Greetings Benzi, Your ears must have been ringing,  we were speaking of you this week. I hope you are well and enjoying good weather.  I know it’s been a wet winter thereJ

 

The Director is very excited about the trip, briefings, and getting greater awareness about military service in Israel.  Some questions he’ll have is about how Israeli men and women are notified for service in peacetime and  during a National Emergency.  Are their alternatives to military service and are there issues associated  with  “mandatory service”.  How does the population learn about required service,  do you advertise, is there push-back?

 

You will be receiving a call/email from Ms. Betty Lou Wingo.  She’s in charge and will be coordinating the trip, arrangements, and details.  I believe the Director has some requested visits (i.e. to meet the American Ambassador, whom I believe he knows) . Should they there be time, he’d like to visit some ציוני דרך (landmarks) and is very interested in participating in the Yom HaShoa observance. 

 

I do believe the Director will be travelling with two or three members from our Agency to assist and provide briefings that you’ll want – but Ms. Wingo will firm all that up with you.

 

Do you have a point of contact for the US Embassy that you most frequently “coordinate or work with” on these sort of trips to IDF.   It would be extremely helpful since we have limited experience with official international travel specifics.  I do know that the official passports, country clearances, and briefings are in process.  

 

 

P.S.  This trip is especially timely because of recent issues surrounding Selective Service Registration. You may have heard that two U.S. courts in the United States suggested that women should be required to Register and drafted as men are.  Those court cases are still in process, so it’s far too soon to know the final outcome.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/selective-service-law-must-change-after-court-rules-male-only-draft-unconstitutional-says-commission-chairman

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey Matthew, I hope all is well by you.