A soldier serving in the elite Sayeret Matkal reconnaissance unit [whose identity may not be reported for security reasons] was injured in an operational related incident. As a result, he is a paraplegic but this young man remained determined, and has recently completed IDF officers training, in a wheelchair.

The junior officer was injured in Gaza last February. He served as a sharpshooter in Sayeret Matkal. He was struck in the lumbar spine with a bullet that left him paralyzed. After rehabilitation, he returned to Sayeret Matkal in a wheelchair, and then succeeded in being accepted to the special officers’ course of six weeks, a course designed for soldiers with limitations.

To the amazement of the other cadets and the officers present at the Ba’ad 1 graduation ceremony, he managed to stand and salute upon receiving his rank, second-lieutenant. There were many tears as the crowd gave the young officer a standing ovation.

“I was determined and practiced ahead of the ceremony and I did it. When I stood, I looked around and saw many people were crying”.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)