Telegraph: The Israeli army recruit autistic people into its ranks

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A report by the Telegraph shed light on the work of two of the most important secret intelligence units of the Israeli army, which include teenage recruits with autism in their ranks.

The two units are 9900, which is responsible for analyzing and collecting visual intelligence information taken from satellites and surveillance aircraft and then sending it to forces on the battlefield, and 8200, whose mission is to provide an integrated intelligence vision with information provided by customer-based human sources.

According to the Telegraph newspaper, the number of conscripts with autism serving in the Israeli army in non-combat positions is about 400 people, only a small portion of whom work in these two units.

Before the Hamas attack on October 7, analysts considered these two units to be among the most powerful of their kind in the world, keeping civilians safe from internal attacks and external threats.

The Telegraph newspaper notes that joining either unit has long been a source of pride for any Israeli, but only those with sharp minds and good attention to detail are recruited, which is why autistic teens often qualify.

“It’s clear that they (people with autism) have a qualitative superiority over other soldiers, and that is why they find themselves in digital security and intelligence units,” said, Lieutenant Colonel Rotem Sabbagh, head of the Mitav department in the Israeli army, which deals with new recruits.

He adds, “Abilities that are often associated with autism, such as concentration and remembering specific details very well, all contribute to their superiority”.

Among them is a Corporal, who is 19 years old and lost her sister in the October 7th attack.

The Telegraph newspaper says that the Corporal, who serves in an intelligence unit of the Israeli army’s Southern Command, is one of many Israelis whose cognitive abilities have proven invaluable.

The Corporal confirms that her workload has increased significantly since the beginning of the war.

She added, “It’s work around the clock… In order to do my job, I have to be more attentive, because things happen quickly”.

Autistic job applicants undergo several tests before being accepted.

Highly independent and less needy teenagers are selected and undergo questionnaires and interviews with autism experts and psychologists to initially assess their suitability.

Once an autistic soldier is approved for assignment to an intelligence team, a process that can take a long time, his photographic memory and cognitive skills are used in a range of jobs, including analyzing aerial photographs, collecting geographic data, drawing 3D maps, and more, according to the Telegraph newspaper.

Given the importance of the role they play, the Israeli army decided to create an entire team within Unit 9900 of conscripts with autism, calling it the “Roem Rashuk” program in Hebrew, which means “beyond the distant horizons”.

The Israeli army says team members use satellite images and maps to understand Israel’s geographic landscape and defend its borders.

Research suggests that people with autism may be well-equipped to handle the demands of service in a unit like 9900, according to the newspaper.

It quotes Laurent Mottron, professor of psychiatry at the University of Montreal, as saying that most people with autism excel in auditory tasks such as distinguishing pitches of sound, detecting visual structures, and mentally manipulating complex three-dimensional shapes.

Israel, like many developed countries, has seen a rise in autism cases in recent decades.

According to the Israel Association for Autistic Children and Adults, autism diagnoses are increasing at a rate of 13% annually.

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