Giving Motivated Soldiers a Chance

You’ve never met a group of soldiers like the ones from the “Nahshon” Platoon at the Michve Alon training base. The platoon consists of 24 Arabic-speaking Christians who volunteered to join the IDF for one collective cause: acceptance to significant positions  in order to contribute to the State of Israel. We spoke to the platoon staff from the Education Corps and heard about this unique group that finished the course with pride and fluent Hebrew.

Right under our noses, quietly and humbly, an incredible thing is happening at the Michve Alon training base. After years of low drafting percentages amongst the Arabic-speaking Christian community in Israel- specifically, no more than one or two in each national draft, things have now changed. In this current drafting class, 24 soldiers of the Arabic-speaking Christian community have volunteered to draft into the IDF.

The motivated soldiers began their military service with a three-week preparatory program. They were then taken into the Michve Alon training base to overcome their biggest challenge: Hebrew.

The “Nahshon” Platoon was especially established for the Arab-speaking Christian population in Israel. It’s a place of education with a familial and prideful atmosphere. As the platoon’s training has ended, we spoke to the people who have molded it into what it is today.

“The preparations for the culminating ceremony make me very emotional”, says Lt. Sapir, commander of the “Eyal” Company, where the soldiers were first taken in. “They’re amazing soldiers and their Hebrew has improved unbelievably.”

“I’m sure they will go far in their service”, Lt. Sapir is convinced. “Our goal was to improve their Hebrew level with the understanding that they’re aiming for significant positions that require a proficient level of hebrew.”

The course mostly consists of Hebrew lessons that gradually increase in difficulty, along with lessons about heritage and connection to the country, and additional subjects related to the soldiers’ unique identities.

“The fact that Arabic-speaking Christians have a course and a platoon of their own strengthens the idea that the IDF is a place that does and always will care of them,” explains “Nahshon” Platoon Commander, Lt. Shlomit, who accompanied the soldiers throughout their training.

Lt. Gardi commanded the course and believes that the point of it was to create a house for the platoon which will echo in the communities the soldiers are from. “The platoon is going to open a door for the whole Arabic-speaking Christian community,” she says. “We didn’t just call the platoon “Nahshon” out of nowhere- Nahshon was the first person to cross the Red Sea when the Jews escaped slavery in Egypt, and was then followed by the rest.” In a similar way, the soldiers from the Nahshon Platoon are paving the path for more Arab-speaking Christians and minorities to draft.

Pvt. Asad’s pride in successfully completing the course is eminent in every word he says: “I used to not speak Hebrew at all. I knew almost nothing, but the course has made me comfortable with the langage and I’ve tremendously improved.”

“The platoon is like a family, like brothers- far more than friends,” he says emotionally. “Everyone helps one another- we’re a team, something larger together.”

Asad grew up in an Arabic-speaking Christian family in northern Israel. His volition to volunteer in the IDF comes from a surprising place:

“My father is a truck driver. I wanted to be like him, to make him proud of me but it was important for me to contribute to my country as I am a part of it.” As he had hoped, Pvt. Asad will soon begin his service as a cargo truck driver. “The course has provided me with the integration that I wanted and I am very pleased.”

Pvt. Tazmuz’s favorite word in Hebrew is self-confidence. “It’s what has improved the most in me,” he shares. “I have a good feeling about the job I'm going to be doing, but it’s not enough for me. I want to be an officer- that’s the largest contribution I can give.”

“Since its establishment, the IDF has been the people’s army, serving as a way to bring together all the different communities in Israel to meet,” concludes the Michve Alon Base commander, Lt. Col. Dorit Maoz. “We all have a common house within the IDF, with mutual values, responsibility, and caring for each other.”