New Shoes for the New Year?!?

After a particularly difficult week in the army we were finally given vouchers which we were meant to get almost two months ago, which partially cover the cost of running shoes. How partially you ask? Well like most things in the army, things are not that simple. Here's how it works: You discount the first 280 Shekels of the army price. Then you take 47.2% off the remaining total. Exactly 47.2%.That's right. Why 47.2? Because.

The army gives you everything that you need (except for winter coats, gloves, hats, hydration gear, shoe polish, and can openers), but not a bit more. For example they give you two undershirts and nine pairs of socks, because they believe that the minimum a person needs to survive on for three years is exactly that. So some office worker (only combat soldiers get this voucher) probably came up with some algorithm resulting in his conclusion that I can afford to pay 52.8% of the cost of a pair of sneakers over 280 Shekels on the 350 shekel monthly salary. I think they spent a little to much effort thinking that through, and instead could have given me 45%. 

Regardless of that, the main question is whether I get my regular army discount before the voucher discount or after, and that can make a difference in the price. We'll see...

Why don't I know already? Well you see, in the army's vast efficiency they informed us that our details have been entered into the computer system as of last week. So I took the hour trip to the Malcha mall. I stepped through the threshold of the store and one of the clerks made a sad face and uttered the word, "Voucher?" At this point I had already accepted my fate. I nodded yes, and held my breath. The she erased whatever semblance of hope remained in my body after this long difficult week. "Your names are not entered in the computer system yet. I'm soooo sorry."

I can only hope this is a punishment for my sins in this world on Erev Yom Kippur. Meanwhile the blisters on my feet won't be getting any smaller over the next two weeks I'll be spending on base, because I'll still be running in my old shoes.