Gadna (Israel)

Gadna (Hebrew: גדנ"ע‎) is an Israeli military program to prepare youth for their mandatory military service in the Israel Defense Forces or Border Police. A one week program of discipline and military learning run mostly by soldiers of the Nahal infantry brigade, as well as by soldiers recruited and trained especially for this matter. Gadna hosts an estimated 19,000 Israeli youth annually, as well as numerous foreign youths.

History

Gadna, an abbreviation for Gdudei No'ar (Hebrew: גדודי נוער‎; lit. youth battalions), was created before the Israeli declaration of independence. Trainees originally served as combatants for all intents and purposes, actively participating in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, particularly on the Jerusalem front.

Insignia

The commanders, the "Mefakdim" or "Mefakdot" (מפקדים or מפקדות, masculine and feminine plurals), who are sergeants and officers, wear either the green beret of the Nahal infantry brigade, (though they do not have the infantry badge on their beret, or the Nahal shoulder tag) or the general IDF green beret, wearing the Education and Youth Corps badge and tag instead. The commanders wear a brown braid on their left shoulders. Trainees in Gadna are issued uniforms consisting of fatigue or B uniform ("Bet Uniforms", מדי ב) pants and a shirt, a military belt, a canteen, and a canteen holder. Trainees do not receive military shoes. Upon arrival, trainees are given hats which must be worn at all times. Trainees with long hair (boys and girls as one) must always tie their hair.

Living in army tents or barracks, the youth are organized into squads. The squad has two leaders chosen by the commander. The highest youth is taken under the base officer's wing and wears a braid on their left shoulder, or multi-colored (striped) epaulets. If they wear the braid they wear the same color epaulet as the rest of their unit. The second highest youth commander is the sergeant. They wear special epaulets, usually black, and they never wear a braid.

Structure

The Gadna program is subordinate to the Magen division of the Education and Youth Corps.

Bases

Numerous bases were related to the Gadna program over the years, although as of 2008, only 3 operational Gadna bases remain:

• Sdeh Boker Gadna Base, in the Negev desert (the largest)
• Tzalmon Gadna Base, in the Lower Galilee
• Joara Gadna Base, on the Plains of Manasseh (the smallest)

Plans exist to upgrade and renovate these bases, which will likely be carried out before the 2009–10 school year.

Life in Gadna

While in the week long program all youth foreign and Israeli go through the same program. However, Israeli youth do other longer and more demanding programs in preparation for service in the IDF. Gadna participants wake up early and go to bed late. They learn about weapons, and learn how to take apart, clean and service the M-16 assault rifle. They also go through physical training and basic indoctrination. They learn about the history of the IDF and its great battles and heroes. Gadna participants also take part in maintaining the base including cleaning the grounds and kitchen duty. They also fire their weapons, go on short 'forced' marches (forced marches in full battle gear are common in all infantry units of the IDF).

Controversies

While the Gadna program has been criticized as "overly militaristic" by certain educators and professors in Israel, the Education and Youth Corps has prepared a program which would see more militaristic and combatant values inserted into the lessons conducted in the program, although less emphasis will be put on the physical aspect of the program.

Notable alumni

• Sergy Rikhter (born 1989), Olympic sport shooter who began shooting as part of a Gadna program