gadna, I really got a good idea of what the IDF is like. Even though there where obstacles, literally and physically, I and everyone else was able to get through it. Gadna was a definite struggle mentally, having to deal with the yelling and being in a totally new and different environment and that aspect really took a toll on people. In all I am really happy and glad that I was able to take part in this experience. 

A view of the Negev Desert.

This participation has really helped me in my thoughts about the IDF. Before going into Gadna, I had the thought of joining the IDF in the back of my head and never really considered joining, but now that I have this understanding, I have definitely thought about it. I am a Jew who believes that there should be a state for the Jewish people and will do what I think is the best way for me to advocate for that. Gadna is a great taste of what it is like to be in IDF and I would not change my experience for the world because of its impact on my life and my choices.