In January 1984 we came to Lishkat HaGius (conscription office?) in Beer-Sheva, Israel, filled out paperwork and boarded a bus to Bakum (Basis klita u-miyun,) the central induction center of the Israel Defense Forces in Tel-Aviv. We were given shots, had our pictures taken and were handed clothing, boots, kitbags (duffle in the US), and a dozen other sundries that make a newly minted draftee what he is - a newly minted draftee. After a forgettable lunch (to me most of the day was forgettable - I really don't remember much of it) we were bussed to Mahane Shmonim (Camp 80), the basic training camp of the Nahal. We were Garin Buzz in Mahzor Pey-Aleph, Hativat Ha-Nahal* of Tzahal - The IDF. We came from Canada, the US, South Africa, the UK, and even Kenya. There were others, in other garinim from Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, and Ecuador. We were in Trom Tironut, a pre basic training designed to introduce us to military culture, discipline and most important - Hebrew language. After 8 weeks of basic introduction to military "culture" and daily Hebrew lessons, not to mention the gratuitous "L'achor U'kfotz" and "Ha-sherutim, shloshim shniot, ZUZ!" we were deemed credible enough to move on to the real thing - Tironut - Basic Training in the IDF. Before I take you there though, a little more about Trom Tironut and the conditions we lived and worked in. *Nahal Brigade.