Tensions Rise at Sde Teyman Base Over Soldiers’ Trauma and Military Discipline

In late July at the Sde Teyman military base, a significant incident unfolded involving the removal of symbols and dismantling of soldiers’ posts by fighters recently returned from Lebanon, sparking a rebellion. This event is not merely a disciplinary issue but highlights a traumatic clash between military oversight and soldiers’ psychological needs. Sde Teyman serves as a "transitional space" where two opposing forces meet: rituals of death processing and initiation ceremonies for young and veteran soldiers. These rituals are crucial for soldiers to cope with the constant exposure to death and to establish group identity under extreme stress.

The military culture of "veterancy", surviving three years without dying, is a key achievement, granting informal authority to older soldiers over newcomers. However, this dynamic becomes complex when set against the backdrop of relentless death and trauma. Physical reminders like cooling containers for bodies and memory boxes with personal items symbolize the soldiers’ struggle to preserve identity amid loss. When command orders the removal of these symbols, it disrupts the soldiers’ psychological coping mechanisms.

Soldiers use folklore and symbols, such as the sign "Kingdom of Demons," as protective tools to anchor themselves in reality. This cultural expression often clashes with the command’s rigid enforcement of regulations, revealing a deep cultural and experiential gap between leadership and troops. The article argues that while maintaining military order is essential, dismissing or punishing soldiers labeled as "rebels" without addressing their trauma is a critical mistake.

The military must develop tools to address "transparent combat shock" and provide psychological support rather than solely disciplinary measures. The author, cultural researcher and historian Haviva Fadia, emphasizes that true rehabilitation requires societal recognition of soldiers’ grief and moral wounds. Compassion and understanding are necessary for healing both the military and Israeli society, which reflect each other’s struggles.