The images of female Israeli F-15 pilots who took part in the retaliatory operation against Iran on October 26 went around the world. As one of the few countries that imposes compulsory military service for women (albeit in smaller numbers and for a shorter duration than men), Israel is a unique example of women’s emancipation and equality from a military perspective. In the army, Jewish artillerymen fight alongside Muslim scouts, Christian paratroopers, Druze tank commanders and atheist commandos. White fights side by side with black, Arab with Jew, Ashekenazi with Sephard, Russian with Ukrainian.
Despite what the ‘Queers for Palestine’ claim, there are hardly any armed forces more committed to the inclusivity of members of the LGBT community than the IDF. Gay, bisexual and other non-heterosexual soldiers are free to openly express their orientation. Same-sex couples are recognized by the military, as are widows and widowers of same-sex partners. Trans men and women serve under their chosen gender and can receive gender reassignment surgery while in service.
ASS-diagnose
But there is another category of soldiers who share the Israeli military’s push for inclusivity, one that is mostly ignored worldwide and makes the IDF an example for all armed forces around the world: neurodiverse soldiers. Most militaries ignore young men – let alone women – with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but the Israeli Defense Forces embrace them. With great benefits for both the IDF and the young people themselves.
The origins of the idea of inclusivity for neurodiverse soldiers were not purely idealistic. As early as 2013, former Mossad employees noted that autistic people could have enormous added value for intelligence services. Because of their often great concentration and eye for detail, neurodiverse recruits turned out to be extremely suitable for analyzing aerial and satellite photos. They recognized minuscule details that their neurotypical colleagues missed. That’s why the program was created Roïm rachok (‘looking far’) was created.
“It’s a great opportunity to serve.”
This program was specifically designed to integrate neurodiverse youth into the IDF. The military would benefit from the special abilities of Israelis with ASD, while they in turn would benefit from specialized and professional training during their service. Moreover, in militarized Israeli society, there is often a stigma attached to young people who have not served in the IDF. Young neurodiverse Israelis already suffer from prejudice, but those who have completed their military service will at least find one less hurdle in their way. Furthermore, a successful service can do wonders for the self-confidence of vulnerable young men and women. Before the Roïm rachok program was introduced, Israelis with an ASD diagnosis were routinely exempted from military service.
Start-ups
Ten years later, the situation has completely reversed and the IDF is actively looking for autistic youth. Their contributions to the intelligence services of the army, air force and navy have proven to be invaluable. The most notable unit in which Israelis serve “on the spectrum” is Unit 9900. This elite intelligence group specializes in the analysis and interpretation of aerial and satellite photographs and has sub-units composed entirely of soldiers with autism spectrum disorder. It is striking that many sign up for a military career after their service period. Autistic people are increasingly found in other parts of the IDF, especially in information technology. In 2021, a second program for autistic IDF recruits, Titkadmu (‘forward’), created.
The programs are a resounding success and an example for other armed forces. Also because after their time in the army, alumni are highly sought after as employees in the Jewish state’s numerous IT start-ups. And of course, since October 7, the scale and importance of the work of units like 9900 has increased significantly. On the IDF website, one of the autistic soldiers says: “When I face challenges, I can face them and I look for new ones. It is a great opportunity to serve, just like everyone else, and to connect with the society in which we live. [De IDF] appreciates me and counts on me.”
