Final moments in civilian clothes
צילום: ירון ברנר
First army salary: Negative shekels
New recruits often shell out hundreds for supplementary military gear before even enlisting, Ynet poll reveals
Before going off to serve in Israel's Defense Forces, often at risk of one's life and for the paltry salary of 600 NIS (less than $150) per month, military recruits often start off service with a personal deficit: A brief survey of some new recruits in March 2007 revealed that a large percentage of them bought supplementary gear for the army, from their own cash stores.
In many cases, recruits and their parents buy unnecessary equipment, or such that is already provided by the army. In fact, the IDF insists that new recruits require no personal gear in order to be fully equipped for service.
So why the shopping sprees? They are often due to uncertainty by parents and children about what the enlistment process entails or simply due to efforts by army supply stores to convince recruits that they need more stuff.
Dudu Yeffet, manager of the Ricochet military supply chain's branch in a central Israeli mall, said that purchases by new recruits average between 600 to 800 NIS (about $150 to $200) and can reach sums as high as 2, 500 NIS (over $600).
A quick peek at the supply list provided by the army can give some explanation for these figures:
The following is a list of the average supply list personally purchased for the military (and based on the assumption that the 3 pairs of 'delicates' and the 3 cotton undershirts provided by the military will not last for the two or more weeks that soldiers usually spend in the field).
6 pairs of underwear – 150 NIS ($36)
6 pairs of socks – 100 NIS ($24)
6 pairs of undershirts – 150 NIS ($36)
Locks – 30 NIS ($7)
Shower shoes – 30 NIS ($7)
Flashlight – 50 NIS ($12)
Shoe polish - 20 NIS ($5)
Anti-chaffing cream – 40 NIS ($10)
Insect repellent – 25 NIS ($6)
Insoles – 50 NIS ($12)
Toiletries – 80 NIS ($20)
The total already reaches 725 NIS ($180), and that's before even factoring in a backpack, wristwatch, laundry bag, gloves, or wet-wipes.
One can only hope that avoiding a rash, shin splints or intense body odor is worth the cost.
