u/happy-snappy123

Hello,

I don’t have anyone to talk about this with - so I’m coming on here. I want to enlist as a lone soldier next year after I graduate highschool.

My community/ school is heavily anti-israel. I have struggled a lot with my classmates and even teacher because of their extreme opinions. Around this time my friends are starting to apply to university, and to be honest, I don’t know what to do.

First of all. I’m Ashkenazi Jewish. I overthink everything.

But I know I want to serve. I have known for a while now, what role/job exactly is still unsure to me, but I have time to figure that out.

The issue is that I don’t think I will ever be able to return home. My parents think I shouldn’t even put that I served in the army on any CV/ LinkedIn type thing, so employers don’t see it.

I know - why would I want to return to that if that’s their ideology? None of us want to live with antisemites, of course, but if I later want to study somewhere outside of Israel, maybe work outside of Israel, I guess I have to accept what comes with it.

Therefore im curious: if there are any lone soldiers who left their country and lost lots of connections, and lost their opportunity to a very different future (not saying I would prefer something different, but I do think about the “what ifs”), please let me know.

I don’t know anybody who can really understand how im feeling right now.

I am 17 and have been meaning to draft once I graduate highschool. I decided this a long time ago, and have been very sure of my decision although many people told me I’m crazy.

I don’t live in Israel, have pretty basic Hebrew, and wanted to go through Mahal and do Michve Alon.

I researched everything extensively, talked to multiple lone soldiers, and researched different units.

Recently, I’ve been hearing about the IDF’s lack of structure, how they do not uphold the lone solider rights (like leaving if family visits etc.), and generally the lack of consistency.

I don’t know how to move forward. I was so sure of my decision but am now having second thoughts. I don’t want to voluntarily place myself in a system that is unorganized and have a meaningless service. I didn’t think I would have too many issues with the lone solider mentality, my family and I are not overly close and I am quite independent in that regard.

However, now I fear that I will not be given any of my lone soldier “rights” and will spend 90% of my service sitting and wondering why I put myself in this situation. I see this a lot online, lone soldiers from America counting down the days until their service ends. I don’t want to put myself in this situation.

If anybody has some words of advice, let me know. Maybe the bad stuff is just over saturated, I know many people have great services.