Mixed Unit - Lions of Jordan (2018): Season 1, Episode 1 - Episode #1.1 - full transcript
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Terrorist!
Three rooms on the right,
three rooms on the left!
Wait!
Yana!
Yana.
It's okay, don't cry.
I'm not crying.
You are crying.
If you cry, I'll cry too.
Come on, stop it.
I feel very emotional.
Put on your sunglasses.
My name is Yana Rachmanov,
I'm 18 and a half from Holon.
Do you want anything?
Some peanut puffs?
Yeah.
My parents emigrated with
my older brother from Kazakhstan.
It was a hard,
after all,
they moved to a new country,
didn't know the language
or anyone here in Israel.
As a little girl, I hung out
a lot in the neighborhood
because my parents
were working two jobs.
There was one kid who
was constantly picking on me.
"Stinky Russian,
go back to where you came from."
Then one day,
for no reason,
he pinned me to the wall, strangled me.
For a while
I couldn't fall asleep at night,
I'd wake up hysterical
and cry to my mom,
"I'm scared to die,
"what's going to happen to me?"
There are images etched in your mind
that you can't forget.
At one point, my mom said,
"Learn how to protect yourself."
Since I got picked on when I was little,
you know how to get out
of every situation,
no matter what happens,
you're always ready for anything.
If someone picks on me,
he'll get hit
and then won't mess with me anymore.
Do you know what unit you're going to?
The Lions of the Jordan Valley.
-Okay.
With guys? -Yes.
You need to be at their level.
No less than them.
Okay?
Not mentally, not physically,
you won't get any slack.
You don't cut yourself any slack.
When I thought about
where I'll serve in the IDF, I said,
either a combat unit or nothing.
Only combat.
I didn't see any other option.
Combat is regarded
as something only guys can do,
and "Combat is hard,
you'll drop out in the middle,
"you won't make it, you'll cry,"
all that nonsense.
Recruits whose names I call out,
please board the bus waiting in the plaza.
But I don't care what they say.
I'm gonna do what I think
I can succeed at,
and I'll prove them wrong.
Bye.
Bye.
Everyone's crying as if it's the Russian army
where you don't come back for two years.
Good morning,
this is your first day in the IDF.
We'll start with each one of you
taking a hairband and making a ponytail.
Take off your earrings, necklaces, rings.
From now on you are soldiers.
"The Lord lift up His countenance
upon thee and give thee peace."
I'm telling you now what I always tell you.
We really believe in you,
we are very proud of you,
we know the road you have traveled.
"He who has granted us life and
sustained us and let us arrive at this time."
Take care of yourself.
The shame of immodesty!
The lie will be exposed!
No court will help you!
Goodbye, Moshe.
-Bye, Dad.
Moshe Eichenstein, 18,
from Kiryat Arba.
Growing up in Kiryat Arba means
"Allahu akbar" in the morning,
and you look at every vehicle
that pulls over,
maybe that guy will do a shooting attack,
and you think, wow, that guy
could stab me in the back,
that guy could shoot me,
or kidnap me.
You drive to work in the morning,
but don't know if you'll make it back.
My parents say that if we don't live there,
nobody will live there
and that area will just disappear.
But if you were to tell me
that if I cleared out all of Judea and Samaria
and there would be real peace,
of course I'd do it.
Do you think you'll be able
to get along in the army?
I hope I get a decent commander.
Okay, and if you don't?
If you get some jackass
who rides you all day long?
As a child I was problematic,
no question about it.
Always testing boundaries,
I didn't get along in any framework.
I didn't fit in
in any school,
and I had a police record.
Driving offenses.
When I was 13 or 14
I'd start my dad's car at night
after he'd gone to sleep,
once I drove to Be'er Sheva,
once to Jerusalem.
They caught me,
arrested me,
I got beaten.
I had one year of detention.
At first they didn't want to recruit me,
I fought for that for two years,
now suddenly...
it's about to happen.
Listen to me! All those in the back...
Get into the column.
I don't think
girls should be combat soldiers.
Walk quietly in two straight columns.
I don't know, go do some shopping,
go do whatever you want,
stay at home.
It doesn't make sense to me
seeing a girl with a vest and a gun
and a girl shooting a terrorist.
I don't think that works.
Women are too emotional.
Their hearts are weaker.
I can't imagine a girl attacking
and killing someone.
You're going to fill out a form.
Do it in an orderly manner on the side.
Understand?
Ofir Dolev?
Avigail Kapelner?
There's this part during the enlistment
sequence where we can sign a waiver.
If I want to get out of combat service,
this is the time.
It's now or never.
From the get-go,
the girls volunteered for combat duty.
Nobody forces them to,
and they sign on for longer,
for an extra eight months,
in integrated battalions.
Lots of girls signed the waiver
and then I had this thought...
maybe they know something I don't?
Maybe I should sign the waiver too?
I'm Avigail Kapelner, 19,
from Ramat Poleg in Netanya.
It's totally a rich-kid neighborhood.
People think Polegniks
live in Beverly Hills,
but ultimately we live in Netanya.
I get along with cynical people.
They have to be intelligent.
I have a hard time with people who
take a long time to understand things,
with slow people.
Intelligence is very important to me.
When I have a goal, I just work hard
to achieve it.
In 7th grade I joined
the Netanya Student Council.
I was the spokesperson for two years,
then I was deputy chair for a year.
I've spoken at Knesset committees.
I'm very ambitious.
I'm ready.
-That's it? You're ready?
I knew I'd go for a combat position.
I thought, okay,
if you're going for it, go all the way.
If you're serving in the army,
do it big-time."
I can't believe you're going.
Aren't you scared
of the physical aspect?
My mom says, and rightly so,
that I'm a couch potato.
So why would I want to do combat service,
running or special courses?
She's right.
I don't like running or sweating, but...
And the heat and the cold...
Okay, how bad could it be?
I'm gonna finish the training,
I'm gonna take my beret
and stick it in your face and say,
"See? I did it."
Girls, we're going to the quartermaster's now.
Follow me.
It's really exciting to put on the uniform
for the first time.
I love the order
and that everyone looks the same.
It seems right to me.
I felt I was a part of it.
Oh my god,
no way.
They gave me a tent-sized uniform.
That's not normal.
"Give me a different one!"
"No, no, no,
"it's fine, I got one like that too."
That's the smallest size there is.
Like I give a...
what you got.
I looked in the mirror and saw
that I look terrible in uniform.
A sack of potatoes in green.
Put down your bags, girls,
by your feet.
Commander-poo... -Quiet!
We just enlisted two hours ago.
I don't know anyone
or what to talk about,
everyone has their own life story,
and you have nothing in common
other than being in green uniforms,
which is very embarrassing and strange.
Let's go, girls, hurry up.
Only the bags you brought from home, not
the kitbags you got at the induction center.
Come to the bus door
in an orderly fashion.
Stand up straight.
Legs spread apart,
hands behind your back, let's go.
My name is Noam.
Noam Megged, from Herzliya.
I always dreamed of being a combat soldier.
I was really gung ho.
I dreamed of serving in a special unit.
A recon unit.
I studied in a pre-military academy
in Elisha.
It really prepared me for the army.
As far as discipline, behavior.
Really intensive training.
For me, the army would either be
a recon unit or a desk jockey.
Either I get into a recon unit
or I get a desk job.
A soldier from birth.
Look how excited I got
just from seeing tanks.
What a smile.
I picked you up here
and they almost kicked us out
because you got too close to the tank.
Day after day
I sent them faxes, emails,
you name it.
I fought until the final moments
before my enlistment.
They said, "We'll get back to you,
"We'll try, we'll check, we'll see."
A few months later they sent me a message
that I'd be assigned based on the army's needs,
and my assignment was integrated battalions.
When I say "up,"
you take your civilian bag from home
and put it on your back.
The assignment hurt my ego,
because it's girls,
and girls don't go behind enemy lines.
It was a dream that shattered.
It was like someone came
and squashed my dream
and said, you've got different plans,
you're not...
I could either go where I was
assigned, Lions of the Jordan Valley,
or refuse, and then go to jail.
Wow, I'm choking up.
We're going to Sayarim,
half an hour north of Eilat,
it's a long drive.
On the way, call your mom and dad, okay?
Mom, I look like a sack.
no matter what, we're going
to the seamstress on Friday,
I'm coming back here
with tight pants.
I can't, Mom. I look awful.
How should I introduce myself?
"Hi, I'm..."
"Karina Yudovich, 18,
from Carmiel"?
I was born in Ukraine
and immigrated to Israel in 2001.
Maybe put that on the side.
My mom says I'm hot-blooded
because I only date Moroccans,
and my friends are all like
roughnecks and Israeli.
I'm a Moroccan trapped
in a Ukrainian body.
Self-confidence is my middle name.
In my mind,
I'm the best, the most successful.
A queen.
I'm like that because
everything goes well for me.
If I want it, I get it.
I know I'm good,
I know I'm hot, I know it.
There are no better looking girls then me.
What do I look like?
Like a balloon.
A big one.
No, Mom, the pants are big,
not me.
I'm going to a combat unit,
because I'm not cut out for an office job.
Okay, Mom, and I want fish on Friday.
I'm hyperactive.
I don't like to laminate or file stuff,
write stuff down or number it.
That's not for me.
I think I'll be the most spoiled
and the most feminine one there.
But as feminine as I am,
I can also be a fighter.
They have to know
that underneath this show-off
is a black cat.
Do you know what "wasakh" is?
No!
None of you.
Can you just tell us what it means?
-Okay, listen.
most kids in my school
don't go to combat units,
okay? It's a thing.
But those who do go for combat,
like, they take their shoes
and dip them in tons of dirt,
they get them all dusty so it looks
like they've been in the field.
They want to look like fighters.
That's "wasakh," okay?
Now, why do girls usually go
to combat units?
Sure, to protect the homeland...
-For the "wasakh"?
Absolutely.
So "wasakh" means
putting on an act.
Yeah, but people sell
their souls to the devil
for red infantry boots.
They're the coolest boots in the IDF.
Let's all put our feet up and take a picture.
Wow!
The girls are starting to connect,
and it's more fun.
Connecting with someone so different,
like Avigail, like Almog,
like Yana, like Karina.
In civilian life, at home, I don't think
I'd ever connect with any of them.
Girls, quiet! Look at your watches.
Watches, Sergeant.
-3:30, go.
We arrive at the base and get off the buses
not knowing where we are
or what's around us,
and in the dark everything seems scary.
We didn't get a good first impression.
Does anyone know
where you are right now?
Sayarim.
Sayarim. Where is that?
Near Eilat.
In the south, half an hour from Eilat.
In Eilat I know, you go to the beach,
drink beer, go out to clubs...
This has nothing to do with that.
Hurry up!
The squad will stand at attention
for Commander Nehorai.
Attention!
I'm your commander from now on,
Commander Nehorai.
Anyone who wants to address me,
stand with your legs apart, hands behind
your back, "Attention, Commander Nehorai."
Am I clear?
-Yes, Commander Nehorai.
Suddenly somebody
with something on his arm,
who as a civilian
I would look at as a desk jockey,
tells me, "Do this, that and the other."
Nobody ever told me what to do.
Like, who's gonna tell me?
Okay, you see that mobile structure?
That's your quarters from now on.
Look at your watches.
Watches, Commander Nehorai.
In the time I tell you,
everyone puts their gear down
and stands next to a bed.
One minute, move.
Hurry up.
Time's up!
Bags on your beds.
What's the schedule?
Where are the showers?
How do you get up to the top bunk?
How do I get up?
You climb.
What if I have to pee, do I jump?
To receive the commander, the squad will
stand at attention. Two, three... -Attention!
To receive Commander Nehorai,
stand at attention, attention.
Okay, there are a few things I want to say.
Our squad will be very disciplined.
Everything will work
according to precise times.
Anyone not on time
will suffer the consequences.
Am I clear?
-Yes, Commander Nehorai.
Before I give you free time,
I want you to be ready for rack,
ready for bed,
anyone who needs to smoke
can smoke in the designated areas,
and pick up the butts.
If I find butts on the ground,
I'll put you on cleanup detail.
If I come and I find
anyone on the phone after the allotted time,
there will be harsh consequences.
Don't try me.
Look at your watches.
-Watches, Commander Nehorai.
Sixty minutes, move.
All right, cigarette time.
I'm not getting up from here, bro, no way.
I wanted to slap that guy
with the pita on his shoulder.
I wanted to break his face.
"Be quiet when I'm talking..."
I'll slap you, you idiot.
Where are you from, Almog?
From Be'er Sheva, bro.
And you?
Herzliya.
-Herzliya's awesome.
Tons of babes.
Totally.
There's an amazing party
tomorrow in Be'er Sheva.
I wanna die, bro.
I'm Almog Brand, 18,
from Be'er Sheva.
The Brand family's strong in Be'er Sheva,
the name "Brand."
I tattooed it here on my arm.
Being part of the Brand family in Be'er Sheva
opens a lot of doors.
It helps you get into clubs faster,
if you come with problematic
shirts and so on,
"I'm Liraz Brand's brother,"
and they take care of you right away.
Invitations, discounts...
Almog, what is this mess?
Get off my back.
No, Almog, I asked you, didn't I?
My mom says I'm spoiled,
the baby in the family.
Get up, let's clean this up.
"He needs to be fed,
cleaned up after.
"Gets up in the morning, doesn't care
about anything, pees, goes downstairs,
"has some coffee, a cigarette.
"Doesn't care what
how his room looks like,
"nothing bothers him."
Move.
I always got what I wanted.
The day I passed
the written driving test,
my mom went and ordered me a car.
The army's not summer camp or school.
The commanders call the shots. The guy's
only been there two months longer than you,
but he tells you what to do.
Okay. -So learn to accept that.
The IDF is very important
in the Brand family.
Both my parents are IDF retirees.
All my brothers were combat soldiers.
You can't think,
maybe I won't enlist?
No way.
Maybe I'll be a desk jockey?
No way either.
I don't know if an integrated battalion
is the highlight of the army,
but it could be interesting.
When I told my brothers I was going
to an integrated battalion,
they said,
"Just don't come back a girl with ponytails."
They're not really fighters.
When you get your period,
be gentle.
That's the stigma,
they're all girls, so it's much easier.
But you're a combat soldier in every respect.
You're on the border, there are infiltrators,
drug smuggling and arrests.
Good luck, buddy.
Give 'em hell.
Sure.
Where do we go to smoke here?
I don't get it, where do you live?
What's Kiryat Arba?
-Kiryat Arba, bro...
What is that?
-You don't know?
Should I?
It's half an hour
from your house.
So I'm supposed to know?
You know where Jerusalem is?
Yeah.
You go up at Beit Govrin,
pass the checkpoints...
You live past the checkpoint?
-Yeah.
So you're, like, a settler?
We're settlers, bro.
Religious home?
-Yep, my dad's a rabbi.
No way.
-In the army.
And you?
Any connection between
me and religion is purely coincidental.
I was a problematic kid.
-No way.
Yeah. -Really?
Are you kidding me?
Show me a car, I'll break into it.
-Yeah?
I took my dad's car one Shabbat...
Okay.
-I drove to Jerusalem,
then on the way back
the cops pulled me over.
I put the car into first gear, I went...
I hit the clutch.
Yeah. -You got away from him.
Then they arrested me.
Oh, they caught you, like in a chase?
-Yeah.
What did you get?
I was under house arrest for a year.
No way. -Lots of trials.
Didn't they give you
a hard time enlisting?
Of course they did, bro.
Yeah?
-I fought three years to enlist.
No way.
I went to the induction center
like 2.000 times
until they recruited me.
Why was it so important to you
to enlist?
Listen, bro...
How many years
have I been alive, 18 years?
Yeah.
-There were people protecting my house?
Okay.
-All around the house?
Especially you.
Isn't it time to do my share?
I guess so.
That's it.
To receive the commander...
Odelia. -Odelia,
the squad will stand at attention,
two, three... -Attention.
I'll be waking you up
tomorrow morning.
That's in seven hours.
That's the way it is, by regulation.
I'm giving you 15 minutes
to get ready, okay?
Yes, Commander Odelia.
Get into bed.
Listen... I have a problem.
I have to get up an hour earlier.
What for?
-To do my makeup.
You're not doing your makeup.
I can't go out like this,
with all the...
I'm sorry, but you're a combat soldier,
you don't put on makeup.
Put all your phones in this box.
Say what?
What did you say?
All your phones will be kept in there.
Oh my god, the hardest thing
to part with is my phone.
You're disconnected from everything,
your friends, your parents.
You don't know what's going on,
what people posted...
It's hard.
Okay, get into bed.
Sleep well, girls,
tomorrow's gonna be a hard day.
Good night.
Good morning, Squad 2C.
Good morning, Commander Odelia...
Let's try that again.
I say good morning,
you answer good morning.
Good morning, Squad 2C.
Good morning, Commander Odelia.
Let me get up,
have some coffee and breakfast,
then do whatever you want.
Seriously.
I want you outside
in your work uniforms
in five minutes, good luck.
Are you nuts?
Are you crazy? It's 5 am.
I used to go to sleep at 5 am
when I got home from partying.
You have 15 minutes to put on your dress
uniforms and stand outside in formation.
Go.
That's when you realize,
I'm in the army.
The second you start the stopwatch,
that's it.
How much time do we have?
Five more minutes.
All the girls in your company want to shower.
None of them want their stuff
knocked down
and they all want to do it
at the same time.
What is this? Give me a minute.
Come on, let's go, let's go.
Everyone dresses quickly
and gets all tangled up in their uniform,
it's the first time they're
putting them on by themselves.
"I don't know
how to buckle my belt!"
"How do you put on the pants
and the boots?"
I went out with one boot on, one boot off,
my clothes were unbuttoned,
you just can't do it.
Look at your watches.
Watches, Commander Yakov.
Look at your watches.
-Watches, Commander Yakov.
Shave and shine your boots,
then back in formation
and stand at attention
in 12 minutes, go.
Usually in the morning
no one talks to me until 30 minutes after
my cigarette and coffee.
Seven minutes to fill in
these questionnaires,
and I don't want to see anyone smoking.
No smoking, no smoking.
Now, I'm smart, I go to the side,
light a cigarette,
take a few drags...
and then just my luck, boom, the commander.
What? -What's up?
Is there a reason you're smoking?
It's just lit for the smell.
There's no lighting it for the smell,
put it out.
And keep the butt.
I can't stand him.
I wonder what the guys
in our platoon look like.
Karina, you lost an eyelash,
make a wish for them to be hot.
Thank God
this isn't the Border Police...
No...
You have to be a roughneck
to get into the Border Police.
They're roughnecks, but they're hot.
No, in the Border Police they just know
how to use Instagram filters,
so you think they're hot.
Girlfriend, look now... look.
Karina...
Hello!
Hi...
An officer...
I'm in love.
No, I don't believe
in love at first sight.
Why not, girl?
-Do you believe in love at first sight?
It's not love at first sight,
the guy looks good,
and boom, he caught my eye.
To receive the Sergeant Commander,
the platoon will stand at attention,
two, three... -Attention!
Look at your watches.
-Watches, Sergeant.
25 minutes, move.
Pasta with carbohydrate sauce...
Two columns of three, bon appetit.
Bon appetit, Company Sergeant!
What are you taking here?
-Bon appetit...
I don't know what to eat, bro.
-Me either,
it's gross, bro.
If I'm not mistaken... it's them.
What shave and shine they had...
Girl,
that's embarrassing.
They're taking things
a little lightly.
Kind of laid back.
Totally...
Wow, wow, wow...
We didn't get any butches.
We got great girls.
There was one there at the table
who didn't talk a lot.
Blonde with blue eyes, tall.
She looks really good.
We thought,
enough of this shyness,
and we went to talk to them.
What are your names?
I'm Almog, and this is Moshe.
-Moshe.
Do you have your phones on you
the whole time?
More or less, but if you want
the phone to make a call later,
I'll only give it to you, I don't want
everyone else asking for it.
That means he's trying to hit on you.
And he also meant for you to put
your number in the phone.
Where are you from?
Be'er Sheva.
-Where are you from?
I'm from the Camel Farm,
near Dimona.
What camel farm?
Only my family lives there.
There are 12 cabins and camels.
Are you a Bedouin?
My name is Naama Ulman,
I live on the Camel Farm.
My biggest dream
is to be a combat soldier and be a fighter.
I want to give my all for my country.
There's always this thing
where men are strong and women are weak,
but that's not true.
I really want a military career.
Lots of women didn't get
certain jobs in the army,
I'd love to be the first one who gets it.
Are you afraid of being with the guys?
That they might be better?
I don't think they'll be better.
They may have some advantages,
because our bodies
are built differently.
That's something we'll work on.
There's no shame in reconsidering, Naama.
You don't have to prove anything
if you see it's not for you.
We'll be proud of you no matter what.
Take care of yourself.
Bye, Dad.
Goodbye, my girl.
Bye bye.
So I tell them,
"For anyone who doesn't understand yet,
I'm your platoon commander.
"Four months from now
you'll become..."
"Four months from now
you'll become fighters."
I really worked on my first talk
with the soldiers,
I sat and wrote it out in my notebook.
It's my first time in front of them,
it can't look like
I don't know what to say.
It's a show, it sets the tone, like,
okay, that's the Platoon Commander.
I get it.
Platoon 3, I'm going to receive
the platoon commander.
Stand up and don't sit down
until she tells you otherwise.
This is our first meeting as a platoon,
with the guys,
and with the platoon commander.
Attention!
Hello, Platoon 3.
Hello, Platoon Commander.
It was stressful, because if she's tough,
if she's like,
"Drop and give me twenty,"
and she tortures us just for fun...
Look at your watches, Platoon 3.
Watches, Platoon Commander.
Four months from today
you will become fighters.
It gave me goosebumps,
it's like when you're on the starting line
and then you take off.
Like...
Welcome, Platoon 3,
to the Lions of the Jordan Battalion.
Look to your right,
at one another.
Look to your left.
Look deep.
Their eyes, their faces.
Get to know them.
These will be your brothers and sisters
for the next two years and eight months.
You're going to sweat,
you'll cough up blood,
you'll get to know the ground up close,
very close.
You'll be wounded,
you'll experience hardships,
you'll be built, empowered, mature,
protect the homeland,
and you'll do it together.
Shoulder to shoulder,
brothers and sisters in arms.
The Platoon Commander seems like
she can put you on the path,
give you a push,
so we'll be the best.
First and foremost,
we're here to be fighters.
To protect the borders,
to protect the country.
We have the privilege
of protecting our home.
The Platoon Commander
is the real deal,
she really motivates us.
There's no room here for anyone
who doesn't love this job.
You need to know how to love what you do.
Not necessarily because it's easy,
because it's not easy.
Not necessarily because it's fun,
because it's not always fun.
You love it because you love the country,
you love your friends.
Where do we build that?
Here and now.
Look at your watches.
Watches, Platoon Commander.
15 seconds, two columns facing that way,
get your weapons,
do it right. 15, move.
I'm looking forward to getting my rifle.
It'll be cool.
I always wanted to be in a combat unit,
shoot a rifle and storm.
This is Rahamim, bless his soul
Mine's Nebuchadnezzar, hi.
Mine's called Killer.
This is Britney, bitch.
Nebuchadnezzar will protect everyone.
We're at the shooting range complex.
The goal of the training is shooting
to calibrate the weapons.
I'm excited for the first shooting range.
I've fired a gun a few times before,
at the pre-military academy.
Insert the magazine at an angle!
I think I'll be totally fine,
I want to impress the commanders.
Weapon...
Weapon...
Load!
Load!
Hard!
Oh my god.
I have no problem with the whole
guys and girls together thing.
The problem I do have is
them lowering the level
because of female soldiers.
Everything okay?
-Yes, it's just too close.
Cease fire!
-Cease fire!
Okay? -Yes, we can continue.
Permission to continue!
Don't turn this into a summer camp.
Oh my god... -It's okay.
How was it?
You stressed me out when you said
it would hit me in the nose.
They've lowered the level,
now any girl can be a fighter.
Any girl.
You wish, Moshe.
Girls can't fight like men, period.
Terrorist!
Nice. This is how it should be.
Excellent.
Good set.
The guys think they're Rambo
or 007,
because they're guys
and they're in an integrated battalion,
so they need to boost their egos,
because they don't
consider it a combat unit.
Cease fire! -Cease fire!
"I'll say I'm the best because I'm a man,
"and my competition here is girls."
And that drives me crazy,
because it's not true.
When you're ready, you have permission
to release one bullet.
May I?
Yes.
There's a fly here.
Engagement!
Are you done shooting? -I haven't started.
All the gunpowder from the girl next to me
got into my eyes,
the cartridges flew into my face.
It stressed me out
and I decided not to shoot.
They're women,
God created them different.
Go do some shopping.
Is something funny, Platoon 3?
I don't understand.
It's unbelievable, bro.
Engagement!
Excellent.
You have a lot to improve.
Standing positions,
weapons at 60 degrees!
Did you do it this time?
It was fucking easy.
The guys don't easily show weakness.
They distort the truth
and say it isn't hard for them,
but like...
who are you kidding?
We can see it's hard on you.
You have permission to cross the firing line
and run to the targets!
It's a firing error,
and something moved there, okay?
Is it possible you moved afterwards?
-No.
No, no... it doesn't make sense.
-Don't you see?
Women can't be fighters,
they fucking can't.
Everyone can go fuck themselves,
there's no such thing as girl fighters.
I'm serious.
Should we ask some people here?
What's it got to do with people?
Who cries more, guys or girls?
But how's that relevant?
You know it's relevant.
I don't cry.
Koren, where do women need to be?
Where should they be, learn Hebrew!
Where should women be?
In the kitchen.
Did you hear that? -No.
"Women in the kitchen,"
that's chauvinism.
It's a way of life.
-No it's not.
Sure it is.
No it's not.
-No question about it.
Anyway, we have kitchen duty today,
the kitchen here is dirty, just saying.
Great, then go clean it up.
I'm busy cleaning my gun.
-I think you're better at it,
just like you're cleaning your gun,
you can...
Like, bro, we're in the 21st century,
that's a bit behind us.
Like 100 years or so.
At night, when we go to pee,
where do the girls go to pee?
Fine.
-You go to the mountain.
Something like this.
-Why are you comparing?
I don't even leave the container,
I just stand like this.
Fine, but why are you comparing
physiological differences?
If you want equality,
then take it all the way.
Okay, but physically we can't,
so what do you want?
There you go,
so there's no equality here.
What's that got to do with it?
Yes, women are different from men,
and men are better at some things
because you have different hormones
and that gives you an advantage,
but that doesn't mean
we can't be fighters.
No problem.
-It doesn't mean anything about us.
In my opinion, women have abilities.
But not in the military.
So what do you say that at the end of basic
training I'll prove you wrong?
If you prove me wrong,
I'll really respect you. -Cool.
We're gonna a very interesting
basic training. -Be careful, Moshe.
Commander Ada is gonna give me hell
for what I just said.
The girls heard you, so you start trembling?
Wow...
Stand behind what you said.
-Oh my god...
Oh my god...
They really yelled at us.
She's the deputy...
Deputy platoon master sergeant.
"Get out of the room!"
She started yelling at us,
so we stood in formation,
but there were only three of us,
so how do we stand in formation?
One here, one here, one there.
He says, "That doesn't make sense,
the sides aren't even."
Suddenly the phone rings,
we start dancing...
You're gonna get so disciplined here,
I can't wait for you to realize
a week from now that you gotta
shut up after we yell "attention."
Forget discipline, we've been here
more than a day, that's enough.
Stop it. If they start to run us around
because of you...
God forbid!
-I'll go room by room...
I'll cut out your tongues...
You pay the price for your mistakes.
All the Ashkenazi girls in my class,
I didn't like them too much.
The ones who said, "Be quiet, they'll
kick us out, they'll do this and that..."
I don't like people who think they're better
than us.
Can I ask you a question?
Sure.
What kind of a fashion statement
is that beard?
You look like a rapist.
Seriously, do you like it?
What did he just say?
"I'm a rapist, so watch out, girls,"
that's what he said.
Oh, come on... -I don't know
what you girls are doing here...
How funny...
-I say, go to your rooms.
Rape, that's funny.
Not really.
They have no filters
for what comes out of their mouth.
That talk is so... how did he say it?
Sexified...
Sexist.
What is that word?
Don't use sophisticated words.
Every minute I spend with the guys
makes me feel like my IQ
is dropping lower and lower...
There's no such thing,
"a sexified combination..."
Get outta here!
They're funny
because they're stupid.
Good night, girls.
Good night.
It infuriates me that they're so childish.
Like, there are psychology books
about this.
That's fine.
In general, men are less mature.
But there are also levels
of how less mature you are,
and they're just taking it to the extreme.
I expected more,
and it's very hard
to hide my disappointment.
It's not nice, but I'm really disappointed.
I didn't come here
to be a fighter in an integrated unit
just to be told by guys that I can't do it.
The guys in my battalion, my platoon.
Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?
This is why I'm upset
I'm not in an all-men's unit.
Just guys.
I always thought
integrated service was great,
but now that I'm serving with them,
I don't feel like it.
Everyone supports, helps
and covers for each other.
Here? It's like this.
Our formation isn't proportional
to the number of people in our platoon.
You're there, next to...
There, see that gap?
Fill it.
The commanders told us to organize
a formation with the whole platoon.
I said I'd do it first, in front of everyone,
so that everyone would have
an example of how a formation stands,
and then the mess began.
When's the formation?
In eight minutes,
get all the guys here now, Yair.
Don't leave your rifle or canteen behind,
don't leave yourself behind,
and don't leave your friends behind,
that's the most important thing.
Everyone stand up, hurry.
I don't have the patience for this nonsense.
To receive the commanders,
stand at attention, attention!
It's so hot. -Quiet!
Next time, the formation
will stand the right way.
Anyone whose formation isn't laid
out this way, improves it. Is that clear?
Yes, Commander Ada.
Koren, put your gear here.
Stein, go to the base.
It's not set up the right way.
Turn it around.
She's pretending she's gung ho,
like she's commander.
Gimme a break.
I don't think you understand.
Just because yours is ready
doesn't mean the platoon is ready.
We'll do it over and over again,
even if yours is ready.
Look at your watches.
I want the formation to be ready
and you helping your friends
in 30 seconds, move.
But how do I set it up?
Don't drive me crazy.
I realize coming here
wasn't the guys' number one aspiration,
but you're already
in this situation,
so give it all you've got and be the best.
What? -Why?
She wants us to be ready,
so we're getting ready!
She was so negative, jeez.
Turn it around, Almog.
-10, let's go.
The guys did nothing,
we arranged everything on our own.
He's got two, one on top of the other.
Why are you staring at me?
They're so obnoxious, standing there,
watching us and not working.
Girls, how much time is left?
Like, that's not my job.
I came here to be a fighter,
I didn't come here to arrange
the guys' gear.
Give me the helmet,
do something!
Oh my god, what a mess.
They all got their periods.
At the same time.
Leave it.
Go to your spot.
The girls are more mature than the men.
We don't make as much fun
of everything.
Naama.
There's no time, Naama.
-Quick, do it.
To receive the commander,
stand at attention. Attention!
This is a disgrace!
People are looking from the outside
and saying, Platoon 3 is a disgrace!
Our guys are useless
and that really pisses me off.
What really bothers me
is that instead of the platoon
lifting each other up,
the girls make us look bad
in front of the commanders.
Aren't they ashamed?
That's not right, bro.
We need to talk to them.
No,
they talk bullshit all day long,
they love talking bullshit.
Women fighters is a nice thing.
But it doesn't suit all women.
If I were a woman, I wouldn't bring
myself down to the level
of taking away my femininity
and all those things
I'm used to on a daily basis.
I'm kidding, bro, I love them.
I always thought
the integrated service was great,
but now that I'm serving with them,
I don't feel like it.
It's really depressing when someone says,
"Platoon 3, you're a disgrace."
Not because of us, because of them.
We were running around,
helping them the whole time
and they just stood there!
I was dragging their things
and they didn't even help me.
They just stood there!
Like this.
"Set it up for me."
Like, I was on the ground anyway
and they were above me,
I looked up and I saw them
looking at me, like I'm...
There's a lot of male ego around here.
They're always arguing,
they're very childish, some are really lazy.
The guys are really useless.
It's not that they're useless,
they don't understand why we're with them.
They think they should be alone.
Moshe said the girls shouldn't be here,
they should be in the kitchen.
That pissed me off!
The platoon commander is better
than any male combat soldier,
she's amazing.
-How could he say something like that
right in front of the commander?
Naama has a problem.
"Come here, take this..."
Who does she think she is?
Why does she think she's all that?
What is she, the platoon commander?
They're bringing us down
and pissing us off
in front of the commanders.
What's the deal?
I don't understand,
instead of supporting us
and saying, "You can do this!"
they say,
"We're twice as fast as you guys,
"you're not gonna make it."
Aren't you ashamed?
This is why I'm upset
I'm not in an all-men's unit.
Just guys.
Everyone supports, helps
and covers for each other.
Here? It's like this.
He still thinks he can be
in an all-men's unit.
Gimme a break.
-My arm is like his leg.
I'm sure that in a real situation,
they'll be serious.
Who'd take them into a real situation?
They just think...
that integrated battalions are pointless,
so they don't take it seriously.
-Exactly.
I didn't come here to be
a fighter in an integrated unit
just to be told by guys that I can't do it.
The guys in my battalion, my platoon.
I can't believe we have a march today.
I feel like dying.
This is our first march.
We're really stressing out.
Good afternoon.
Good afternoon, Company Commander.
We're going to do our first march
as a company.
If you're having a hard time, look around you,
you'll see people who are having a harder time.
Push them, forget how hard it is.
Good luck.
Thank you, Company Commander.
They're pushing us all day, and that's
the most tiring thing in the world,
we hardly slept,
my body's exhausted,
and then we have a march.
With a vest and a rifle and gear.
I'm behind Yana.
The water bag contains
nine bottles of water,
it weighs half a ton
and you carry it while wearing a vest.
Yana, are you okay?
You have your rifle too.
-Yana, you okay?
14 kilos.
It's crazy.
Platoon 3!
Nobody's gonna disgrace my march.
Hold your weapon in both hands,
maintain orderly gaps,
push each other ahead
when it gets tough.
Weapons in two hands, move your legs,
start walking!
A march like this makes you realize
combat basic training has begun.
Silence!
And there's more discipline than usual.
You can't say a word.
After a kilometer you start breathing hard.
After a kilometer and a half,
it gets really annoying.
The truth is, I don't know
how the girls are handling it.
My shoulders are all numb,
all I feel now is my legs.
It hurts...
Okay, I know.
Karina was crying,
because her leg really hurt
and she had a hard time breathing.
But she didn't give up.
My legs are killing me,
but I have to show them I can do it,
I can't stop now.
It doesn't matter how I feel.
The girls worked hard.
They went all out,
they didn't give up.
Honestly, I'm in shock.
I never believed it would happen.
It changes the way you think,
when you see a girl,
she's doing this, that and the other.
It's really hard. I'm tired.
My leg hurts.
But now I have to carry the stretcher.
That's when I tell myself,
"Okay, Karin,
"go for broke."
Hip height, lift.
Hip height, lift.
Platoon 3, follow me!
Yes, it's tiring. Yes, it hurts,
yes, it's irritating, yes, it's heavy.
This is what you're gonna be doing
for the next three years.
Karina is so small
and she's carrying a stretcher.
She's a fighter.
Karina, want me to replace you?
I didn't think I'd say that.
But there's a change here.
I can see the potential,
that they can be fighters.
The march really bonded us.
Everyone had problems
and we were all hurting
and we were all dead tired,
but it's exciting.
There are things you experience together,
that even your very closest friends
couldn't understand.
You couldn't find something
like this anywhere else.
Stretcher, to hip height.
Stretcher, to the ground.
To receive the Platoon Commander,
stand at attention,
attention!
Dismissed.
How was it, Platoon 3?
Amazing, Platoon Commander!
Platoon 3...
it was a good march.
I'm proud of you.
I'm proud to lead this platoon.
You led the force very well.
This was just our first march.
We've started off strong,
and from here on out
we're going to continue being great.
Lions! -Of the Jordan Valley!
Lions! -Of the Jordan Valley!
With me! -Battle!
With me! -Battle!
With me! -Battle! Battle! Battle!
---
Terrorist!
Three rooms on the right,
three rooms on the left!
Wait!
Yana!
Yana.
It's okay, don't cry.
I'm not crying.
You are crying.
If you cry, I'll cry too.
Come on, stop it.
I feel very emotional.
Put on your sunglasses.
My name is Yana Rachmanov,
I'm 18 and a half from Holon.
Do you want anything?
Some peanut puffs?
Yeah.
My parents emigrated with
my older brother from Kazakhstan.
It was a hard,
after all,
they moved to a new country,
didn't know the language
or anyone here in Israel.
As a little girl, I hung out
a lot in the neighborhood
because my parents
were working two jobs.
There was one kid who
was constantly picking on me.
"Stinky Russian,
go back to where you came from."
Then one day,
for no reason,
he pinned me to the wall, strangled me.
For a while
I couldn't fall asleep at night,
I'd wake up hysterical
and cry to my mom,
"I'm scared to die,
"what's going to happen to me?"
There are images etched in your mind
that you can't forget.
At one point, my mom said,
"Learn how to protect yourself."
Since I got picked on when I was little,
you know how to get out
of every situation,
no matter what happens,
you're always ready for anything.
If someone picks on me,
he'll get hit
and then won't mess with me anymore.
Do you know what unit you're going to?
The Lions of the Jordan Valley.
-Okay.
With guys? -Yes.
You need to be at their level.
No less than them.
Okay?
Not mentally, not physically,
you won't get any slack.
You don't cut yourself any slack.
When I thought about
where I'll serve in the IDF, I said,
either a combat unit or nothing.
Only combat.
I didn't see any other option.
Combat is regarded
as something only guys can do,
and "Combat is hard,
you'll drop out in the middle,
"you won't make it, you'll cry,"
all that nonsense.
Recruits whose names I call out,
please board the bus waiting in the plaza.
But I don't care what they say.
I'm gonna do what I think
I can succeed at,
and I'll prove them wrong.
Bye.
Bye.
Everyone's crying as if it's the Russian army
where you don't come back for two years.
Good morning,
this is your first day in the IDF.
We'll start with each one of you
taking a hairband and making a ponytail.
Take off your earrings, necklaces, rings.
From now on you are soldiers.
"The Lord lift up His countenance
upon thee and give thee peace."
I'm telling you now what I always tell you.
We really believe in you,
we are very proud of you,
we know the road you have traveled.
"He who has granted us life and
sustained us and let us arrive at this time."
Take care of yourself.
The shame of immodesty!
The lie will be exposed!
No court will help you!
Goodbye, Moshe.
-Bye, Dad.
Moshe Eichenstein, 18,
from Kiryat Arba.
Growing up in Kiryat Arba means
"Allahu akbar" in the morning,
and you look at every vehicle
that pulls over,
maybe that guy will do a shooting attack,
and you think, wow, that guy
could stab me in the back,
that guy could shoot me,
or kidnap me.
You drive to work in the morning,
but don't know if you'll make it back.
My parents say that if we don't live there,
nobody will live there
and that area will just disappear.
But if you were to tell me
that if I cleared out all of Judea and Samaria
and there would be real peace,
of course I'd do it.
Do you think you'll be able
to get along in the army?
I hope I get a decent commander.
Okay, and if you don't?
If you get some jackass
who rides you all day long?
As a child I was problematic,
no question about it.
Always testing boundaries,
I didn't get along in any framework.
I didn't fit in
in any school,
and I had a police record.
Driving offenses.
When I was 13 or 14
I'd start my dad's car at night
after he'd gone to sleep,
once I drove to Be'er Sheva,
once to Jerusalem.
They caught me,
arrested me,
I got beaten.
I had one year of detention.
At first they didn't want to recruit me,
I fought for that for two years,
now suddenly...
it's about to happen.
Listen to me! All those in the back...
Get into the column.
I don't think
girls should be combat soldiers.
Walk quietly in two straight columns.
I don't know, go do some shopping,
go do whatever you want,
stay at home.
It doesn't make sense to me
seeing a girl with a vest and a gun
and a girl shooting a terrorist.
I don't think that works.
Women are too emotional.
Their hearts are weaker.
I can't imagine a girl attacking
and killing someone.
You're going to fill out a form.
Do it in an orderly manner on the side.
Understand?
Ofir Dolev?
Avigail Kapelner?
There's this part during the enlistment
sequence where we can sign a waiver.
If I want to get out of combat service,
this is the time.
It's now or never.
From the get-go,
the girls volunteered for combat duty.
Nobody forces them to,
and they sign on for longer,
for an extra eight months,
in integrated battalions.
Lots of girls signed the waiver
and then I had this thought...
maybe they know something I don't?
Maybe I should sign the waiver too?
I'm Avigail Kapelner, 19,
from Ramat Poleg in Netanya.
It's totally a rich-kid neighborhood.
People think Polegniks
live in Beverly Hills,
but ultimately we live in Netanya.
I get along with cynical people.
They have to be intelligent.
I have a hard time with people who
take a long time to understand things,
with slow people.
Intelligence is very important to me.
When I have a goal, I just work hard
to achieve it.
In 7th grade I joined
the Netanya Student Council.
I was the spokesperson for two years,
then I was deputy chair for a year.
I've spoken at Knesset committees.
I'm very ambitious.
I'm ready.
-That's it? You're ready?
I knew I'd go for a combat position.
I thought, okay,
if you're going for it, go all the way.
If you're serving in the army,
do it big-time."
I can't believe you're going.
Aren't you scared
of the physical aspect?
My mom says, and rightly so,
that I'm a couch potato.
So why would I want to do combat service,
running or special courses?
She's right.
I don't like running or sweating, but...
And the heat and the cold...
Okay, how bad could it be?
I'm gonna finish the training,
I'm gonna take my beret
and stick it in your face and say,
"See? I did it."
Girls, we're going to the quartermaster's now.
Follow me.
It's really exciting to put on the uniform
for the first time.
I love the order
and that everyone looks the same.
It seems right to me.
I felt I was a part of it.
Oh my god,
no way.
They gave me a tent-sized uniform.
That's not normal.
"Give me a different one!"
"No, no, no,
"it's fine, I got one like that too."
That's the smallest size there is.
Like I give a...
what you got.
I looked in the mirror and saw
that I look terrible in uniform.
A sack of potatoes in green.
Put down your bags, girls,
by your feet.
Commander-poo... -Quiet!
We just enlisted two hours ago.
I don't know anyone
or what to talk about,
everyone has their own life story,
and you have nothing in common
other than being in green uniforms,
which is very embarrassing and strange.
Let's go, girls, hurry up.
Only the bags you brought from home, not
the kitbags you got at the induction center.
Come to the bus door
in an orderly fashion.
Stand up straight.
Legs spread apart,
hands behind your back, let's go.
My name is Noam.
Noam Megged, from Herzliya.
I always dreamed of being a combat soldier.
I was really gung ho.
I dreamed of serving in a special unit.
A recon unit.
I studied in a pre-military academy
in Elisha.
It really prepared me for the army.
As far as discipline, behavior.
Really intensive training.
For me, the army would either be
a recon unit or a desk jockey.
Either I get into a recon unit
or I get a desk job.
A soldier from birth.
Look how excited I got
just from seeing tanks.
What a smile.
I picked you up here
and they almost kicked us out
because you got too close to the tank.
Day after day
I sent them faxes, emails,
you name it.
I fought until the final moments
before my enlistment.
They said, "We'll get back to you,
"We'll try, we'll check, we'll see."
A few months later they sent me a message
that I'd be assigned based on the army's needs,
and my assignment was integrated battalions.
When I say "up,"
you take your civilian bag from home
and put it on your back.
The assignment hurt my ego,
because it's girls,
and girls don't go behind enemy lines.
It was a dream that shattered.
It was like someone came
and squashed my dream
and said, you've got different plans,
you're not...
I could either go where I was
assigned, Lions of the Jordan Valley,
or refuse, and then go to jail.
Wow, I'm choking up.
We're going to Sayarim,
half an hour north of Eilat,
it's a long drive.
On the way, call your mom and dad, okay?
Mom, I look like a sack.
no matter what, we're going
to the seamstress on Friday,
I'm coming back here
with tight pants.
I can't, Mom. I look awful.
How should I introduce myself?
"Hi, I'm..."
"Karina Yudovich, 18,
from Carmiel"?
I was born in Ukraine
and immigrated to Israel in 2001.
Maybe put that on the side.
My mom says I'm hot-blooded
because I only date Moroccans,
and my friends are all like
roughnecks and Israeli.
I'm a Moroccan trapped
in a Ukrainian body.
Self-confidence is my middle name.
In my mind,
I'm the best, the most successful.
A queen.
I'm like that because
everything goes well for me.
If I want it, I get it.
I know I'm good,
I know I'm hot, I know it.
There are no better looking girls then me.
What do I look like?
Like a balloon.
A big one.
No, Mom, the pants are big,
not me.
I'm going to a combat unit,
because I'm not cut out for an office job.
Okay, Mom, and I want fish on Friday.
I'm hyperactive.
I don't like to laminate or file stuff,
write stuff down or number it.
That's not for me.
I think I'll be the most spoiled
and the most feminine one there.
But as feminine as I am,
I can also be a fighter.
They have to know
that underneath this show-off
is a black cat.
Do you know what "wasakh" is?
No!
None of you.
Can you just tell us what it means?
-Okay, listen.
most kids in my school
don't go to combat units,
okay? It's a thing.
But those who do go for combat,
like, they take their shoes
and dip them in tons of dirt,
they get them all dusty so it looks
like they've been in the field.
They want to look like fighters.
That's "wasakh," okay?
Now, why do girls usually go
to combat units?
Sure, to protect the homeland...
-For the "wasakh"?
Absolutely.
So "wasakh" means
putting on an act.
Yeah, but people sell
their souls to the devil
for red infantry boots.
They're the coolest boots in the IDF.
Let's all put our feet up and take a picture.
Wow!
The girls are starting to connect,
and it's more fun.
Connecting with someone so different,
like Avigail, like Almog,
like Yana, like Karina.
In civilian life, at home, I don't think
I'd ever connect with any of them.
Girls, quiet! Look at your watches.
Watches, Sergeant.
-3:30, go.
We arrive at the base and get off the buses
not knowing where we are
or what's around us,
and in the dark everything seems scary.
We didn't get a good first impression.
Does anyone know
where you are right now?
Sayarim.
Sayarim. Where is that?
Near Eilat.
In the south, half an hour from Eilat.
In Eilat I know, you go to the beach,
drink beer, go out to clubs...
This has nothing to do with that.
Hurry up!
The squad will stand at attention
for Commander Nehorai.
Attention!
I'm your commander from now on,
Commander Nehorai.
Anyone who wants to address me,
stand with your legs apart, hands behind
your back, "Attention, Commander Nehorai."
Am I clear?
-Yes, Commander Nehorai.
Suddenly somebody
with something on his arm,
who as a civilian
I would look at as a desk jockey,
tells me, "Do this, that and the other."
Nobody ever told me what to do.
Like, who's gonna tell me?
Okay, you see that mobile structure?
That's your quarters from now on.
Look at your watches.
Watches, Commander Nehorai.
In the time I tell you,
everyone puts their gear down
and stands next to a bed.
One minute, move.
Hurry up.
Time's up!
Bags on your beds.
What's the schedule?
Where are the showers?
How do you get up to the top bunk?
How do I get up?
You climb.
What if I have to pee, do I jump?
To receive the commander, the squad will
stand at attention. Two, three... -Attention!
To receive Commander Nehorai,
stand at attention, attention.
Okay, there are a few things I want to say.
Our squad will be very disciplined.
Everything will work
according to precise times.
Anyone not on time
will suffer the consequences.
Am I clear?
-Yes, Commander Nehorai.
Before I give you free time,
I want you to be ready for rack,
ready for bed,
anyone who needs to smoke
can smoke in the designated areas,
and pick up the butts.
If I find butts on the ground,
I'll put you on cleanup detail.
If I come and I find
anyone on the phone after the allotted time,
there will be harsh consequences.
Don't try me.
Look at your watches.
-Watches, Commander Nehorai.
Sixty minutes, move.
All right, cigarette time.
I'm not getting up from here, bro, no way.
I wanted to slap that guy
with the pita on his shoulder.
I wanted to break his face.
"Be quiet when I'm talking..."
I'll slap you, you idiot.
Where are you from, Almog?
From Be'er Sheva, bro.
And you?
Herzliya.
-Herzliya's awesome.
Tons of babes.
Totally.
There's an amazing party
tomorrow in Be'er Sheva.
I wanna die, bro.
I'm Almog Brand, 18,
from Be'er Sheva.
The Brand family's strong in Be'er Sheva,
the name "Brand."
I tattooed it here on my arm.
Being part of the Brand family in Be'er Sheva
opens a lot of doors.
It helps you get into clubs faster,
if you come with problematic
shirts and so on,
"I'm Liraz Brand's brother,"
and they take care of you right away.
Invitations, discounts...
Almog, what is this mess?
Get off my back.
No, Almog, I asked you, didn't I?
My mom says I'm spoiled,
the baby in the family.
Get up, let's clean this up.
"He needs to be fed,
cleaned up after.
"Gets up in the morning, doesn't care
about anything, pees, goes downstairs,
"has some coffee, a cigarette.
"Doesn't care what
how his room looks like,
"nothing bothers him."
Move.
I always got what I wanted.
The day I passed
the written driving test,
my mom went and ordered me a car.
The army's not summer camp or school.
The commanders call the shots. The guy's
only been there two months longer than you,
but he tells you what to do.
Okay. -So learn to accept that.
The IDF is very important
in the Brand family.
Both my parents are IDF retirees.
All my brothers were combat soldiers.
You can't think,
maybe I won't enlist?
No way.
Maybe I'll be a desk jockey?
No way either.
I don't know if an integrated battalion
is the highlight of the army,
but it could be interesting.
When I told my brothers I was going
to an integrated battalion,
they said,
"Just don't come back a girl with ponytails."
They're not really fighters.
When you get your period,
be gentle.
That's the stigma,
they're all girls, so it's much easier.
But you're a combat soldier in every respect.
You're on the border, there are infiltrators,
drug smuggling and arrests.
Good luck, buddy.
Give 'em hell.
Sure.
Where do we go to smoke here?
I don't get it, where do you live?
What's Kiryat Arba?
-Kiryat Arba, bro...
What is that?
-You don't know?
Should I?
It's half an hour
from your house.
So I'm supposed to know?
You know where Jerusalem is?
Yeah.
You go up at Beit Govrin,
pass the checkpoints...
You live past the checkpoint?
-Yeah.
So you're, like, a settler?
We're settlers, bro.
Religious home?
-Yep, my dad's a rabbi.
No way.
-In the army.
And you?
Any connection between
me and religion is purely coincidental.
I was a problematic kid.
-No way.
Yeah. -Really?
Are you kidding me?
Show me a car, I'll break into it.
-Yeah?
I took my dad's car one Shabbat...
Okay.
-I drove to Jerusalem,
then on the way back
the cops pulled me over.
I put the car into first gear, I went...
I hit the clutch.
Yeah. -You got away from him.
Then they arrested me.
Oh, they caught you, like in a chase?
-Yeah.
What did you get?
I was under house arrest for a year.
No way. -Lots of trials.
Didn't they give you
a hard time enlisting?
Of course they did, bro.
Yeah?
-I fought three years to enlist.
No way.
I went to the induction center
like 2.000 times
until they recruited me.
Why was it so important to you
to enlist?
Listen, bro...
How many years
have I been alive, 18 years?
Yeah.
-There were people protecting my house?
Okay.
-All around the house?
Especially you.
Isn't it time to do my share?
I guess so.
That's it.
To receive the commander...
Odelia. -Odelia,
the squad will stand at attention,
two, three... -Attention.
I'll be waking you up
tomorrow morning.
That's in seven hours.
That's the way it is, by regulation.
I'm giving you 15 minutes
to get ready, okay?
Yes, Commander Odelia.
Get into bed.
Listen... I have a problem.
I have to get up an hour earlier.
What for?
-To do my makeup.
You're not doing your makeup.
I can't go out like this,
with all the...
I'm sorry, but you're a combat soldier,
you don't put on makeup.
Put all your phones in this box.
Say what?
What did you say?
All your phones will be kept in there.
Oh my god, the hardest thing
to part with is my phone.
You're disconnected from everything,
your friends, your parents.
You don't know what's going on,
what people posted...
It's hard.
Okay, get into bed.
Sleep well, girls,
tomorrow's gonna be a hard day.
Good night.
Good morning, Squad 2C.
Good morning, Commander Odelia...
Let's try that again.
I say good morning,
you answer good morning.
Good morning, Squad 2C.
Good morning, Commander Odelia.
Let me get up,
have some coffee and breakfast,
then do whatever you want.
Seriously.
I want you outside
in your work uniforms
in five minutes, good luck.
Are you nuts?
Are you crazy? It's 5 am.
I used to go to sleep at 5 am
when I got home from partying.
You have 15 minutes to put on your dress
uniforms and stand outside in formation.
Go.
That's when you realize,
I'm in the army.
The second you start the stopwatch,
that's it.
How much time do we have?
Five more minutes.
All the girls in your company want to shower.
None of them want their stuff
knocked down
and they all want to do it
at the same time.
What is this? Give me a minute.
Come on, let's go, let's go.
Everyone dresses quickly
and gets all tangled up in their uniform,
it's the first time they're
putting them on by themselves.
"I don't know
how to buckle my belt!"
"How do you put on the pants
and the boots?"
I went out with one boot on, one boot off,
my clothes were unbuttoned,
you just can't do it.
Look at your watches.
Watches, Commander Yakov.
Look at your watches.
-Watches, Commander Yakov.
Shave and shine your boots,
then back in formation
and stand at attention
in 12 minutes, go.
Usually in the morning
no one talks to me until 30 minutes after
my cigarette and coffee.
Seven minutes to fill in
these questionnaires,
and I don't want to see anyone smoking.
No smoking, no smoking.
Now, I'm smart, I go to the side,
light a cigarette,
take a few drags...
and then just my luck, boom, the commander.
What? -What's up?
Is there a reason you're smoking?
It's just lit for the smell.
There's no lighting it for the smell,
put it out.
And keep the butt.
I can't stand him.
I wonder what the guys
in our platoon look like.
Karina, you lost an eyelash,
make a wish for them to be hot.
Thank God
this isn't the Border Police...
No...
You have to be a roughneck
to get into the Border Police.
They're roughnecks, but they're hot.
No, in the Border Police they just know
how to use Instagram filters,
so you think they're hot.
Girlfriend, look now... look.
Karina...
Hello!
Hi...
An officer...
I'm in love.
No, I don't believe
in love at first sight.
Why not, girl?
-Do you believe in love at first sight?
It's not love at first sight,
the guy looks good,
and boom, he caught my eye.
To receive the Sergeant Commander,
the platoon will stand at attention,
two, three... -Attention!
Look at your watches.
-Watches, Sergeant.
25 minutes, move.
Pasta with carbohydrate sauce...
Two columns of three, bon appetit.
Bon appetit, Company Sergeant!
What are you taking here?
-Bon appetit...
I don't know what to eat, bro.
-Me either,
it's gross, bro.
If I'm not mistaken... it's them.
What shave and shine they had...
Girl,
that's embarrassing.
They're taking things
a little lightly.
Kind of laid back.
Totally...
Wow, wow, wow...
We didn't get any butches.
We got great girls.
There was one there at the table
who didn't talk a lot.
Blonde with blue eyes, tall.
She looks really good.
We thought,
enough of this shyness,
and we went to talk to them.
What are your names?
I'm Almog, and this is Moshe.
-Moshe.
Do you have your phones on you
the whole time?
More or less, but if you want
the phone to make a call later,
I'll only give it to you, I don't want
everyone else asking for it.
That means he's trying to hit on you.
And he also meant for you to put
your number in the phone.
Where are you from?
Be'er Sheva.
-Where are you from?
I'm from the Camel Farm,
near Dimona.
What camel farm?
Only my family lives there.
There are 12 cabins and camels.
Are you a Bedouin?
My name is Naama Ulman,
I live on the Camel Farm.
My biggest dream
is to be a combat soldier and be a fighter.
I want to give my all for my country.
There's always this thing
where men are strong and women are weak,
but that's not true.
I really want a military career.
Lots of women didn't get
certain jobs in the army,
I'd love to be the first one who gets it.
Are you afraid of being with the guys?
That they might be better?
I don't think they'll be better.
They may have some advantages,
because our bodies
are built differently.
That's something we'll work on.
There's no shame in reconsidering, Naama.
You don't have to prove anything
if you see it's not for you.
We'll be proud of you no matter what.
Take care of yourself.
Bye, Dad.
Goodbye, my girl.
Bye bye.
So I tell them,
"For anyone who doesn't understand yet,
I'm your platoon commander.
"Four months from now
you'll become..."
"Four months from now
you'll become fighters."
I really worked on my first talk
with the soldiers,
I sat and wrote it out in my notebook.
It's my first time in front of them,
it can't look like
I don't know what to say.
It's a show, it sets the tone, like,
okay, that's the Platoon Commander.
I get it.
Platoon 3, I'm going to receive
the platoon commander.
Stand up and don't sit down
until she tells you otherwise.
This is our first meeting as a platoon,
with the guys,
and with the platoon commander.
Attention!
Hello, Platoon 3.
Hello, Platoon Commander.
It was stressful, because if she's tough,
if she's like,
"Drop and give me twenty,"
and she tortures us just for fun...
Look at your watches, Platoon 3.
Watches, Platoon Commander.
Four months from today
you will become fighters.
It gave me goosebumps,
it's like when you're on the starting line
and then you take off.
Like...
Welcome, Platoon 3,
to the Lions of the Jordan Battalion.
Look to your right,
at one another.
Look to your left.
Look deep.
Their eyes, their faces.
Get to know them.
These will be your brothers and sisters
for the next two years and eight months.
You're going to sweat,
you'll cough up blood,
you'll get to know the ground up close,
very close.
You'll be wounded,
you'll experience hardships,
you'll be built, empowered, mature,
protect the homeland,
and you'll do it together.
Shoulder to shoulder,
brothers and sisters in arms.
The Platoon Commander seems like
she can put you on the path,
give you a push,
so we'll be the best.
First and foremost,
we're here to be fighters.
To protect the borders,
to protect the country.
We have the privilege
of protecting our home.
The Platoon Commander
is the real deal,
she really motivates us.
There's no room here for anyone
who doesn't love this job.
You need to know how to love what you do.
Not necessarily because it's easy,
because it's not easy.
Not necessarily because it's fun,
because it's not always fun.
You love it because you love the country,
you love your friends.
Where do we build that?
Here and now.
Look at your watches.
Watches, Platoon Commander.
15 seconds, two columns facing that way,
get your weapons,
do it right. 15, move.
I'm looking forward to getting my rifle.
It'll be cool.
I always wanted to be in a combat unit,
shoot a rifle and storm.
This is Rahamim, bless his soul
Mine's Nebuchadnezzar, hi.
Mine's called Killer.
This is Britney, bitch.
Nebuchadnezzar will protect everyone.
We're at the shooting range complex.
The goal of the training is shooting
to calibrate the weapons.
I'm excited for the first shooting range.
I've fired a gun a few times before,
at the pre-military academy.
Insert the magazine at an angle!
I think I'll be totally fine,
I want to impress the commanders.
Weapon...
Weapon...
Load!
Load!
Hard!
Oh my god.
I have no problem with the whole
guys and girls together thing.
The problem I do have is
them lowering the level
because of female soldiers.
Everything okay?
-Yes, it's just too close.
Cease fire!
-Cease fire!
Okay? -Yes, we can continue.
Permission to continue!
Don't turn this into a summer camp.
Oh my god... -It's okay.
How was it?
You stressed me out when you said
it would hit me in the nose.
They've lowered the level,
now any girl can be a fighter.
Any girl.
You wish, Moshe.
Girls can't fight like men, period.
Terrorist!
Nice. This is how it should be.
Excellent.
Good set.
The guys think they're Rambo
or 007,
because they're guys
and they're in an integrated battalion,
so they need to boost their egos,
because they don't
consider it a combat unit.
Cease fire! -Cease fire!
"I'll say I'm the best because I'm a man,
"and my competition here is girls."
And that drives me crazy,
because it's not true.
When you're ready, you have permission
to release one bullet.
May I?
Yes.
There's a fly here.
Engagement!
Are you done shooting? -I haven't started.
All the gunpowder from the girl next to me
got into my eyes,
the cartridges flew into my face.
It stressed me out
and I decided not to shoot.
They're women,
God created them different.
Go do some shopping.
Is something funny, Platoon 3?
I don't understand.
It's unbelievable, bro.
Engagement!
Excellent.
You have a lot to improve.
Standing positions,
weapons at 60 degrees!
Did you do it this time?
It was fucking easy.
The guys don't easily show weakness.
They distort the truth
and say it isn't hard for them,
but like...
who are you kidding?
We can see it's hard on you.
You have permission to cross the firing line
and run to the targets!
It's a firing error,
and something moved there, okay?
Is it possible you moved afterwards?
-No.
No, no... it doesn't make sense.
-Don't you see?
Women can't be fighters,
they fucking can't.
Everyone can go fuck themselves,
there's no such thing as girl fighters.
I'm serious.
Should we ask some people here?
What's it got to do with people?
Who cries more, guys or girls?
But how's that relevant?
You know it's relevant.
I don't cry.
Koren, where do women need to be?
Where should they be, learn Hebrew!
Where should women be?
In the kitchen.
Did you hear that? -No.
"Women in the kitchen,"
that's chauvinism.
It's a way of life.
-No it's not.
Sure it is.
No it's not.
-No question about it.
Anyway, we have kitchen duty today,
the kitchen here is dirty, just saying.
Great, then go clean it up.
I'm busy cleaning my gun.
-I think you're better at it,
just like you're cleaning your gun,
you can...
Like, bro, we're in the 21st century,
that's a bit behind us.
Like 100 years or so.
At night, when we go to pee,
where do the girls go to pee?
Fine.
-You go to the mountain.
Something like this.
-Why are you comparing?
I don't even leave the container,
I just stand like this.
Fine, but why are you comparing
physiological differences?
If you want equality,
then take it all the way.
Okay, but physically we can't,
so what do you want?
There you go,
so there's no equality here.
What's that got to do with it?
Yes, women are different from men,
and men are better at some things
because you have different hormones
and that gives you an advantage,
but that doesn't mean
we can't be fighters.
No problem.
-It doesn't mean anything about us.
In my opinion, women have abilities.
But not in the military.
So what do you say that at the end of basic
training I'll prove you wrong?
If you prove me wrong,
I'll really respect you. -Cool.
We're gonna a very interesting
basic training. -Be careful, Moshe.
Commander Ada is gonna give me hell
for what I just said.
The girls heard you, so you start trembling?
Wow...
Stand behind what you said.
-Oh my god...
Oh my god...
They really yelled at us.
She's the deputy...
Deputy platoon master sergeant.
"Get out of the room!"
She started yelling at us,
so we stood in formation,
but there were only three of us,
so how do we stand in formation?
One here, one here, one there.
He says, "That doesn't make sense,
the sides aren't even."
Suddenly the phone rings,
we start dancing...
You're gonna get so disciplined here,
I can't wait for you to realize
a week from now that you gotta
shut up after we yell "attention."
Forget discipline, we've been here
more than a day, that's enough.
Stop it. If they start to run us around
because of you...
God forbid!
-I'll go room by room...
I'll cut out your tongues...
You pay the price for your mistakes.
All the Ashkenazi girls in my class,
I didn't like them too much.
The ones who said, "Be quiet, they'll
kick us out, they'll do this and that..."
I don't like people who think they're better
than us.
Can I ask you a question?
Sure.
What kind of a fashion statement
is that beard?
You look like a rapist.
Seriously, do you like it?
What did he just say?
"I'm a rapist, so watch out, girls,"
that's what he said.
Oh, come on... -I don't know
what you girls are doing here...
How funny...
-I say, go to your rooms.
Rape, that's funny.
Not really.
They have no filters
for what comes out of their mouth.
That talk is so... how did he say it?
Sexified...
Sexist.
What is that word?
Don't use sophisticated words.
Every minute I spend with the guys
makes me feel like my IQ
is dropping lower and lower...
There's no such thing,
"a sexified combination..."
Get outta here!
They're funny
because they're stupid.
Good night, girls.
Good night.
It infuriates me that they're so childish.
Like, there are psychology books
about this.
That's fine.
In general, men are less mature.
But there are also levels
of how less mature you are,
and they're just taking it to the extreme.
I expected more,
and it's very hard
to hide my disappointment.
It's not nice, but I'm really disappointed.
I didn't come here
to be a fighter in an integrated unit
just to be told by guys that I can't do it.
The guys in my battalion, my platoon.
Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?
This is why I'm upset
I'm not in an all-men's unit.
Just guys.
I always thought
integrated service was great,
but now that I'm serving with them,
I don't feel like it.
Everyone supports, helps
and covers for each other.
Here? It's like this.
Our formation isn't proportional
to the number of people in our platoon.
You're there, next to...
There, see that gap?
Fill it.
The commanders told us to organize
a formation with the whole platoon.
I said I'd do it first, in front of everyone,
so that everyone would have
an example of how a formation stands,
and then the mess began.
When's the formation?
In eight minutes,
get all the guys here now, Yair.
Don't leave your rifle or canteen behind,
don't leave yourself behind,
and don't leave your friends behind,
that's the most important thing.
Everyone stand up, hurry.
I don't have the patience for this nonsense.
To receive the commanders,
stand at attention, attention!
It's so hot. -Quiet!
Next time, the formation
will stand the right way.
Anyone whose formation isn't laid
out this way, improves it. Is that clear?
Yes, Commander Ada.
Koren, put your gear here.
Stein, go to the base.
It's not set up the right way.
Turn it around.
She's pretending she's gung ho,
like she's commander.
Gimme a break.
I don't think you understand.
Just because yours is ready
doesn't mean the platoon is ready.
We'll do it over and over again,
even if yours is ready.
Look at your watches.
I want the formation to be ready
and you helping your friends
in 30 seconds, move.
But how do I set it up?
Don't drive me crazy.
I realize coming here
wasn't the guys' number one aspiration,
but you're already
in this situation,
so give it all you've got and be the best.
What? -Why?
She wants us to be ready,
so we're getting ready!
She was so negative, jeez.
Turn it around, Almog.
-10, let's go.
The guys did nothing,
we arranged everything on our own.
He's got two, one on top of the other.
Why are you staring at me?
They're so obnoxious, standing there,
watching us and not working.
Girls, how much time is left?
Like, that's not my job.
I came here to be a fighter,
I didn't come here to arrange
the guys' gear.
Give me the helmet,
do something!
Oh my god, what a mess.
They all got their periods.
At the same time.
Leave it.
Go to your spot.
The girls are more mature than the men.
We don't make as much fun
of everything.
Naama.
There's no time, Naama.
-Quick, do it.
To receive the commander,
stand at attention. Attention!
This is a disgrace!
People are looking from the outside
and saying, Platoon 3 is a disgrace!
Our guys are useless
and that really pisses me off.
What really bothers me
is that instead of the platoon
lifting each other up,
the girls make us look bad
in front of the commanders.
Aren't they ashamed?
That's not right, bro.
We need to talk to them.
No,
they talk bullshit all day long,
they love talking bullshit.
Women fighters is a nice thing.
But it doesn't suit all women.
If I were a woman, I wouldn't bring
myself down to the level
of taking away my femininity
and all those things
I'm used to on a daily basis.
I'm kidding, bro, I love them.
I always thought
the integrated service was great,
but now that I'm serving with them,
I don't feel like it.
It's really depressing when someone says,
"Platoon 3, you're a disgrace."
Not because of us, because of them.
We were running around,
helping them the whole time
and they just stood there!
I was dragging their things
and they didn't even help me.
They just stood there!
Like this.
"Set it up for me."
Like, I was on the ground anyway
and they were above me,
I looked up and I saw them
looking at me, like I'm...
There's a lot of male ego around here.
They're always arguing,
they're very childish, some are really lazy.
The guys are really useless.
It's not that they're useless,
they don't understand why we're with them.
They think they should be alone.
Moshe said the girls shouldn't be here,
they should be in the kitchen.
That pissed me off!
The platoon commander is better
than any male combat soldier,
she's amazing.
-How could he say something like that
right in front of the commander?
Naama has a problem.
"Come here, take this..."
Who does she think she is?
Why does she think she's all that?
What is she, the platoon commander?
They're bringing us down
and pissing us off
in front of the commanders.
What's the deal?
I don't understand,
instead of supporting us
and saying, "You can do this!"
they say,
"We're twice as fast as you guys,
"you're not gonna make it."
Aren't you ashamed?
This is why I'm upset
I'm not in an all-men's unit.
Just guys.
Everyone supports, helps
and covers for each other.
Here? It's like this.
He still thinks he can be
in an all-men's unit.
Gimme a break.
-My arm is like his leg.
I'm sure that in a real situation,
they'll be serious.
Who'd take them into a real situation?
They just think...
that integrated battalions are pointless,
so they don't take it seriously.
-Exactly.
I didn't come here to be
a fighter in an integrated unit
just to be told by guys that I can't do it.
The guys in my battalion, my platoon.
I can't believe we have a march today.
I feel like dying.
This is our first march.
We're really stressing out.
Good afternoon.
Good afternoon, Company Commander.
We're going to do our first march
as a company.
If you're having a hard time, look around you,
you'll see people who are having a harder time.
Push them, forget how hard it is.
Good luck.
Thank you, Company Commander.
They're pushing us all day, and that's
the most tiring thing in the world,
we hardly slept,
my body's exhausted,
and then we have a march.
With a vest and a rifle and gear.
I'm behind Yana.
The water bag contains
nine bottles of water,
it weighs half a ton
and you carry it while wearing a vest.
Yana, are you okay?
You have your rifle too.
-Yana, you okay?
14 kilos.
It's crazy.
Platoon 3!
Nobody's gonna disgrace my march.
Hold your weapon in both hands,
maintain orderly gaps,
push each other ahead
when it gets tough.
Weapons in two hands, move your legs,
start walking!
A march like this makes you realize
combat basic training has begun.
Silence!
And there's more discipline than usual.
You can't say a word.
After a kilometer you start breathing hard.
After a kilometer and a half,
it gets really annoying.
The truth is, I don't know
how the girls are handling it.
My shoulders are all numb,
all I feel now is my legs.
It hurts...
Okay, I know.
Karina was crying,
because her leg really hurt
and she had a hard time breathing.
But she didn't give up.
My legs are killing me,
but I have to show them I can do it,
I can't stop now.
It doesn't matter how I feel.
The girls worked hard.
They went all out,
they didn't give up.
Honestly, I'm in shock.
I never believed it would happen.
It changes the way you think,
when you see a girl,
she's doing this, that and the other.
It's really hard. I'm tired.
My leg hurts.
But now I have to carry the stretcher.
That's when I tell myself,
"Okay, Karin,
"go for broke."
Hip height, lift.
Hip height, lift.
Platoon 3, follow me!
Yes, it's tiring. Yes, it hurts,
yes, it's irritating, yes, it's heavy.
This is what you're gonna be doing
for the next three years.
Karina is so small
and she's carrying a stretcher.
She's a fighter.
Karina, want me to replace you?
I didn't think I'd say that.
But there's a change here.
I can see the potential,
that they can be fighters.
The march really bonded us.
Everyone had problems
and we were all hurting
and we were all dead tired,
but it's exciting.
There are things you experience together,
that even your very closest friends
couldn't understand.
You couldn't find something
like this anywhere else.
Stretcher, to hip height.
Stretcher, to the ground.
To receive the Platoon Commander,
stand at attention,
attention!
Dismissed.
How was it, Platoon 3?
Amazing, Platoon Commander!
Platoon 3...
it was a good march.
I'm proud of you.
I'm proud to lead this platoon.
You led the force very well.
This was just our first march.
We've started off strong,
and from here on out
we're going to continue being great.
Lions! -Of the Jordan Valley!
Lions! -Of the Jordan Valley!
With me! -Battle!
With me! -Battle!
With me! -Battle! Battle! Battle!