Soldier playing it safe
Practical joke – props used by soldiers
IDF practical joke: Helmet at the office
Veteran troops convince new recruit office ceiling unstable; army unimpressed
The first days in the army can be tough: Shock, fear, confusion, and especially, a willingness to do whatever you're told.
This is also what a fresh recruit went through, a young soldier who fell victim to a practical joke by his new friends – which ended with him sitting down to work at a computer wearing a helmet on his head.
Soldier convinced to wear helmet
The veteran soldiers told the soldier that the ceiling of the room where he was working was unstable and was liable to collapse on him, and even backed up their story with impressive and convincing fake documents.
The soldier did not want to take any chances, and came to work with the helmet.
Warning sign used by pranksters
However, commanders are less amused by the episode, and have launched an investigation in the unit following a Ynet inquiry. The practical jokers may now find themselves doing a stint in a military prison.
Practical jokes in the IDF have been commonplace for dozens of years, as is the case in armies around the world. Some of the combat units hold initiation rituals (which can degenerate into abuse at times,) but cozier and less combative units also celebrate the arrival of new soldiers, or stage jokes for soldiers who move up in the ranks.
It seems that a number of officers were also involved in this particular creative "production." Warning signs and construction ribbons were placed around the office warning of an unstable ceiling.
Scenes of the unfortunate soldier working at a computer with a helmet were captured by another soldier, and spread through the army’s e-mail system.
The IDF said that "the episode has been brought to the attention of the relevant commanders, and will be properly investigated. The appropriate conclusions will be drawn. The IDF views any act that can hurt the feelings of a soldier with severity, and this goes against the spirit and values of the IDF.”
