Awards of excellence were presented in ceremonies held yesterday (Monday) led by the Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and with the participation of members of the General Staff Forum.
The ceremonies were held under the theme “The Power of Renewal,” symbolizing the achievements of the State of Israel in the past year and its groundbreaking technological innovation.
During the ceremonies, certificates of excellence were awarded to 134 officers and NCOs, both career and reserve, from various IDF units, for their outstanding contributions to their units and for being role models as commanders in the IDF.
The Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, said: “We went to an intense, multi-arena war on all fronts; from the south to the north, above and below ground, IDF commanders and soldiers operate with determination, initiative, and courage against our enemies – protecting the citizens of Israel, restoring security, and fortifying the future of the State of Israel.”
“For over two years of complex, multi-arena combat, we too have encountered difficult moments, moments of uncertainty. But each time anew – out of the gravity of responsibility and the hour, an army of ‘pioneers’ emerged, forging ahead.”
“When I look at you, the chosen excellence of the IDF, I see the pioneers of our time. As I deeply studied the background to your reaching this status tonight, I thoroughly understood the leadership that characterized each and every one of you and made you outstanding.”
“Excellence is not measured only by the strength to break through and be determined, but primarily by the ability to do all this with humility. To act without ego, out of a sense of mission, shoulder to shoulder with your subordinates, for the security of our people and the defense of our home. Thanks to your determination, courage, and command humility – you are the strong shield of the entire State of Israel. Thank you, continue to excel, rise and succeed.”
Major Sh’, brother of Ariel Ben Moshe z”l, continued: “Chief of Staff – Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, members of the General Staff, commanders, families, and distinguished guests. I have thought a lot about what constitutes the character of an outstanding individual, what the formula is. I would like to share a few insights – the first, that one does not need to wait for circumstances, one needs to create opportunities, to create ‘luck’ for oneself.”
“When I was eight years old, my older brother Ariel returned from basketball practice sweaty, dirty, and mostly frustrated. Why was he so frustrated? The practice did not go well, to say the least. He was late for practice because at that time we did not have a car, so he had to walk to the edge of town. Everyone arrived at practice dressed in sports clothes and basketball shoes – he arrived in a school shirt and regular shoes.”
“Everyone arrived with a ball – and he arrived without one. He returned home with a choked voice and red eyes and told my mother everything, that it wasn’t fair, that he would never be the best, and the best version of himself, because he didn’t have the same conditions as everyone else. He was gripped by a real fear, a fear that he was destined to be mediocre, that his starting point would dictate his life story, that he would never be able to break boundaries, create a better version of himself, that this was his fate – to be mediocre.”
“My mother listened and was understanding, but answered him simply, ‘From the poor shall come Torah.’ It was as if that was enough for him, and the fear turned into hunger – a hunger to prove himself and to everyone else, a hunger to fight the conditions, the circumstances, and the ‘luck’ he had. From there, he was accepted to the military boarding school in Haifa, and graduated with honors. He enlisted in the 202nd Battalion of the Paratroopers, and in every stage he completed – he achieved further excellence.”
“An outstanding individual is someone whose hunger is stronger and overcomes all circumstances or conditions along the way. When he was a company commander at Bahad 1, I was a cadet. The week before graduation, a week mostly including rehearsals for the ceremony and remedial sessions – a week of lower intensity, a feeling of the end of the course. There was a second attempt for the improved Lauren test – a test that combines navigation with weight, a course test, a long vest run, and shooting.”
“A test that no cadet particularly enjoys. Suddenly, I saw on the lists that I was scheduled for the second attempt. Surprised, I approached my company commander and told him there was a mistake and I was registered even though there was no reason, as I had completed the test with a not-bad score at all (92, for those who ask).”
“He replied that he was not the company commander who registered me, but the company commander in the office to the left, and if I had any complaints, I should go there. This was my brother’s office. I entered with less composure and asked him, ‘What is the reason?’ He answered me seriously and simply, ‘Where did your 8 points go?’ There, my discussion and negotiation with him ended. The next morning, I approached again, myself and his entire company, which he had registered in full – because ‘if it can be improved, then it is improved,’ according to him.”
“Of course, he ran the entire test with me and pushed non-stop. For those who ask – yes, I improved. To 94. In his way, there are no compromises or concessions – not in an operational mission, not in an arrest, and not in a Bahad 1 test – everything is done properly, and if it can be improved, then it is improved – because that is the uncompromising standard he believed in. An outstanding individual is a stubborn type who does not compromise on the method or the result – even if it is a small and minor thing.”
“This is how he continued, in the Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit and also when he was accepted to Sayeret Matkal. On Black Saturday, October 7th, he jumped from Ein Zivan in the north and raced to the Gaza envelope communities, gathered a small force from the unit, and headed towards Kibbutz Re’im. Just before entering the kibbutz, he told them unequivocally: ‘Civilian lives before combatant lives.'”
“And so it was, house by house, encounter after encounter, with him leading the force from the front. Until the last house in the northern neighborhood, where, due to an attempt to rescue a hostage who was trapped in a house with six terrorists, he was the first to enter, and the first to be hit. My older brother fell on Saturday evening. He was the embodiment of a person on the front lines, seeking contact, and in practice, being a buffer between civilians and terrorists – without a shred of doubt.”
“An outstanding individual is a person of the front – he is present where it is complex and at the forefront, he dictates his place in the situation. Like my brother, there are many others – Major Roi Maldasi z”l, who fought heroically in Gaza and fell. Captain Dekel Suissa z”l, who was the commander of the Paga outpost and fought with determination. And many other good people who, in their way, represent an ideal of the outstanding individual that I wish for myself and for all of us to be.”
“Of course, all this work and path cannot exist without the backing, support, and help from the most important people – our spouses and dear families. They are there to balance, to contain, and to push us – thank you for you and for who you are to us throughout this journey. Thank you for the privilege of revealing my personal ideal, and especially to serve and influence. Thank you very much to everyone!”
