A desire to serve in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has carried 22-year-old Alexander Moliver a long way from his Newtown home to a small apartment outside of Tel-Aviv, Israel. He spends up to three days there with roommates and rotates back to his military base for another 11 days.

Mr Moliver is Jewish, and said, “I believe very strongly in the Jewish people and Israel’s right to exist.” Without IDF, he said, “Israel probably wouldn’t exist from all the attacks.” The IDF is not exclusive to Jews, and others, including some Muslims and Christians, also serve in Israel’s military forces.

A 2010 Newtown High School graduate, Alexander Moliver is now serving in an “elite army unit in one of the world’s most dangerous war zones,” according to Ronit Deutsch, a PR associate with Puder Public Relations LLC, New York, working on behalf of client, Friends of the Israel Defence Forces (FIDF), which supports IDF soldiers. After high school, Mr Moliver, through many months of schooling and training, became a Lone Soldier with the Israel Defense Forces. He is now in a special forces unit.

Ms Deutsch described him as “a young person who left behind [his] home, family, and friends to join the IDF.” Mr Moliver is among a growing national trend, with as many as 600 young people across the United States enlisting in the IDF every year to help defend their ancestral homeland, according to Ms Deutsch.

Enjoying a rare visit home following the new year, Mr Moliver made time to talk about his decision to become an IDF soldier.

Not looking like the special forces unit member or combat medic that he has become, Mr Moliver sat in his parents’ living room overlooking a quiet yard. While the gardens outside were temporarily frozen by recent rain and snow, he relaxed on the couch in a T-shirt and bare feet, while describing himself as someone unlike the image of a special forces member in America. “I’m not a huge guy,” he said.

Tall, lean, and speaking with confidence, he said his role requires a mental strength. The Israeli military is looking for soldiers with the mental ability to carry out their jobs, he said. He must be able to “overcome obstacles that are thrown at you,” and possess the ability to persevere, he said.

He could have a routine day guarding the border or checking IDs of people passing by his patrol, or at other times be involved in an ambush or face terrorist activity, but he is not afraid, he said. “I’ve had my training and I know my team/friends are with me.”

Already with the army for one year and nine months, he has another year and a few months remaining in his enlistment. One current concern is the movement in nearby Gaza. Hamas, the “terrorist organization that governs the Palestinians in Gaza,” poses a serious threat to Israel’s people, Mr Moliver said. He briefly noted several scenarios underlining this point.

In contrast to the cold, but sunny early afternoon outside his parents’ house on Sugar Street, he spoke of the Hamas tunneling underground to reach Israel and “kill and capture citizens.” The Hamas do this, he said, “just because they’re terrorists. You don’t go about peace that way.” Hamas “dresses in civilian clothing to trick us,” he said. He has had friends injured, and one of his company officers has died. “They’re 18- and 22-year-old kids like me.”

He also described another scene: “I was in Gaza and saw for myself — they don’t care about their citizens.” When Israel attempted to bomb a building in Gaza where terrorists were hiding, “they sent citizens to the roof so the IDF couldn’t bomb them. We don’t want to hurt citizens — it’s hard knowing who is who.”

He explained that the Palestinian faction in Gaza has a saying: “We love death as much as they love life.” They say they want “Jews, citizens, everybody pushed out, driven away,” he said.

With radical terrorists’ acts most prominent in the news, Mr Moliver said they “hide behind citizens and inside society.” That’s what he is protecting people from, he said.

He could find himself in dangerous areas near the West Bank, a territory still technically Israel, but primarily occupied by Arabs, and no Israelis. This zone “usually holds the terrorists,” he said.

A Journey To A Special Forces Unit

Relaxed and at home Tuesday afternoon with his father and mother, Kenny and Paula, Mr Moliver explained how a Jewish boy “born and raised” in Newtown made his way to fight a war in the Middle East, defending Israel.

His father’s cousin, the late Keith Berman, had lived in Israel. Mr Moliver and his older brother and sister, Zackary and Shayne, all spent time abroad with Mr Berman, who ran a yearlong course for young Jews who studied and learned in Israel.

“Keith’s program was an immersion program to get you to live in Israel,” said Mr Moliver. His late uncle, he said, is the reason that he pursued joining the IDF.

“He was always saying, ‘This is where we need to be.’ He was very, very pro Israel.” When he made his pilgrimage, Mr Moliver realized, “Israel is an amazing place.” He said it’s a “very progressive” country.

He moved to Israel in 2012, and began courses in Hebrew and began preparing for the army. After several months of traveling and trying to integrate into the society, he took a cognitive and physical tests, but still needed to improve his Hebrew.

After a three-month intensive course and 12-hour days while living the regimented army routine, Mr Moliver was cited as an “outstanding soldier.” He said, “It was a shock.”

He then moved into the infantry and a special forces unit, and basic training. He graduated as a combat medic. While many soldiers went into combat, Mr Moliver and his unit in special forces did eight more months of training.

When his time with the army is over, Mr Moliver hopes to take some time to relax, and eventually return to Israel, where he has dual citizenship, and take advantage of their free university education.

This week, as sunshine pushed through tall living room windows, Mr Moliver’s house was quiet, his parents occasionally whispering. His time with the IDF has “given me worldly experiences,” he said. He has learned to think on his feet, and is more mature.

“I have learned to be the best citizen I can,” he said. Military service in an active zone has put life in perspective, he added.

“He grew up fast,” and has become independent, his parents added.

Jokingly his father said, “It’s good he’s a medic. He can take care of us. I just hope he never needs one.”

A Lone Soldier’s Friends

According to Anat Chavkin, director of Westchester/Connecticut’s Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces, the Lone Soldier is not alone.

“Even for Israelis, it is not easy to be a soldier in the IDF. Often, the environment is rigid, there are many rules. “It is definitely not easy to be a lone soldier, without a family, in the IDF.

“When all soldiers go home on Friday to celebrate the Sabbath at home, lone soldiers don’t have family who’s waiting for them. FIDF promises that lone soldiers will never be alone.”

She said in a recent email, “I am writing it and getting emotional – Lone Soldiers will Never Be Alone.”

The FIDF supports the soldiers during service and through their release. They organize Shabbat meals, social events, a 24-hour call center, and walk-in center for assistance and flights to visit family.

Ms Chavkin wrote: “For example, during the summer, there were 1800 lone soldiers who participated in Operation Protective Edge. FIDF vowed to fly each and every one of them home after the Operation ended, and we did.”

She said, “In preparation for army release we provide guidance and counseling in preparation for college, scholarships, employment, and general assistance in transition to civilian life in Israel.”

The FIDF salutes all soldiers. “We are proud of our soldiers and we are even prouder of our lone soldiers who don’t have to serve but feel the need to serve and protect the borders of Israel,” she wrote.

Learn more about FIDF and its role in supporting the IDF at FIDF.org.