First Time Accepts Autism Students, Commander Of Israel Military Cyber Academy: Opportunity For Everyone

Illustration of an Israeli military cybersecurity exercise (Source: IDF Spokesperson's Unit via The Jerusalem Post)

JAKARTA - For the first time, the Academy of Computing and Cyber Defense, which is an educational forum for soldiers skilled in programming, cyber and technology that forms the backbone of the Israeli military (IDF), accepts soldiers with autism spectrum.

The school, which is located in Ramat Gan, teaches dozens of courses related to technology needs at all levels (IDF), both the C4I directorate and the Navy, Air Force, and even the Army.

The school, the basic platform for the training of all personnel who will have computer-related positions in the military, "provides opportunities to all Israelis," said the school's commander Lt. Col. Liat Litvak.

"We don't just take people who have previous (computer) knowledge, it can be anyone who has math skills. They can come and be successful," he quoted The Jerusalem Post October 7 as saying.

There are nine cadets on the autism spectrum who will study a cyber defense education course, an intensive program of several months.

Most cadets are high-functioning autistic and while they will do everything non-autistic cadets do, they 'just get a little more help during education, Litvak said.

Every four cadets will have an officer, compared to one for every six non-autistic cadets. They will study from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and have several breaks during the day to ensure they can concentrate properly while studying.

The cadets spend the six weeks before the course with a mentor who helps them, integrates into military life and will accompany them throughout their service. Over the course of six weeks, mentors also meet with cadet families to learn about them.

"Everyone is completely different and we can learn a lot about each cadet," says corporal Pnina Gershenkroin, special integration mentor.

"Our goal is to integrate all cadets into the army, they have the same opportunities as anyone else who enlists into the IDF," he continued.

To note, in recent years, the IDF has paid special attention to cyber warfare, increased funding, and placed special emphasis on training the next generation of online soldiers for the IDF's most coveted units, which are responsible for many of Israel's breakthrough technologies.