Hi, sorry that I haven't spotted this topic until now, but Im not that big on forum socializing and I tend to just hang out from time to time in the INTP section.
That said, may I ask how old you are? And whether this is just standard Israeli conscription and how long will it be for?
I come from South Africa and I had to do 2 years of military service after I left school. Later it was changed to one year due to all the political changes which were happening in my country. But psychologically, when I went in, I was of the understanding that I was going away for two years and I thoroughly hated the anticipation of that. I was 17 at the time. Too young to watch an 18 restricted movie and considered underage for sex.
Worse, I didn't get to go to the corps I initially signed up for. They said they had their quota, so they sent me to mechanized infantry. To Upington which is bang in the middle of the Kalahari Desert, a hellhole if there ever was one (or so I thought at the time).
I can wax lyrical about all the tribulations that I went through during that one year. But a few key things I can say are things which kept me focussed during that time.
The first 2 weeks are the worst because you are so way out of your element that you actually don't know what hit you. There were 5 suicides on base during those 2 weeks alone just in our company. If there were more in the other companies, I didnt hear about them, but Im sure there were. You are essentially ground into the dust by your commanding officers because the first thing they try and instil in you is discipline. This is where superiority of mind comes in, and INTPs are brilliant at this. We're used to being alone. We're used to people teasing us at school and trying to break down our moral fibre. Hell, from that point of view, it was a walk in the park because your lance corporal doesnt actually know you personally so he can't get personal. Although he'll quickly spot slackers so its worthwhile going in if you're used to a bit of exercise. (I was doing cycling 3 days a week until that point).
Which brings me to my next point, excersize and fitness. You'll get a lot of that. Because you need to be able to run and dodge bullets while on a 50km route march, and I guarantee you that you wont be ready for that the day you join even if you are fit. The problem is how they go about doing that. Its all about discipline (see above point) so they grind you into the ground telling you that you're a nobody and send you for a run around the parade ground as punishment for being a useless idiot. The thing is, you see, once you've figured out this strategy, that its actually not personal, you can actually laugh at it all inside and do the whole trip with good humour. (Dont laugh out loud, thats more grounds for further punishment exercises).
What you have to remember though is that you are not the only one. Everyone gets treated the same way, everyone is in the same boat. What matters is your attitude. MB typing means little in your first days of the army, other than being able to have a strong clear mind about things and be able to reason yourself out of digging yourself into a very deep dark black pit of despair.
My suggestion, take some books with you to read to keep your mind off of things in your spare time. You might even make friends like this - I used to lend all my books out and became quite popular, even tho I was very quiet. I even got to counsel people who came to me because they saw I was coping just fine with things.
So, basic training is the worst because they try and strip you of any dignity, and teach you discipline and make you fit. Once basic training is over, things do start to get a bit better (well, based on your attitude at least), because you start specialization training. I was able to get into a signals role which meant I got to play with radios. TECH!!!
(Which is partly why I am now a ham radio operator). Also, it dawned on me that mechanised infrantry, being what it is, is mechanised, so we were not foot soldiers (yayness!!) The third phase of training is where all the specialized divisions come together to do combat practice. This is particularly fun (again, based on your attitude) because you start to see how everything hangs together, the artillary, engineers, signals, infantry, air force, logistics, medics and the chefs (make friends with these guys!!). There is much for an INTP to be fascinated with here.
In my case, after training, our platoon got selected to be deployed in some of our hot spots during the apartheid uprising and freedom election period when Mandela got released and got to see some action. Not a full war mind you, but its a bit of reality that got thrown my way.
OK, well, this is all well and good, but one thing I always tell people who are amazed that I was in the military is that it was the best time of my life that I wish I never have to do again. Where else in the world do you get to destroy a mountainside with every possible weapon you can get your hands on. In the army you will get the opportunity to play with equipment you would never normally have the opportunity to use in your normal civilian life. We got to drive in tanks, recon and rapid deployment vehicles. Watch G5 cannons destroy old cars and trucks. You will visit places that are otherwise restricted and out of bounds, and some of these places are very interesting indeed. Pacifist or not, the experience is worth it in gold.
So while everyone else is giving you some very arbitrary advice to get out of it, or being plain sympathetic, what I can honestly say is that unless you have a trump card up your sleeve, you are probably going to go. So you might as well stare it straight in the eye and say 'Lets do it'.
The things you need to arm yourself with going in is
1) Psychological awareness. As stated above, they will grind you into the ground. This is all an act in order to instil discipline and fitness. Which in truth are both vital, it just sucks that they do it the way they do.
2) A good attitude. Not a snotty one - this will get you into all sorts of trouble. But if you tow the line, you'll get through OK. And get involved with your platoon. You will need their friendship like you have never needed anything else. Don't rat on them, even if you decide you're not going AWOL into town for the night with them. Protect them and they will protect you when you screw up another day.
And lastly, you really just need to get through the first few weeks. You have been ripped away from friends, family and everything you are familiar with. See it through and it will soon be OK. Soon you will be getting letters and parcels from your girlfriend and family and you will eagerly tear open the envelopes like everyone else to see news and gifts from them. And your heart will stop and your eyes will tear over when you read what they have to say. For your life in the army, you are tied to fate and God. Let it be, and enjoy the experience, for what its worth. You will come back with fascinating stories to tell, you will grow as a person, and people will be amazed at the stories you have to tell. Dare I say, you could be the life of the social gathering on some evenings when people find out about your unique stories.
Or when you meet other guys who did the army and can chat and reminisce and look down on all those civvie folk who don't have a clue what you're talking about.
If you have any questions, fire away.
.
(guess who burns them)
