So, again, much time gone by without updates. And again, there is so much going on that we don't even have time to write.......
At any rate, the army called, and I was a soldier, if only for 3 hours this past Thursday. In the process, they dropped me from my civilian health insurance to be on the army's policy - now I have to go back and change it....argh.
I got a deferment to November, which is just what I wanted. I am going to be a doctor, a.k.a. "medical officer" for ~18 months of total service (including training). So, all that I did there was get "processed" (ID card, blood type, uniform, etc.) and then my paperwork to say that I need to come back in a few months. They even gave me a "password" to listen for on the radio in case of an emergency - how funny is that.....! I thought of requesting a different password, something like "mushroom pizza" or "sun-dried laundry", things that are a bit closer to my heart, but then I thought better of it.......
And the uniform. Gevalt!!! 65% polyester - basically, these things are walking greenhouses. Not the greatest thing given how hot it can get here. The minute I put it on, in a well AC'ed place, I started dripping.......not a good start.
In all truth, the induction process was quite painless (save for the vaccinations). The people were all very sweet, very conscious that they needed to be "gentle" with the new recruits. Most of the people that I was with were 18 - this army thing is probably the most significant thing ever to happen to them. Some were a bit freaked out. Others came dressed like they were going out to a club. Weird. One girl had a passing resemblance (in how she looked and dressed, and yes, tattoos as well) to Amy Winehouse. Bouffont and all. Strange.....what can I say.
At one point, I had to go to the "officer" to get my "assignment". In retrospect, the entire induction process was run by the enlisted folks. Of note, the enlisted guy told me when I went in to meet the officer that I had to salute him. I had to gently tell the kid that I had no idea how to salute anybody and ask him if he could show me how. He did. And I did not get thrown in the jail for my saluting performance to the officer, so I will assume that I did it OK.....
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1. You looked great - even if you were sweating. But as I said, I'm helpless before a guy in uniform.
2. The "bet" uniforms (work clothes) are cotton - at least that how G's seem to be.
3. Behatzlacha! I suspect that G also doesn't know how to salute, and he was a combat soldier for more than 20 years before he became an officer in the Army Spokesperson's unit.
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