The soldiers at one of the train stations shared a little about the journey to their base from their perspectives: the pride of traveling in uniform, the looks and reactions from the surroundings, the time to think about what awaits you, and thoughts about home and family.

Every Sunday, thousands of soldiers show up at train and bus stations scattered across the country, setting out on their journey back to their base. With large bags, filled with equipment for a week or more, with pressed uniforms, polished shoes, and many thoughts about the period awaiting them away from home, the journey to the base is more than just another ride – it’s a significant part of the routine for most soldiers serving at a closed base.

On Platform 2 at one of the train stations, a male and female soldier were sitting on a bench waiting for the train. Despite the early hour, they both seemed quite cheerful and were in the middle of a conversation. Shoval, a combatant in the Border Defense Force, and Daniel, a combatant in the same unit, were both also in the same team during their training, and that's how they met. They've been a couple for a year and a half now. “We connected, he took care of me, and from there everything is history.” Since then, they travel together to the base whenever possible: “The trip together helps us start the week with a smile,” they say.

On Platform 1, with a large bag next to him, sat ‘D’, a soldier in a classified role in the Air Force. "The train takes me almost all the way to the base, it's really convenient, especially because soldiers don't need to pay," he shares. As well, he feels appreciated by the people around him: “When I travel on public transport, civilians always offer me a seat and are very polite. He adds, “Once I was sitting on the train, and two older people sat across from me. I felt like they were looking at me, I started talking to them, and we ended up talking for an hour and a half. They told me about their time in the army, both of them were in the Six-Day War. I listened to them with eagerness, and slowly the whole carriage joined in.”

The first time soldiers travel by public transport to the base can be a bit confusing. ‘D’ shared his experience: "I had to travel to a distant base in the south, and I got lost on the way... but it was exciting to travel in uniform for the first time.” When returning to the base, the separation from family for a period of time can be challenging: "I usually spend 21 days at the base, so it’s a long time to be apart. I tell my parents I love them, that I’ll miss them, and that we’ll see each other soon," ‘D’ says.

On Platform 6, standing and looking at the passing train was Peleg, a Krav Maga instructor at the Golani Brigade Training Base. When asked what the first thing he does when he boards a bus is, he replied, "Because I’m in Krav Maga, it comes naturally to me," he says, half-joking, half-proud. “I go to the last seat so I can keep an eye on the whole carriage. That way, I’m ready to act in case something happens.” “It’s the little things that make the journey more pleasant,” declared Peleg. "At the beginning of my service, I had a habit of buying vanilla ice cream every time I was on the train. I stopped because it’s full of sugar," he said, laughing.

At the same platform, three girls in Air Force uniforms were sitting with large suitcases, looking a little nervous and excited. "This is the second time we’re traveling by public transport to the base. It’s the second week of our course," one of them shared. "We’re looking forward to getting back to the course and seeing our new friends. I think about it all the way," the second one said excitedly. "I look out the window of the train and think about the new chapter I’ve started, about what I’m going to experience this week, and what awaits me next," the third added. They also feel like other soldiers at the station and shared: “Traveling on public transport in uniform really feels like a mission. Kids come up to us and say ‘Thank you for keeping us safe’.’" One of them added: "When I see other soldiers in uniform, I feel very united, I feel part of something bigger.”

So the next time you see soldiers on the train or bus, smile at them. Sometimes, that's all it takes to brighten their day