I Believe
“I believe in a number of things which in my opinion are essential for maintaining a framework (and it doesn’t matter how large it is) and these things I wish to impart to you:
I believe first and foremost in the common sense that has to guide our actions.
I also believe in the responsibility of command: a good commander (tank commanders, division commanders, platoon commanders, quartermasters) has a sense of total responsibility for everything that is connected (even indirectly) with his command.
I believe that you can’t pass the buck to someone else, it has to stop right here, with us.
I believe in going into detail. Anyone who avoids doing this and tries to save work for himself will miss the main objective, preparing his unit for war.
I believe that there are no compromises with results. Never let your unit settle for a result that isn’t the best possible result (and that too should be improved upon and perfected).
I believe that being preoccupied with personal satisfaction presents a danger to the life of the unit. I would expect all crew in the unit to always be a bit worried that maybe there was something else we could have improved upon and didn’t.
I believe that the unit has to concentrate all its efforts on the main objective – winning the war. And for that reason, we should not get our priorities mixed up.
I fully believe in our ability to carry out every military mission we are tasked with, and I believe in you, the unit.
I believe in Israel and the general sense of responsibility that has to guide every combat soldier for the fate of homeland.”
From the book “Yoni’s Letters” (letters by Yoni Netanyahu) Maariv Library (pg. 274-275)
This is what Staff Sergeant Kobi Ichelbom O.B.M, who was killed in Netzarim on 10.3.02, truly believed in and passed on to his soldiers.
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