Even After A Third Attempt At Basic Training, PVT Eliraz Continues To Fight For His Place In The IDF.

 “I know that the IDF is the place for me.”

Even after a third attempt at basic training, PVT Eliraz continues to fight for his place in the IDF.

PVT Eliraz’s complex relationship with the IDF began three years ago—when he received a military service exemption. “I was a problematic boy. I spent most of my life in the streets drinking, smoking and getting locked up in jail. I attended boarding schools from a young age, and when I was in an addiction treatment center I developed an interest in joining the IDF.”

When his friends from boarding school drafted into the IDF, Eliraz’s own recruitment became a primary goal: “I really wanted to serve. I knew I could contribute a lot and giving up was never an option for me.”

Following a long period of time in which he tried to prove that he was qualified to serve, he finally received his draft date for March 2020 at the Havat HaShomer base.

Quickly after Eliraz was drafted, he discovered that the basic training course was not as easy as it seemed. “All of a sudden I got 20 seconds to stand in line and was ordered to run from one point to another. As a kid who didn’t like to listen, I didn’t like the fact that I was constantly told what to do.” 

During the course, Eliraz got into violent fights and was caught bringing in dangerous materials onto base. After a few weeks and countless warnings, Eliraz was dismissed from the army.

This decision was hard for him. “I realized that it only took a few weeks to destroy all of the efforts I made in order to draft. Instead of being the soldier that I wanted to be, I went back to my old ways. I knew that this could not be the end of my army journey and decided that I couldn’t give up on it.”

Once again, Eliraz’s army journey started all over again. All of the committees, recommendations, documents, persuasions and other means were used so that Eliraz could return to the army. His persistence and stubborness paid off, and a new draft date was set for him. But the end of this story is no different from the previous one. With his return to the army environment, the violence and drugs returned as well. The decision was made once again—PVT Eliraz would no longer be a part of the IDF.

Eliraz understood that he needed to truly change and turn his life around. “I let go of bad habits, found a job in construction and worked every day from 6 AM until 6 PM. After a year and a half, when I felt I was ready—I decided to give the army process another shot.”

The journey was not easy, given that this was his third try. All it took was one person who believed in him—the Commanding Officer of Havat HaShomer. “I think he saw how motivated I was despite my difficulties. It was because of him that I received my third oppurtunity to draft.”

This time everything looked different. The violence and drugs disappeared, and Eliraz’s time in the course continued. “The journey was not easy and I was still struggling, but thanks to the huge changes I made and my commanders who stood by my side throughout my entire journey, I made it.”

Just when it seemed as if everything was falling into place, Eliraz got hurt and broke his arm. “Once again I saw all of my efforts going to waste. I realized that even if I rehabed my arm for a few months, my profile would still not be high enough to become a combat soldier.”

Eliraz realized that he was privileged to be serving in the IDF. Despite still dreaming of becoming a combat soldier, he became a driver.

As his time in the army continued, he decided that he would continue to serve as a driver until enough time had passed in order to become a combat soldier. "I waited over two years to start my regular service, what is two more until I can be in combat? I will serve in my position, rehabilitate, be repositioned to a combat position and then I’m planning on going to Officer’s Course. I know that the IDF is the place for me, and I am only starting my journey."