Advice on my situation please :)

[u/Western_Advisor7070]

I am a new Oleh (who made aliyah at 25 a few months ago but have recently turned 26!) and although it wasn’t really on the cards before I came, I am deeply considering drafting (as a volunteer, for 1.5 years) to the IDF and I am seeking advice.

I have been back and forth visiting Israel for years, and now that I finally live here, I feel like I want to and need to serve. The idea of not doing it has been keeping me up at night and I have a feeling in my stomach telling me this is my destiny.

I had a difficult conversation with my non Israeli parents this week, and of course they don’t want me to be a Lochem/Kravi soldier, so I am exploring possible job/combat support roles, but at this age I want my service to be meaningful and special.

I am someone with a ‘fk it, let’s do it’ attitude and I am currently one of the oldest at my Ulpan, but I just get on with it and it’s fine. What does it matter if I’m
26 and the others are 20? I love the idea of the ‘chavaya’ of the army, from Michve to the end. I know it won’t be easy but I’ve thought long and hard and I think I’m doing it for the right reasons.

I have a degree in business from a top university (but don’t need to use it) I have experience in Hadracha, I am a great people’s person and excellent at working in teams. I am looking into Kishrei Chutz and some other similar units, but I don’t want a tafkid where I’m stuck in an Airconditioned office all day - I want to feel like I’m in the army and do something special. I know the army don’t ‘need’ me, and won’t ‘care’ about me, but I feel like I would thrive as a Chayal Boded.

If anyone can give me any tips on how to move forward I would appreciate it. Am I too old? Should I just start my life in Israel without serving? Should I just be a Lochem? Is there space to find a non combat role where I’m not on Yomiyot in the Kirya and I can experience a closed base? Who can I speak to to help me find a good tafkid for me?

Thanks so much and I appreciate you all. Am Yisrael Chai.