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SUBJ: INTERNSHIP AFTER ACTION REPORT: JEWISH INSTITUTE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS (JINSA)

General Information- The internship was organized for our group, representing the Naval Academy, West Point, and Air Force Academy by the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs. We departed from JFK International Airport in New York City, on 29 May 05 and flew non-stop to Tel-Aviv National Airport in Israel. We stayed in Tel-Aviv for a few days, soaking in the culture of Israel’s largest city. There was much to visit there as it a very cosmopolitan city, as well as holding many historical building from the early years of Israel’s independence. We then traveled to Jerusalem. On the way we visited several military sites, including the Armor Corps Memorial at Latrun, a base built by the British during their stint as rulers of Israel. In Jerusalem, we visited many holy sites, both Christian, Catholic, and Jewish. We walked the Via Dolorosa, visited the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, prayed at the Wailing Wall, and had a rare chance to tour the Temple Mount; former site of the Jewish Temple, now home to Al-Aqsa Mosque and The Dome of the Rock. We then moved south to the Negev Desert, and stayed with Bedouins, and learned about their way of life. We then traveled north and stayed in the port city of Haifa. On the way we visited Masada, a mountain fortress used for centuries. We swam in Dead Sea, and hiked to natural springs in the mountains. In Haifa, We visited more tourist sites there and spend most of one day at the Naval Base in Haifa. We saw some of their platforms, and spoke with officers in their Navy. Tiberius was next as we moved into the last week of our trip. Tiberius is a beautiful town that borders the Sea of Galilee, and is also home to many Christian Holy Sites as they believe that this was the setting for much of Jesus’ ministry. We continued to travel north for our final stop, which was Kibbutz Haggoshrim. A kibbutz is a cooperative living establishment; there are many throughout Israel that specialize in anything from building TEVA Sandals to agriculture. In our time at the kibbutz we traveled to the former and current borders of Israel and its northern neighbors, Syria and Lebanon. We went back to Tel Aviv and arrived back in the United States on June 17.

Experience Gained- It was the general consensus of the group that I traveled with that the three weeks we spend in Israel were some of the most informative and unique that we had had the chance to experience in our time at the Academy. As a prerequisite for applying for the program I had taken Middle Eastern Politics, as such I was familiar with the basic themes of Middle East relations and conflicts between states. With that background, each speaker and officer we talked to was much more interesting. The lectures that we were presented by college professors working in Israel were very informative and will help the whole group whenever the are deployed in this area or do work with our allies. The most meaningful experience for me professionally was to see the Israeli military bases and talk with their very young Junior Officers who were put in incredible places of responsibility at twenty-one or twenty-two. We also had the chance to spend several days with young officers who traveled with us on our tour bus. I was very impressed with the Israeli Military; they are very professional and very mission-oriented. Their approaches to the challenges that they face in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank everyday, can be very useful to us as we deal with similar problems in Iraq and as we continue the War on Terror. My understanding of the particular security problems that Israel faces was greatly enhanced by talking to the officers who had led patrols in the occupied territories, and by speaking to citizens on both sides of their political spectrum. This trip was the highlight of my summers at the Academy, and I would recommend it to any midshipman of any major. The importance of the Middle East will continue for years to come and any first hand experience we can get with such close allies as Israel who are in the heart of the conflict will be invaluable as future military leaders.

Recommendations- As I mentioned before, this trip was the highlight of my summer training at the Naval Academy. As I truly enjoyed the trip, my recommendations are logistical or peripheral in nature. First and foremost, I would recommend that the Naval Academy cover the full cost of the trip. I had to pay 250 dollars in addition to my own transportation to JFK, and incidentals while I was in Israel. This was a heavy burden for my family and I. The extra expense for the Academy to cover 250 dollars per midshipmen, is nothing to the budget of the Academy, but was a significant obstacle for us to overcome. The West Point and Air Force Academy cadets were fully covered and we often felt embarrassed when we gave much cheaper gifts to our hosts than did the two other academies, since we had to pay for them ourselves. I also think that the trip should be shorter, the time that we had was sufficient to see everything that we did, but some of the archeological digs that we visited were not especially interesting and could have been cut out without any loss to the trip.

1. General Information. This year was the first time in two years that the Naval Academy sent a delegation to Israel for the JINSA internship program. We were in Israel for twenty days. During these twenty days JINSA made the most of our time by having a busy schedule each day. Our stops included Tel Aviv for a total of six nights, Jerusalem for three nights, Haifa, Golan, the Negev Desert, the Jordan, Galilee, a night with the Bedouins, the Dead Sea, and many different Jewish and Christian holy sites. We also went to four IDF bases and had panel discussions with officers at each base. In addition to this Israeli soldiers traveled with us for a few days in order to have more interaction with IDF soldiers in a non-official capacity.

2. Experienced Gained. This was the most educational trip I have ever been on. I learned more on this trip than I could have in any class room. I learned so much about Israel and what life is like for a typical Israeli, plus I learned a lot about the history of the region and how that effects the lives of the people in Israel. Seeing first hand what life is like in Israel, an American ally, in a constant state of risk is very beneficial for me as a future officer. Not only did I learn about the complex political situation in Israel, but I also had a human face to put to it as well.

3. Highlights. There are almost too many highlights to mention. The whole trip was amazing! As a Catholic I enjoyed all of the holy sites, especially the Garden Tomb. I also found out time at the Kibbutz in Golan very enjoyable and interesting. As a Political Science major I found it really exciting to be able to see and hear stories about Israel’s past with Syria and Lebanon. Also seeing how close Hezbollah had their flags to the Israeli boarder was sobering to me. Only hearing about Israel and Hezbollah on the news it is easy to sometimes forget that this conflict is real. The interaction with the Israeli soldiers was also extremely beneficial. Talking with and going out with the soldiers to bars and things made it easy to see that even though they come from a completely different country they are still very much like Americans. I made some really good friends on the trip, at West Point, Air Force, and in Israel. This was the best trip of my life.

4. Recommendations. JINSA did an outstanding job from top to bottom. They kept us busy and we saw a lot, but they left the evenings open for us to go out on our own which was great. I felt that we had a really good balance between free time and structured tours. A little more of an explanation of what a “hike” actually is would be nice, as it seemed to vary from scaling down a cliff face, to walking up paved road to a church.

The JINSA internship was one of the best summer training experiences I have had as a midshipman. Although JINSA sponsored the program, it was operated and implemented by an Israeli travel agency and structured more like a three week tour. Our group consisted of eight midshipman from the Naval Academy, eleven cadets from the Military Academy, and eleven cadets from the Air Force Academy, in addition to one faculty representative from each service academy and a licensed Israeli tour guide. For twenty days, we had a chance to get to know one another, traveling on a chartered bus and visiting various sites throughout the country.

After just completing a course on Middle Eastern Politics, this internship provided tangible experiences which reinforced what I recently studied in the classroom. My perception of and understanding of Israel’s significance is completely different now that I have experienced meeting the people and discussing issues first hand. I discovered that much of what is portrayed in the American media does not fully represent Israel’s complicated issues and colorful geography. The best experiences gained were not only the visits to sacred religious sites, but also the interaction we had with six Israeli cadets who joined us for the last few days of the trip.

Tel Aviv: Swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, walking through the old port of Jaffa;

Jerusalem: Exploring the old city, wandering through King Hezekiah’s tunnel with only a candle to guide us, walking down the Mount of Olives into the Kidron Valley, visiting the Wailing Wall and then going up on the temple mount to see the Dome of the Rock;

Negev Desert: Riding camels on the Judean Plain, staying overnight in the a Bedouine desert encampment, hiking up to Masada, King Herod’s mountain palace, swimming in the Dead Sea, hiking through Israel’s national parks and finding out how important water is to the livelihood of the region, and visiting Israel’s largest air force base;

Haifa: Visiting Israel’s largest naval base and exploring the country’s only modern port.

Sea of Galilee: Hiking the Mount of Beatitudes, hiking Mount Arbel, and visiting the Jordan River were special experiences;

Golan Heights: A jeep tour climbing the Golan Heights and learning about the Six Day War, hiking in the Yehudiya to see gorgeous waterfalls, and staying at a Kibbutz were all special highlights of the trip.

The itinerary was packed with activities everyday, which was great, but I would have liked a little more free time to see the sites I personally found more interesting. I was surprised when I had to pay about $500 out of pocket (in addition to personal expenditures such as souvenirs and snacks), because we originally thought the internship was fully funded. I recommend USNA find a private donor who is willing to sponsor the midshipmen and cover the costs. Overall, it was an amazing trip full of unique experiences which will help to be a better officer because I understand the issues pertaining to Israel and why they are a significant ally to the United States.

(1) After having been afforded the opportunity to participate in the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA) internship through the Political Science Department, I would highly recommend continuing and further supporting this program in the future. I would say that my time spent in Israel has had a profound impact on my understanding of the Middle East and, has greatly enriched my knowledge not only as a student of political science, but as well as a soon to be commissioned officer in the United States military. Having been able to visit several of the cities and towns that are continuously making headlines in newspapers and on television, it was truly amazing to witness for myself the situation in Israel. Places such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem were among many of the cities that we visited during our trip. While visiting these cities, not only were we exposed to the everyday life and customs of the Jewish people but we also saw how they, the Israelis, interacted with Christians and Muslims, who also make up a large part of the populace. I was privileged to have had the opportunity to be able to interact with various members of Israeli Defense Force and hear about the difficulties regarding the security and defense of a small nation surrounded by other nations that are particularly hostile toward a democratic, Jewish state.

(2) There are several reasons why this internship should be continued for future classes. The main reason for the internship was to educate young, aspiring officers from the Navy, Army, and Air Force to be aware of the tensions in the Middle East and to gain an appreciation for the working relationship between the United States and Israel. In this capacity, the internship succeeded in this mission. The success of this internship was attributed largely to the various lectures from academic professors as well as to the interaction with the Israeli Defense Forces from each of the branches of service. Furthermore, we were given the opportunity to speak with several American defense attaché officers who were working in the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv. Each source provided an outlet for explaining what Israel is all about, both politically and militarily, and what it is trying to accomplish. On this note I would like to clarify the preconception that this internship was going to be overly biased in favor of Israel and that it was going to sway our beliefs to side with the plight of the Jewish people. Since the internship was funded by JINSA, it was to be expected that it was going to be pro Israel. In regards to this I would say that Midshipmen were smart enough to distinguish what was fact and what was over exaggeration. While these over exaggerations were few and far between, it sparked many thought provoking discussions between both parties and in the end we knew the real story. Another great aspect to this trip was that learning about Israel was not confined to the classroom. Israel is a country that is rich in history. Not only is it the site of numerous biblical references, but it is also abundant with numerous battlefields which have shaped the course of world events for the last 2000 years. Everything form visiting the alleged site of the crucifixion of Christ, to riding camels in the desert with nomadic tribes, to the battle sieged fortress at Masada, we were able to see and experience something that few people ever have the opportunity to do. While the days are often packed with places to go and people to see, there was down time at night to unwind and take in the night life. As part of the Israeli experience, it was great being able to explore the numerous shops for strange and exotic souvenirs and to sit in one of the many outdoor cafés and chat with the locals while periodically catching a glimpse of the Israeli soccer team on television. Meeting with cadets from the other U.S. service academies was also very worthwhile. In many aspects it was similar to a pseudo joint operations exercise. We were able to work together and our level of interaction forged many lasting friendships. Also, I was able to meet other Midshipmen whom I had not previously known before coming on this trip so I would also consider this to be a plus.

(3) Overall this was truly an amazing experience and a great internship. I was able to learn a great deal about foreign affairs in Israel and still have time to have fun. While the days were often very busy, it was still worthwhile considering all of the things we were able to see and do in a three week time period. For the most part accommodations were good and the food was generally not too bad. Although, I must confess that there were moments when I would have settled for a good old fashioned American cheeseburger, there was still never a time were I went away hungry. I would highly encourage other Midshipmen to pursue this opportunity in the future.

Subj: INTERNSHIP AFTER ACTION REPORT: JEWISH INSTITUTE OF NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

General Information- In the past, continuous conflict within Israel and the Middle East has deterred the Academy from allowing midshipmen to participate in the JINSA-sponsored trip to Israel. Despite prior setbacks, 6 midshipmen, 9 West Point cadets and 7 Air Force cadets, accompanied by their respective chaperones, made the trip this summer 2005. The internship lasted from 28 MAY to 17 JUNE. The three-week program began with our arrival in Tel-Aviv where we were met by our tour guide, a prior Major in the Israeli armed forces, and our own personal bus with a driver. For three weeks we explored the country, interacted with its people and gained firsthand accounts of Israel’s political ideology and its correlation to Israeli military action.

Experience Gained – The three-week internship consisted of lectures from surrounding University Professors, who were leading experts in the their respected fields of politics, religion and the economy. Midshipmen and Cadets also met extensively with representatives of the Israel Defense Forces and young Israeli officers from the Officers Training School at Mitzpe Ramon; Tel Aviv. These junior officers later accompanied us on our trip to the Golan Heights.

Highlights- I believe Tel Aviv was an excellent starting point for the trip, before we began our exploration throughout the country. It allowed us to get a grasp of a major Middle Eastern metropolitan city and its government, economy, and social class. The trip’s turning point came with our passage to Jerusalem, birthplace of the world’s three major religions Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Holy Sites like the West Wall and the Dome of the Rock, followed by a view of the West Bank and its bullet riddled, bombed- out structures put the gravity of the conflict into perspective. Perhaps one of the most unique experiences of the internship came with our travel to the Negev desert. In an effort to become acclimated to a desert environment, we spent a night with the Bedouins, Nomadic people who greeted us with some Bedouin delicacies and a bumpy but entertaining camel ride through the desert. In the morning, we traveled to Masada and continued in the afternoon to the Dead Sea, where the laws of physics allowed us to float with not much effort. The climax of the trip, personally for me, came in our stopover at the Golan Heights. Our group spent a few days trekking around the Israeli borders of Lebanon and Syria. There was one instance where we stood upon an overhang; to the left of me stood a Hezbollah flag and to the right stretched the road to Damascus. Before, I had always been aware of the domestic and regional turmoil of Israeli with its border countries but the realization of how close these countries were to each other hadn’t sunk in until that moment.

Recommendations- The internship was an extraordinary opportunity and an eye-opening experience. The knowledge I attained by the act of doing could not be supplemented by any text or lecture. The only significant critique I suggest and respectfully request is that the students have an occasion to interact with the real leaders of the state of Israel, including more senior officers. By way of generals, members of the Knesset, and Judicial Authorities, the individuals who were available to meet and greet us were merely delegated to us; they didn’t hold any real rank or power. With the monetary aid that the United States provides to Israel and our shared alliance with this state, I believe it would have been a gesture of good faith to have Prime Minister Ariel Sharon spend a few minutes with us discussing our important joint mission.

Further information- Israel represents a remodeled, streamlined version of democracy, a model that is currently trying to be molded by the United States’ involvement in Iraq and War on terrorism. The American intent of democracy is to achieve security through different means- more democracy, less conflicts; less conflicts, less terrorism. The Jewish state of Israel is the only successful democracy in the Middle East and the U.S. needs their help to reach its objective. Having been on Israeli soil and witnessed a successful religious-based democracy, it is my opinion that the JINSA-sponsored internship to Israel is the best possible training the Academy can provide with respect to the current global state of affairs.

Subj: After Action Report

1. General Information: As a member of the midshipman delegation on the JINSA trip to Israel for the first time in recent history, I was honored to partake in this wonderful guided trip through the Israeli countryside and cities.

2. Experience Gained: By traveling throughout the country and to the edges of both the occupied territories and neighboring countries, I was better able to understand the complex border and nationality issues that face Israel. Excellent presentations were prepared by both Israeli and American officials, and the tours of Israeli military facilities that we received were certainly top notch. All events and tours were extremely worthwhile.

3. Highlights: Speakers included the Naval Attache to the Israeli embassy and other prominent political and military actors in the current situation. Another highlight included a tour of the Israeli Naval base at Haifa and guided tours around many of their ships. This proved to be very worthwhile and informative.

4. Recommendations: The travel arrangements with JINSA were very well planned and they proved to be very accommodating regarding special plans. The one lowlight, however, proved to be the support that the academy gave to the program in relation to the other service academies. Fees that Mids were required to cover and that no other academy students had to pay included the tip for the tour and a portion of the actual trip. While still manageable, the trip came out to cost almost five hundred dollars out of pocket. I think that the trip was extremely worthwhile and merits funding that is comparable to other academies.