Training Fighters - Narrowing Gaps

Where our story meets our vision "Everybody deserves a second chance..." "The sky's the limit..." "Every child needs one adult to believe in them..." "It's all in your head..." These are some of the phrases that most people use as slogans or post on walls to inspire. In our “Asher Ruach Bo” program in Mitzpe Ramon, they are the blueprint for our work! The Asher Ruach Bo Pre-military Preparatory Program was established in 2012 in Mitzpe Ramon by Moshik Wolf, a resident of the town who, having been a combat soldier and officer for over 25 years, recognized the need to change the course of life for young men, 18-24 years old, who have lost their way, through training them for premium units of the IDF. These are essentially boys whose lives have taken them to difficult places, often through no fault of their own. Boys who, instead of going to school, got involved in drug trafficking to bring money home or engaged in neighborhood fights because that was their experience at home. Some are former ultra Orthodox, whose families and communities rejected the path they chose. These boys found themselves not on the path to graduation but rather in the Israeli court system. Many of our trainees come from tough backgrounds where they experienced violence, neglect, often traded or used drugs, dropped out of school and were influenced by negative environments until they were totally exempted and excluded from military service. The majority of our trainees never even dared to dream because they had always failed or stopped believing they could succeed. As Yaniv, one of our former graduates, described: “If my whole life I have failed and people have always told me how worthless I am, then there is no reason for me to believe that suddenly I will succeed… It makes no sense, so you give up in advance and don’t even try.” The young men started as at-risk children, continued as at-risk youth and have become “young adults at risk,”have the best potential, and that’s how we see them! We wish to break this cycle for them! They are heroes who fight against their upbringing, their environment and themselves, redefining their identities and transforming themselves from “troubled youths” into “warriors”, “squad commanders” or simply “salt of the earth”. They always wanted to be someone different, but they didn’t have the guidance or tools to break through because they were usually alone without “someone” to be there for them. The Asher Ruach Bo program chooses love and faith and to be this “someone”. What makes our program different • Strict military discipline and clear boundaries (no phones and a schedule conducted in short periods). • A busy daily schedule from 06:00 to 22:00, with three weeks each month spent in activities outside the preparatory program. • Various study programs featuring inspiring lectures from role models. The significant components the program include 1 - A major therapeutic component that includes in-depth conversations with the       team of instructors, trainees, a lawyer, and a psychologist. 2 - Six weeks of education and content throughout the country (Judea and Samaria,     Golan Heights, Jerusalem, archaeology, etc.) 3 - Two weeks working in agriculture (this year we will work near the settlements and     kibbutzim next to Gaza). 4 - Three weeks of land navigation with fighters in the officers academy in Israel, two       weeks navigating with elite units, and two weeks of high-intensity survival in the     desert, plus a single week of navigation in the Eilat Mountains. 5 - Volunteering in the community, making them role models for others. 6 - Daily combat fitness training, including Krav Maga, an obstacle course, and gym     workouts. 7 - Exciting social life, empowering and inspiring experiences, and more.     The boys who come to us leave the preparatory program completely transformed. This transformation is so profound that court proceedings often result in the annulment of previous convictions, with judges saying, “I have a new person standing before me.” Rising to the occasion: The Iron Swords War, October 2023 In October 2023, everything was halted. All team members from the preparatory program over the years, together with graduates of the program both those currently who serving in the IDF and those in the reserves, were called to fight in the South and North. Since 90% of these adults are enlisted in combat, almost everyone experienced fighting. Protecting the country comes with a heavy price, and we paid dearly. Two trainees, graduates of the program, were killed in battles on Oct. 7th and a former instructor fell during his reserve service. Yaniv Saroudi served as a fighter in the Kfir Brigade. He escaped from the Nova party and returned to rescue people in his car. During his escape, his vehicle was shot at from all directions by terrorists. He managed to drive to safety and save all the passengers in his vehicle but did not survive his injuries. He was 26 years old at the time of his death. A true hero. Daniel Bizagdov served as a commander in the Nahal Brigade. On Oct. 7th, he was at the Sufa outpost and fought until he fell in battle. He was 21 years old when he died a hero. In May 24, Gideon Derowe, a beloved instructor who worked with us for a decade, fell in battle. Gideon was a soldier in the combat engineering elite unit, when he identified a bomb, shouted for everyone to back off, and the charge exploded at full force. Gideon was a lawyer by training, and newly married to his wife Gabi, who carries his daughter who will never know her amazing father. He was 33 years old, another lost hero. In their memory, for their sake and in their spirit, we are opening this year the largest cycle we have ever known: 35 boys aged 18-23 from all over the country - sons of the rich and poor, from the political right and left, from the North, South, East and West – from all sectors of the Israeli society. In addition to the importance of the preparatory program during regular times, this year we are addressing two significant needs of Israeli society: 1 - The IDF needs fighters - we train youth who are not currently ready for recruitment to become soldiers and fighters in the IDF! No other framework does it as well as we do, in a qualitative, serious, and profound way. 2 - Society needs healing and reunification - we are bridging gaps, strengthening weak links, creating a beacon in the dark, and giving hope for a brighter future. And that's where you come in! With your help, we can turn court orders into draft orders, dead-end roads into successful paths, criminal records into travel bags, and criminal activity into operational activity. Help us help them together, to change the course of these young men’s lives, fulfill their dreams, meet social and national needs, and together build a more moral society, worthy of distinction and heroes!