Attending the Upper Galilee Leadership Program

Hello, my name is Jonathan James. I am moving to Israel from Colorado this year and am on the way to go to a pre-military leadership academy course, called the Upper Galilee Leadership Institute, also known as a mechina. This program will last 10 months. The purpose of the mechina is to learn leadership skills, volunteer in the nearby communities around Northan Israel, and familiarize and immerse myself in Israel and its culture and people so that I have a similar advantage for getting into the advanced IDF units that typically Israelis have. The program combines academic studies and practical assignments with rich social and cultural experiences through daily life. The high-level lessons are taught by experienced instructors and students are active participants, occasionally leading lessons with the instructor's guidance.

My goal is to enter one of the IDF's elite units and my status would be a "lone soldier" there, and this program will help me in that effort.

The cost of this program is $18,500.00 and all funds will be going towards the tuition that the mechina has for foreign students moving to Israel.

Here is the link for the mechina for more information:

https://mechinot.org.il/en-us/yachad/m/upper-galilee-415