Absolute Honesty and Integrity - Commando Code #6

“We are men of action, lies do not become us” - The Princess Bride.

32 years ago, winter 1989, Gaza strip near the Al-Bourage refugee camp. My officers academy team and I are patrolling the streets in heavy cold rain with full combat gear. We are wet to the bone. The streets are empty, everyone in their right mind would stay home in such weather. The 2 years “anniversary” of the Palestinian Intifada was coming up in a few days, and we were dispatched to the area in anticipation of riots. With such heavy rain even the protestors decided to stay home. 

Getting to the IDF Officers' Academy was not easy. The demand was much greater than the available spots. Only a few were selected, and the screening continued throughout the entire officers training, all the way to the end. Some cadets drop from the course even at the very last week, just a few days from the finish line. The training can be challenging, as one of my friends put it at the time, “I cannot say I was having fun, but there were times I did not suffer”, although I must say I enjoyed most of it. 

After a wet day with some action, we finally hit the sleeping bags in our tents, set-up in a temporary camp. Sleeping was with shoes and uniforms so we are ready for whatever happens. Then, in the middle of the night, between 2 and 3am, all of a sudden, a savage alarm call sounded. We jumped from our sleep, put the gear on in seconds, and ran outside. Such situations are not for slow risers. With time you get used to being always ready and only half asleep.

It turned out it was just a drill. Checking our readiness, in case something real does happen. 

We assembled quickly and stood in a U in the middle of the camp. The night was colder than the day. My team commander went from one cadet to the next, checking everything thoroughly, number of bullets in the magazines, other gear, and overall appearance. Those who want to be officers should set an example and be perfect themselves. 

The checkup ended, we passed, which is good since the last thing you want in the middle of a cold night is to run around the camp as “payment or punishment” for not being in perfect shape. I was the first to get back to the tent. I went in, my sleeping bag was close to the entrance.

I looked at the sleeping bag, and under the top part, looking back at me, was

my rifle. Holy S@*#!

I took the rifle quickly, before anyone entered. 

Those who served in the IDF can tell what a serious offence forgetting your weapon is. Typically you will sleep with your rifle in the sleeping bag, or under your head. Forgetting your gun for whatever reason is totally unacceptable. 

In officers' academy, forgetting the gun typically means one thing, 

Disqualification.

The amazing part was I went through a complete inspection, and the team commander did not notice I am without a rifle. I actually did not notice either. 

I was near the end of the long officers’ training and had 2 options,

1. Ignore - let it slide, no one saw, no harm was done, I worked hard to get to that point and losing it all so close to the end was a high price to pay. 

2. Report - integrity above all. Report and face the probably inevitable consequences. 

I decided to report. 

In my view, if you are going to expect your soldiers and your team to be totally honest, then, you need to be totally honest yourself. No “rounding corners”, “turning a blind eye” or anything of that sort.

As expected, I was summoned for a “disqualification committee”. I was not too optimistic re. the expected outcome. I described what happened and how I forgot my weapon. I went out of the committee and back to my team. My commander called me later that day. My general performance, and the fact that I reported where most people would probably not, were in my favor. 

The decision was that I will continue the course, complete the training, and become an officer. Honesty paid off. 

Consider the following, total honesty and absolute integrity are among the top most important qualities in All of the special units I know, and for good reasons. It is even more important in operations, combat and other situations with high pressure and uncertainty. 

It may sound obvious, but make sure the people you work with (ideally on all levels, internally and externally) share the same values, ethics and standards as you, choose them wisely! as the old saying goes: "qui cum canibus concumbunt cum pulicibus surgent".

The previous posts in the series:

Lead by example https://tinyurl.com/CommandoCulture1

Smile to Change https://tinyurl.com/CommandoCulture2 

Big-Head part 1 https://tinyurl.com/CommandoCulture3a

Big-Head part 2 https://tinyurl.com/CommandoCulture3b

For a greater cause https://tinyurl.com/CommandoCulture4