Air Force reservist couple describe juggling war, parenthood, and 740 days of service

A married couple of Israeli Air Force reservists from Herzliya, identified only as Maj. R. and Maj. T., described how they balance family life and repeated call-ups since October 7. The two, both UAV operators in separate squadrons, have been together for about a decade and now have a five-month-old daughter. R. serves in Squadron 210, and T. in Squadron 161.

In an interview with C14, they said the job may look like a calm shift in an air-conditioned control trailer, but it is actually a direct entry into combat. T., who has logged more than 740 reserve days, said the hardest part is the abrupt switch from the battlefield to normal civilian life. "The privilege is that we have each other to understand this," he said.

The war complicated their family logistics even more. R. was pregnant while carrying out intensive operational missions, and soon after giving birth she returned to duty as tensions with Iran escalated. The couple arranged a rotating system so one parent would always stay home, and when both had to be at their squadrons, grandparents stepped in to help.

Because their missions sometimes overlap over Gaza, they have occasionally spoken to each other over the radio during flights. R. said it depends on the mission, but when possible they check in briefly and continue. T. also said recent missions included killing senior figures involved in holding hostages, and that no one in his civilian workplace knows what he did at night. He added that hearing a relative in Golani thank him for air support that saved soldiers under fire gave him a vivid sense of the mission's meaning. He urged Israeli society not to become used to the absence of reservists, saying the frontline troops are the real heroes and reservists are there to protect them and the country.