Israeli Defense Force soldiers visit UCF

Imagine moving to a foreign country, learning a new language, being immersed into a whole new culture and immediately volunteering to join their armed forces. These are the choices Katie McCants from Allentown, Pa. and Daniel Schmidt from Sao Paulo made when they left hometowns and their families behind to go to Israel and become "lone soldiers" in the Israeli Defense Force.

McCants and Schmidt came in military uniform to UCF on Thursday to speak to Hillel and Students for Israel organizations about their experiences.

Schmidt, who grew up as a Jew in Brazil, decided after his bar mitzvah that he would one day go to Israel. He immigrated to Israel or "made Aliyah" alone when he was 16 years old, learned Hebrew and was soon invited to join the Israeli military.

As a Navy paramedic he witnessed the consequences of war and the suffering it causes. He told students in attendance that what stuck out most during that time was how the Israeli military handled such situations. Schmidt explained that while in the field tending to the wounded his commanding officer instructed him to pass no one up, but tend to each person, "even the enemies."

"He [the officer] said, ‘they are humans no matter what.' And so I helped people who wanted to kill me. Because we are all humans and we should help each other." Schmidt said.

McCants' humor and animated talk kept the students' attention as she also shared her experiences. She decided at 8 years old that she would one day move to Israel. A "birthright" trip at 18 years old was the first of many trips to Israel before she made Aliyah only three years ago.

Like Schmidt she joined the military shortly after moving, but she was not allowed in easily. She was 24 years old at the time and that was considered old for women in the Israeli Army.

"If you are passionate about something you really fight for it," McCants said.

David Mariutto, a UCF senior and the treasurer of the Students for Israel organization on campus, coordinated the meeting. Mariutto explained that having soldiers who have fought and served in the Israeli Defense Force was important to the members of these organizations.

The open discussion provided students with stories of actual experiences so they could better understand what is going on in the Middle East and what Israeli soldiers go through on a daily basis.

Mariutto also explained that with the U.S. working closely with the Israeli Defense Force it is important for people to understand.

"Not only for our students, but for every student, [even] non-Jewish students, these soldiers coming to campus helped illustrate how the U.S. is helping them [Israeli soldiers]."

Both Schmidt and McCants call Israel home and encouraged the Jewish students to take a "birthright" trip which is a 10-day trip to Israel available to every young person of Jewish descent. Schmidt thanked everyone in attendance for their support of soldiers like himself.

"We're a tiny group of people as Jews but we are one big family," McCants said.