Marva Marva ( Hebrew : מרווה ) is a program in the Israel Defense Forces that allows young Jews to learn and experience the basics of IDF and Israeli life . Beginning in 1982 , Marva operated out of a base in the Galilee , although it now is based at Sde Boker . It was originally associated with Gadna , youth battalions , which are now part of the Israeli Education and Youth Corps . Marva is open to anyone from ages 18 to 28 who speaks some Hebrew , although the vast majority of participants are between the ages of 18 and 20 . The program currently runs between seven to eight weeks long and previously ran for ten weeks . Each week recruits are stationed at a different base . These bases include : Sde Boker , Bislach , out in the field , Wingate Institute , Latrun , Michve Alon and Nitzana . The program costs 900 USD and is non - refundable . Also medical coverage which covers all basic medical problems does not apply to out weekends which are every two weeks . Should a participant need time off during the course a letter must be written to the commanding officer in Hebrew . Also all orders are given in Hebrew , however due to it being understood that the course participants are not fluent in Hebrew , all orders are translated . Participants must also participate in kitchen duty , guard duty in your tent area and punishments for not following orders range from pushups and waking up early to being forced to spend their free weekend on base . Marva has a greater focus on discipline and less of a focus on physical fitness compared to basic training for combat units in the army . Course Schedule : Week 1 : Induction You get the basics of the discipline . Not much happens that ' s too exciting , but you do get a weapon after a short hike . You must never put it behind your back or you WILL be punished . You also learn the theory of shooting and practice the shooting positions . Week 2 : " Field Week " You spend the week outside living like a soldier on the line . You sleep in tents , eat army field rations ( learn to love tuna ) and learn the basics of field techniques ( camouflage , movement , etc . ) . You will shoot the M16 in this week . Week 3 : North Week You sleep at Michvei Alon , the " home base of all new citizens " and tour around all the sites of the north . Including a exercise session in Kfar Blum and a hike in the Banias . Week 4 : Navigation Week You learn the basics of how to read a map and then use the knowledge you learned in the classroom in the field in a small squad . Week 5 : Sport Week You spend a week at the Wingate Institute , Israel ' s leading sports training facility . You do sports training with army sports instructors and the highlight of the week is a spinning class and running the army assault corse . Week 6 : Combat Week You spend a week at the home base of one of the infantry units , Nachal . You will learn how real combat soldiers live day to day . You will also shoot the exclusively Israeli rifle , the Tavor . Week 7 : Jerusalem You tour around all the sites of Jerusalem and the surrounding areas ( wearing your uniform and gun ) . The highlight of the week is a ceremony at the Western Wall . Week 8 : Final Week The week begins with a hike up the snake path of Masada to watch the sun rise . There is a ceremony on the last day of the course at David Ben - Gurion ' s grave where family and friends are encouraged to come and watch you receive your ceremonial pin , the Marvaton .