The Chief of Staff in the letter to the permanent staff: "Despite the demanding service, do not give up time with the couple and the children" • Among the guidelines: going to the "aftercare" and making the most of the vacation days
"Man is precious, family is precious, time is precious"
Photography:
Gideon Markovich - Archive
First publication: The
chief of staff, Lt. Col. Aviv Kochavi, yesterday (Monday) sent a letter to the permanent servants in which he demanded that they devote time to the family, go out to "afternoons" and avoid scheduling hearings on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings.
This is the "Chief of Staff Compass" (a nickname for the position papers on his behalf) on the subject of "a man of valor and a family man", sent in a particularly complex family period to permanent personnel, where the servants defined as essential workers are required to continue their regular military service. Bear the burden of caring for children.
It is important to emphasize that even during normal periods, when the education system operates as a matter of routine, the wives of permanent staff are required to bear almost alone the burden of raising children and maintaining the home.
Many permanent personnel, especially in the combat units, hardly come to their homes during the week, and even those who serve in staff positions arrive very late and do not disconnect from the phone while they are at home.
Absolute involvement in the army has been part of the IDF's organizational culture for many years, which sometimes also stems from the fact that the commanders set up non-hourly discussions.
Archive photo: IDF Spokesman
"Precisely because of the demanding lifestyle in military service, we are committed to maintaining living norms that will allow any commander, in field or staff positions, to be a soldier and a family member alike. Despite the limited service load and family time available, it is possible and necessary to be a family member," "To.
"The time resource devoted to the family is a key component, but it is not the only one. There are other important components, diverse and unique to each and every family. Nevertheless, family time or personal time is important, and as an organization we should assist commanders and permanent servants. If only a little, about the military way of life. "
A document sent by the chief of staff summarizes several norms he requires his subordinates to adopt in order to "create a supportive atmosphere, which provides legitimacy to give space and time to the family ... as an expression of the principle: the person is precious, the family is precious, time is precious."
According to the chief of staff, on Sundays or another regular day of the week, morning hearings will be scheduled "according to a criterion that allows the children to be escorted to kindergarten or school," while in the combat units the schedule will not begin before 10:00 a.m.
On Thursdays the hearings will end at 6pm at the latest, and on Fridays there will be no unnecessary activities, including non-urgent hearings, interviews, tours, etc.
The chief of staff also demands that the commanders take care of "after", ie a free afternoon a week. "After will start as early as possible in the early afternoon to allow the servants to meet with their family at relevant hours," the chief of staff stated.
Another discount is to allow the servants to leave the units in favor of events related to children, such as birthdays, parents' days, end of year and more.
Also, be sure to accompany the children to special events like the beginning of the year, Purim and more.
Another norm emphasized by the Chief of Staff is the observance of silence or concentrated vacations during the holidays.
According to the chief of staff, each combat unit is required to maintain a plan to maintain contact with the families, including an annual meeting to expose the couple and children to the unit and joint activities twice a year in the combat units. "A lieutenant can and should replace his commander," the chief said. And most importantly - creating legitimacy, an enabling culture and a supportive atmosphere for the issue in general and by senior commanders in particular. "
At the same time, he noted that "the norms set for the world are subject to operational activity and urgent time needs ... we commanders must set a personal example and create the cultural climate that will allow at the same time excellence in the job to be good spouses and parents."