ISRAEL | MILITARY | INTERGRATED | AUTISM

Israeli soldier Nathan Saada is busy at his computer on an army base in Tel Aviv, where he is part of a specialized program designed for military personnel with autism.

Around 200 people with high-functioning autism have joined the ranks since the scheme -- Titkadmu (Move Forwards) -- was launched in July 2021.

"I wanted to enlist because, in Israel, military service is important. It's something that each young person must do, and I also wanted to have this experience," said Saada, wearing a Titkadmu badge proudly on his khaki uniform.

The 20-year-old has an administrative role and, sitting at his desk, is putting the finishing touches to a chart.

"I have responsibilities; they count on me," said Saada, from the northern city of Haifa.

Military service is obligatory for most over-18s in Israel, with men serving for 32 months and women for two years.

There are automatic exemptions for around a third of citizens: ultra-Orthodox Jews who make up around 13 percent of the population, and Arab-Israelis who account for about 20 percent.

For those who are enlisted, military service is a rite of passage.

The army plays a central role in society in Israel, which has fought wars with all of its neighbors since the state's creation in 1948.

People with autism are exempt from military service, although since 2008 they have been welcomed for short courses.

For years, few signed up, said Brigadier-General Amir Vadmani, from the military's human resources department.

That changed with the establishment of Titkadmu, the brainchild of an officer with autism.

Aside from combat units, said Vadmani, "you'll find them in all the departments. In the air force, the navy, the ground forces, in the intelligence unit, everywhere".

"Soldiers with autism have huge potential" and are a real asset to the military, he added. "These young people want to prove that they can succeed, that they are like everyone else."

'Helps me a lot'

Vadmani said it is particularly important to integrate people with autism into the military because the number of those diagnosed is rising.

According to the Israeli Society for Children and Adults with Autism (ALUT), diagnoses are increasing by an average of 13 percent annually.

Israeli army 1st Class Nathan Saada (L), 20, is pictured on December 27, 2022 during an interview at a military base in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv. Israeli soldier Nathan Saada is busy at his computer on an army base in Tel Aviv,

This is partly due to a broadening of criteria, according to ALUT spokeswoman Lital Porat.

One in every 78 children will be diagnosed with autism in Israel, the group says. This compares with one in 100 children globally, according to a World Health Organization estimate.

People with autism can benefit from joining the military because it provides "a framework which prepares them to lead a life as independent as possible", said Porat.

As part of the Titkadmu program, the military has adapted its training methods and put in place a support network.

Once a week, Saada is visited on his base by a fellow soldier, Liri Shahar, who has been tasked with following up with what the army terms its "special" groups.

"We tell each other how the week went if anything particular happened," said Shahar, 19, who serves as an intermediary between Saada and his commander. "We talk about everything."

Diagnosed at age four, Saada said he sometimes struggles with social interactions and communication.

"It helps me a lot to have a person who I can turn to, who can advise me and help me," he said.

Although the Titkadmu program is in its infancy, Vadmani said it has long-term goals for the recruits.

"The idea is to help them integrate into the labor market, by capitalizing on the skills they have acquired during their service," he said.

Saada already has clear ambitions for his life outside the base when he is discharged next year.

"I'd love to become a filmmaker," he said, smiling. "I've already written several screenplays."