Hard work pays off

Lieutenant Muhammad, who volunteered to join the IDF and currently serves as a medical nurse at the Paratroopers Brigade training base, received special training in the "Peak" academic reserve program. This program allows soldiers to earn an academic degree and then become professional officers in the IDF. Lt. Muhammad worked hard to get where he is today, and he continues to lead his medical team and help save lives.

"Nine months ago, a combat medic came to me, complaining about stomach pain and vomiting," recalls Lt. Muhammad. "These types of complaints are common in combat training and usually we find a quick solution. But that time, the soldier’s symptoms repeated several times and when the medic consulted with me explaining the severity of his pain, I made sure he saw a doctor immediately."

"After the meeting, the doctor told me he had to undergo an urgent ultrasound," continues Lt. Muhammad. "The clinic staff and I immediately began picking up telephones, trying to speed things up. Within two days, the results of the ultrasound came back and it turned out that he had a 30 cm tumor in his stomach. He had to undergo surgery and again, we all worked to accelerate the process.”

Thanks to the preliminary identification, commitment, and effectiveness of the medical team led by Lt. Muhammad, the soldier was able to undergo the operation as soon as possible.

"I was very happy that we helped him to speed things up. I feel that this is the place for me, that here I can have a positive influence and this is where I want to be," says Lt. Muhammad.

Lt. Muhammad was educated in a Christian school in Haifa, where most of its graduates don't enlist in the IDF.  But for him, volunteering in the army was self-evident. "Many of the men in my family served in the army," he says. "My father fought in the special forces unit, Rimon, and from a young age, I heard stories about his friends and experiences.”

Lt. Muhammad was interested in the medical profession from an early age. “I remember the high level of care my brothers and sisters received when I visited them in hospitals as a child.” Therefore, when he heard about the medical academic service program, he was convinced that this was the place for him. "I wanted to combine academic studies with the army so that I could do something I love."

The IDF's nursing program, where Lt. Muhammad trained, is currently undergoing a significant transformation to increase the number of nurses. They want a nurse from this program to be present in every military clinic. As part of the new program, soldiers study three years to receive their academic degree and after their compulsory service, they continue to serve for an additional year and a half.

After his medical training, Lt. Muhammad requested to serve on a training base in an effort to help combat soldiers. "During the training, the soldiers undergo a challenging physical process and need attentive medical care," emphasizes Lt. Muhammad. "I wanted to improve the service provided to them and bring medicine closer to the field."

When there was an opening on the Paratroopers training base, Lt. Muhammad immediately knew that he wanted to be there. "The Paratroopers Brigade always aspires to excellence and because of that, I wanted to serve there," he explains. "When I got to the Paratroopers training base, I met a wonderful, professional, and skilled staff who cared about the soldiers and wanted to provide the best treatment."

"As a field officer, I’m trained in emergency situations, such as a multi-casualty event, and I know how to manage them," concludes Muhammad. "I’ve gained a lot of experience and tools that will help me in the future.”