Israeli Military Jargon

In order to give the best portrayal of what my life is like in the IDF, I feel it is necessary to write as I speak. Even when talking together, us lone soldiers refer to things in the Hebrew: our Commander is a "Mefaked," my squad is a "kitah," my rifle is a "neshek," and so on.  Ironically, it sounds foreign to me to describe my life in the army and use the English translations of the military terms.  So, in my posts, if I have neglected to provide the translation, I apologize and have included it here.  

This list is pretty comprehensive; I hope it helps all those with a passing interest to those who want to join.  If you have words or anything you want added, let me know via Comments.  Enjoy!

*Note about pronunciation: 'ch' is for the letter ח or כ, thus it is a hard guttural sound, not like 'chat'

chayal boded (חייל בודד)    lone soldier, in short: someone from outside
                                   Israel, who leaves his home and all he knows for
                                   a significant amount of time to join a foreign
                                   army, operate in a foreign language, and live in a
                                   foreign land; idealistic, crazy, adventurous

ENLISTMENT
Machal  (מח''ל)    Volunteers from Abroad
Garin Tzabar  (גרעין צבר)    Program to make aliyah and join the army
Tzav Rishon  (צו ראשון)    first call up
Gius  (גיוס)    recruitment, enlistment
Bakkum  (בקו''ם)    Absorption and Screening Base; where a soldier is processed on his first day
Machzor  (מחזור)    draft
Gibbush  (גיבוש)    tryout


UNIT
Kitah  (כיתה)    class/squad 
Tzevet  (צוות)    squad/team
Machlekah  (מחלקה)    platoon
Plugah  (פלוגה)    company
Gdud  (גדוד)    battalion
Chativah  (חטיבה)    brigade
Sayeret  (סיירת)    special forces

RANK
Chayal  (חייל)    soldier 
Mefaked  (מפקד)    commander
Mac  (מ''כ)    squad commander
Sammal  (סמל)    sergeant
Mem Mem  (מ''מ)    platoon commander
Samech Mem Pay  (סמ''פ)    assistant company commander
Mem Pay  (מ''פ)    company commander

POSITIONS
Kravi  (קרבי)    combat
Lochem  (לוחם)    fighter/warrior
Jobnik  (ג'ובניק)    noncombat soldier, like a job
Chovesh  (חובש)    medic
Chopel  (חופ''ל)    platoon medic
Rassar  (רס''ר)    Master sergeant
Mishakit Tash  (מ''שקית ת''ש)    in charge of soldiers' personal affairs
Mishakit Aliyah  (מ''סקית עליה)    in charge of translations

TRAINING
Bach  (בא''ח)    training base
Tironut  (טירונות)    basic training
Imun Mitkadem  (אימון מתקדם)    advanced training
Masa  (מסע)    hike, forced march
 -467+110+213+318+35+526+642+660+
Shetach  (שטח)    field
Sha Tash  (שעה ת''ש)    hour free time
Pakal  (פק''ל)    soldier's specialty assignment
Course Tznichah  (קורס צניחה)    Paratrooping Course
Buchan Maslul  (בוחן מסלול)    kilometer run and obstacle course
Baror  (ברור)    physical test of pushups, situps and 2k run

EQUIPMENT
Neshek  (נשק)    weapon
 -Amidah  (עמידה)    standing
 -Kria  (כריע)    kneeling
 -Shchivah  (שכיבה)    prone/lying down
Cadoor  (כדור)    bullet
Rimone  (רימון)    grenade
Casdah  (קסדה)    helmet
Mimiyah  (מימיה)    canteen
Alunka  (אלונקה)    stretcher
Minot krav  (מנות קרב)    field rations
Discete  (דיסקית)    dogtag
Madim aleph/bet  (מדים א/ב)    uniform dress/combat
Kumtah  (כומתה)    beret
Seicah  (סכה)    pin
Confats  (כנפ''צ)    Paratrooping wings
Choger  (חוגר)    military ID

MILITARY LIFE
Kav  (קו)    line (operational)
Imun  (אמון)    training
Shmirah  (שמירה)    guard duty
Mitbach  (מטבח)    kitchen
Krav maga  (קרב מגע)    IDF's hand-to-hand combat training
Mitvach  (מטווח)    firing range
Tekkes  (טקס)    ceremony
 -hashba'ah  (השבעה)    swearing-in
 -kumtah  (כומתה)    beret, at the end of advanced training
Sha beitziyah  (שעה ביציאה)    hour punishment to leave base
Yom Siddurim  (יום סידורים)    day to take care of personal things
Regilah  (רגילאה)    week break
Bettim  (בתים)    medical leave on base
Gimmelim  (גימלים)    medical leave off base
Yitziot  (יציות)    schedule of leave (days on/off base): 16-5, 11-3, 17-4
Madas  (מדס)    exercise

SLANG
Tzair  (צעיר)    young, inexperienced
Pazzam  (פז''מ)    experience
Coddor  (כדד''ר)    menial, discipline work
Tzahove  (צהוב)    yellow, straight and by the book
Chapash  (חפ''ש)    soldier who doesn't work hard
Oketz  (עוקץ)    soldier who always looks to get out of work
Shpitz  (שפיץ)    great soldier
Tash  (ת''ש)    chill, relaxed
Mitztayin  (מצטיין)    outstanding
"Kama ode"  (כמה עוד)    "How much more?"
"Ad matai"  (עד מתי)    "Until when?"
"Eifo kulam"  (איפה כלעמ)    "Where is everyone?"

    10 comments:

    1. Good Luck to you, Marvin Crane, 2139081, Gdud 50
      1972-73.
      Parsippany NJ

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    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    3. This is wonderful. May you be blessed with safety. I am much older: 65. I am movng to Israel. Elliott Oppenheim

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    4. want 2 join give me more info markrankin brookfield ill 3909 prairie ave. have dog no family. belive in your cause want 2 fight for your caughs.1 7084859663

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    5. this may be of interest as well, a fairly extensive collection of true israeli army slang by a past and present long soldier: http://sonicinbeijing.blogspot.co.il/2011/06/slang-army-hebrew-tash.html

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    6. let me join mi brother & sister
      3 two one-two 0 0 nine 0 one 8
      call me mi brother & sister i have special skill to be wit you

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    7. i am here to help protect and serve. im an 8 year army combat veteran and want to join the fight for israel! my name is kevin. email me battlehard86@gmail.com

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    8. I am a Native American female living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. My career and college goals class is really difficult because I want to be a nurse, but I really want to become a paramedic in the Israeli Defense Forces. I am only a high school student right now, and in one year I will be graduating (I am in 11th grade). I am sooo confused about all these different programs. I don't want to enlist as a volunteer. Who should I contact to gain information about what do to? I would like to know how you did it. Any advice greatly helps. Thank you.
      ~Confused But Willing

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      Replies
      1. Hey it's me again. I've done more research, but haven't contacted anyone. I was thinking about joining as a volunteer, because I don't think you can enlist (unless you are a Jew??), and then extend my service as an actual soldier? Thoughts anyone? Thanks :)

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      2. You do not need to be a Jew to enlist. You should contact an Israeli consulate to arrange your service. You may have to start as a volunteer but as you prove yourself and make connections opportunities will present themselves.

        You will have a life changing experience in Israel.


        http://www.mahal-idf-volunteers.org/about/join.htm

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