About

Moran Almog was born in Ness-Ziona to a Zionist family who founded the town. "At home we received an education for the love of the country," she says, "My two brothers joined the paratroopers and it was clear to me that I wanted to do meaningful service. At home we grew up on Ben-Gurion's legacy and there is no lecture that I do not quote him”.

She began her service in a training course for cadets, trained soldiers at the biggest training base in Israel, was a men's commander, issued a license on D9, a huge bulldozer (from those who demolish houses) and moved many areas from the Golan Heights to Eilat.

She met her husband, Ziv Almog, when he served in the reserves during the Gulf War. Three years later they married and gave birth to Dor (18) and Romi (15.5).
Almog dealt with raising the children, while enlisting every possible help from her immediate surroundings: "My mother and Ziv raised the children. Romi was born with a medical problem (that was settled at a later age). We had a stay-home nanny that was attentive to the Romi's needs. Under these conditions, even after the births I could continue my field service and stay for weeks outside the home."

Operation 'Zuk Eitan' was a very tense period”, says Almog, who served as the head of the Operations Branch of the General Staff and managed the logistics room for the IDF - water, equipment, transportation, food, etc.

"My son was supposed to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah. I spent 52 consecutive days in the army. We postponed the event three times because of my schedule and we only held it after the operation was over. I did come as a guest without being involved in the process. Already out of Gaza, a lot of career soldiers came to celebrate with us and I felt we were starting a good period. "

During one of the discussions to summarize the military operation, Almog sensed something in the shape of a round marble in her chest area. "I played with it for three weeks. I was sure it was a cyst that should be removed. Never have I ever thought that it might be something else."

Only three weeks later, due to the fact that the IDF transferred her to another clinic, during a routine checkup, she came to a doctor who sent her to do mammography and ultrasound.

For a moment I did not think it was cancer. I got out of the mammogram feeling that everything was clean and good and even after I got the discs and the doctor who examined them sent me to do a biopsy. I was still completely calm. Even after they called me three days later and asked me to come personally to get the results of the examination, I did not understand that I was ill and went alone to get the results."

After Almog internalized that this was indeed cancer, she did what she knows how to do best. "I went to war and it was clear to me that I was the one running it, not the disease that runs me. I knew I would win.

I prepared a plan of action like I would do in the army. I put together a medical team that I chose and knew that I trusted. I read studies and information on the subject and I was involved in each of the medical meetings and decisions.

“For example, I decided that I was not interested in a full mastectomy, despite the objections that were raised around and despite all the warnings I received, I insisted on only a partial resection until I succeeded in convincing the medical staff. "

After the surgery and while examining the tissues around the tumor it turned out that the area is not clean and there are tumors in five additional locations and there is no reason not to undergo further surgery

This was probably my first crisis point, "she says. "It was very difficult for me to accept the fact that my orderly plan with the exact goals and schedule failed, and yet I did not give up and as I learned over the years, I ran my plan of action in case of trouble.

I went into another complicated surgery to avoid a complete ablation and did a partial resection". After undergoing a five-month recovery period from the complex operation, Almog returned to normal function in the war room and under pressure

The recovery at home was accompanied by many pains and difficulties, but it was a continuous celebration of life and the house was full of visitors and optimism

"Since her recovery, Almog has been recruited for media operations and exposure and the creating of awareness in various activities of the IDF Spokesperson.
.“I realized that this was what I was going to do after I was released, to teach people how to get the courage to choose in success, how to set goals and conquer them, no matter what field they are. I realized that the elements and principles that should guide the IDF when it goes to war, a woman who fights cancer or an organization that goes out to compete for an important tender are the same. I've been trained for over 20 years for this purpose and I want to pass it on"

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