Sergeant Major Ben Kerido shares real time, first person updates from the front lines of Gaza during Operation Swords of Iron. Half-destroyed buildings lay strewn throughout a sea of dusty sand. Israel Defence Force soldiers — both active and reserve…

By: Sergeant Major Ben Kerido Our convoy of Israel Defense Force hummers approached the torn-open security fence. All of Gaza spread out before us. Dust swirled around us as we pushed forward. Gaza was a wasteland of bombed out buildings…

By: Sergeant Major Ben Kerido As our IDF mobile infantry and reconnaissance company continued its combat support operations, now at [censored for security near the Gaza border], we encountered a gaggle of reporters. They surrounded our IDF brigade commander, who…

By: Sergeant Major Ben Kerido Gunfire erupted throughout the shooting range at [censored for security]. Paper targets were torn to bits, small piles of rocks splintered, metal planks dinged, and soda cans bounced down the desert range as bullets slammed…

By: Sergeant Major Ben Kerido The sun had already dropped below the horizon, ushering in Shabbat, or the Jewish Sabbath. I have to admit, though. Here in the Israel Defense Force it doesn’t feel much like Shabbat. One of my…

By: Sergeant Major Ben Kerido One of the most important rules of warfare is: Know your enemy. For nearly seven years I helped teach psychological warfare to the United States military through the Department of Defense. I specialized in curriculum…