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to be together just for a year or two - they will most likely be serving in the same unit for over 20 years. After an Israeli soldier's active duty (generally three years for men) he is in the reserves until his late 40's. One month a year he will be called up, sent back to his unit, and be working with the same people. Obviously, if a war breaks out, his call up will not be limited to 30 days and he may well find himself on the front lines both with his old comrades and newer, younger, men who joined many years after he did.

For another, Israel is a very small country. These same people who serve in the Army together are certain to run into each other to one degree or another outside of the army. In fact, the man who is your commanding officer in the reserves could well be your employee in civilian life. Indeed, the possibility of business contact is better for someone you served with than with anyone else. Just as American universities have an "old boy network", the same is true of Israeli Army units. If two people apply for a job, and one served in the same unit as the employer, guess who is going to get hired.

(Indeed, I once got out of a speeding ticket because the policewoman who pulled me over spotted an ID card I had in my wallet identifying me as being in her husband's reserve unit.)

As a veteran of both the U.S. and Israeli armies I am often asked which is a better fighting force. My answer? They are both exactly what their country needs - and each would be a catastrophe in the other nation.

Learn more about this author, Josh Wilde.
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