Israeli starts second military career in United States

By Ms. Marie Berberea (TRADOC)March 27, 2015

Fired up
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Ana Kolodko, 1st Battalion, 40th Field Artillery, fires her rifle March 19 at the Modified Record Range in her fourth week of Basic Combat Training here. She was a military police officer in the Israeli Defense Force 10 years ago. She is going t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Citizen-Soldier
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SILL, Okla. - While the United States argues with Israel over the issue of a Palestinian state, Spc. Ana Kolodko is far removed and is only focused on passing Fort Sill's Basic Combat Training.

When asked about her home country's situation she said "I love Israel. It's the country I come from and I hope for peace in this region. I see victims from both sides. I hope it's going to end one day in a good way," said Kolodko.

A registered nurse in Israel, she said formal education in America is highly sought after and she traveled here to get her master's degree in women's health.

She and her husband decided to stay permanently when her husband's family also moved to the United States.

"The immigration system is not perfect and it's hard to stay here legally and I didn't want to stay any single day illegally. So I was looking for an honest way to stay here and I just heard about the military."

Kolodko joined through the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI) program. MAVNI is a recruiting program that allows legal non-citizens with in-demand skills, like speaking more than one language, to join the Army in exchange for expedited U.S. citizenship.

Kolodko will swear in as a U.S. citizen during graduation.

"I feel great about it. I think serving the country is an honest way to get this.

"When I first put on this uniform at Reception I felt so proud. I felt like I still didn't earn this. I'm still working on getting to wear this uniform."

In her fourth week of BCT Kolodko is beginning her second stint in the military, but her first term as a voluntary service member.

She served in the Israeli Defense Force under conscription when she was 18-years-old.

"Our basic training is a little bit different because it depends on your MOS. If you're something combat it could be up to six months; if it's something like an office clerk it could be two weeks, it could be short."

As she prepared to qualify on her M-16 at the Modified Record Range, drill sergeants' voices could be heard sternly correcting trainees.

When asked if any part of training here made her nervous, she said, no.

"You're supposed to be prepared for this mentally. If you're prepared for this, it's not that hard. It's the (drill sergeants') job too. It's the best way to prepare you for deployment. It's a tough way, but it's the right way."

Although the IDF allows women to serve in every role in the military, they separate men from women in basic training.

"We didn't have mixed training. I like the training here better because we do serve together and we have to know how to work together.

"I think it's interesting because we take each other as brothers and sisters after all the things we do we feel like family," said Kolodko.

A veteran in training, Kolodko said her previous experience as a military police officer in the IDF may have steeled her nerves for this type of training, but she still feels equal to her peers.

"First of all, it was a while ago. It was 10 years ago and I got married after that; I had a child; I got my degree and secondly, I just think that I'm not different from others here because we start together and we just rely on each other.

"Our platoon has great teamwork. We just rely on each other as battle buddies."

While her fellow trainees are focused on surviving BCT, Kolodko writes to her husband and daughter about the fact she still can't believe she is going through life-changing training.

"I'm just glad to be here to have this opportunity. I can't believe that it's me - it's actually me doing all of this. It's just awesome."