What Is Michve Alon?

Michve Alon is a base up north near Carmiel where several courses for soldiers take place, such as Course Nativ (giur/conversion), completion of high school education and probably most relevant to you: the Hebrew course. When you do your Hebrew test in your tzav rishon, if you get a 6 or lower, you automatically get sent to a 3 month Hebrew course at the beginning of your service. It is essentially a great way to acclimatize into the army system, and it is a caring place because the mefakdim understand your situation as lone soldiers/olim chadashim (new immigrants).

Structure:
The first two weeks of the course is 02 tironut (basic training which is a requirement for every soldier in the IDF to complete) and it is comprised of learning basic discipline, how to shoot, and going to the shooting ranges (mitvachim – מטווחים) for a night.

The next 2 and a half months will be full of dynamic Hebrew (and a few Zionism) lessons, which unlike what you may be used to from school or previous exposure, are super interesting and fun. The topics you learn are relevant to the army, and everyday life in Israeli society, such as slang. You’ll have a test once a week, but it’s just for you and your mefakdim to see how you’re going. You will close Shabbat once or twice and do shmirot. There is also compulsory sport (madas) twice a week with the option of doing extra early in the morning if you’re interested in combat (kravi.)

Towards the end of michve, you will be re-tested on your Hebrew. (GIRLS: If your score is a 6 or higher, you’ll receive Yom Hameah which is a day of leadership testing (read about this separately.) You will then meet with the katzin miyun who will decide your future tafkid (role) in the army.

Tips:
⁃ Whether you feel confident in your Hebrew already or struggle to string sentences together – do not worry! You are placed in a tzevet (team) suitable for your level and there is no need to be embarrassed about your accent or making mistakes because everyone is in the same boat.
⁃ Try your best to improve your Hebrew – Michve is a gift from the army, so use it! Contribute in class, take up every opportunity you have to speak in Hebrew. Also, the mefakdim there genuinely want you to improve.
⁃ At the same time.. enjoy it and have fun – as most people say it’ll be the most fun and chilled part of your service.
⁃ Make friends and always be there for each other!
⁃ Don’t listen to people who tell you negative things about Michve… most likely they’ve never been to Michve themselves and the experience is what you make of it.
⁃ If you want to work on something individually (i.e writing, reading), request private Hebrew lessons.
⁃ Decide what unit or job you want early on so you can push for it.
⁃ If you want kravi, work out in your free time. Often there is no madas or it isn’t enough.

If you’re heading to michve, good luck and enjoy!