Once in Buenos Aires

On the first day of 2023, I embarked on my big journey to South America, just two days after completing 5 years of service in the IDF, with my final year spent as a commander of an officers training course at Bahad 7. Every single day of my trip, I met new people. And, as the cliché goes, we always had what I like to call a “cracking conversation". “What’s your name?” “Where in Israel are you from?” “How old are you?” We’d breeze through these introductory questions, and before you know it, we’d dive into the inevitable military session. After all, the army defined us during our service, continues to shape us through our reserve duty, and will remain part of our identity well into the future.

I arrived in Buenos Aires, sitting in the hostel courtyard with my Backpack, taking my first deep South American breath, when out of nowhere, three girls approached me, ready to start a lively "cracking conversation". Within minutes, we leveled up the discussion and delved into the topic of our service in the IDF: “What did you do in the army?”

“I was an officer, a communications officer.”

“Oh, really? Where?”

“I served in Kfir Brigade, and later as an officer's commander in a leadership course.”

“You were in Kfir? Were you a combat soldier? How can you be in Kfir, be a combat soldier, and be a communications officer?”

I paused and assessed how to proceed. If the person understood military life, I could explain everything: that a field communications officer is a combatant, that a communications officer is one of the most critical position, and that we’re right at the forefront of the battlefield. If the person didn’t have a combat background, I’d have to give them a quick military primer before diving into the details. Either way, it was clear that our role as communications officers isn’t well understood. The average person - whether they served in the military or not - might think we’re just tech geniuses or standard technicians who come and go. This misconception begins in the army and carries over into civilian life. These same people may become recruiters, HR professionals, managers, or hold other influential positions, and they bring this distorted view with them. In fact, it’s entirely possible that one of these girls might one day decide whether I get hired at a company she founded, or not.

However, I - and you! - know the truth: we’re so much more than that.

We are planners, meticulous professionals, and high achievers who go into the finest details and don’t stop until the mission is complete. Yes, these qualities should be universal among all IDF officers, but in our field, one of the most rapidly evolving professions, these traits are pushed to the extreme, driving us to excel in all aspects of our work over years of military service.

When I first heard about the idea of establishing the Alumni Association of ICT Officers in Israel - The Gidonim, countless ideas came to mind, many inspired by other associations I’d seen. But the first thought I had was this: it’s time to change our image. We’re excellent, we’re doers, and we’re officers who bring immense value when we leave the army. It starts with conversations like the ones I had in South America, continues through job interviews after discharge or graduation, and lasts throughout our lives. The IDF is part of us, and we’re part of it. I hope this association will help reshape our ethos in society and that together, we can soar to new heights: communications officers will be the first to land the most sought-after roles in relevant industries, the first to have impressive LinkedIn profiles, and a community of professionals who support one another in everything - from the smallest challenges to the most significant milestones.

Let's Finish the Story We Began with - Buenos Aires:

On that sunny day in the capital of Argentina, I met three other women in the same hostel courtyard, on the same benches. This time, the conversation was far better, and I will remember them forever.

The first I met at the start of the October 7th war, when I was a reserve officer at Base Orim, serving as a deputy communications officer in Brigade 5. She was the spokesperson for one of the divisions there.

The second, I met at a party a week after I was released from a six-month reserve deployment, while on vacation in Eilat.

The third, I met digitally on the first day of the war, when I was heartbroken to learn that she was tragically murdered at the Nova music festival on October 7th.

May the memory of Moriah Raviv be a blessing.

-Itay Lugasi.