1. A Heroic Soldier: Inna Stepanova's Biography
2. From Clerk to Military Police
3. A Challenging Service
4. The Decision to Act
5. Recognition from the IDF
6. Future Aspirations
7. Wishes for a Bright Future

A Heroic Soldier: Inna Stepanova's Biography

From Ukraine to Israel

Inna Stepanova, a 20-year-old soldier of the Israel Defense Forces, will forever remember this year's International Women's Day. The day before the holiday, she had to carry out a task that was far from feminine - identifying and apprehending a Palestinian terrorist. The terrorist was carrying a homemade explosive device, and the checkpoint in Judea and Samaria where Inna was on duty at the time was the last obstacle between the terrorist and peaceful Israelis. We were able to interview Inna, thanks to the IDF spokesperson's office. Unfortunately, the conversation was short as she was on duty, and her answers were interspersed with the sounds of everyday life at a typical checkpoint. Nonetheless, the background was fitting and reminiscent of that pre-holiday day.

Inna was born in the city of Kharkiv, Ukraine. Four and a half years ago, she came to Israel through the NAALE program, which is run by the Jewish Agency Sochnut and helps absorb schoolchildren into Israeli society. A year ago, she joined the army.

From Clerk to Military Police

Initially, they wanted to assign Inna to a regular administrative position in the army. However, she insisted and eventually got her way: she joined the ranks of the military police.

A Challenging Service

Serving in the military is not easy, but Inna had chosen it for herself, so she had no room to complain.

Her parents did not protest either when they heard that their child, still young, was joining the military police. By that time, her parents had already been in Israel for two years.

When they learned that she had apprehended a terrorist, they congratulated her, then cried, and congratulated her again. Inna called her older sister after the incident and asked her to prepare their parents for the news.

The Decision to Act

When asked about what prompted her to take decisive action, Inna mentioned that it was a combination of factors. The terrorist set off the metal detector when he passed through it. Many people at the checkpoint triggered the alarm, such as those with phones, keys, and other small metal objects. However, this particular individual became nervous when he was asked to go through the detector again. His eyes darted around, and his movements became frantic. Inna reacted quickly, giving the command to call for reinforcements. It turned out that her instincts were right.

Recognition from the IDF

In such situations, the IDF usually expresses its congratulations through words. Her fellow soldiers approached her, patting her on the shoulder. Many of them called to congratulate her.

Future Aspirations

After her service, Inna expressed her desire to pursue higher education. She mentioned her interest in studying at the Technion, as she is passionate about mathematics, exact sciences, and computers.

When questioned about her future career plans, she responded that she believes she has the character, resilience, and patience to succeed in any field. She sees no reason why she can't continue apprehending criminals while also advancing science and knowledge.

Wishes for a Bright Future

In conclusion, we extend our congratulations to Inna on her heroic actions. We wish her success in all aspects of her life, both within the military and beyond.

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