Ro'im Rachok

Ro'im Rachok is an intelligence unit of the Israel Defense Forces that specifically recruits teenagers on the autism spectrum to analyze aerial and satellite photographs. The unit is often referred to as "Unit 9900". Today, the program has roughly 50 individuals.

History

Ro'im Rachok was founded in 2012 by two former Mossad agents who realized that certain individuals on the autism spectrum could be unusually skilled at spending long hours analyzing aerial reconnaissance photographs and picking out tiny details. In addition to its military benefits, there are social benefits to the program. Military service is mandatory in Israel for almost all citizens, but teenagers on the autism spectrum are exempt. This poses a barrier to advancement in their lives as military service is a significant step in Israeli society for young men, both symbolically as well as professionally.

Now, the military increasingly looks at individuals with High-functioning autism as potentially useful. Rather than forcing individuals to remain enlisted for the standard three years, Ro'im Rachok gives individuals the option to enlist in one-year increments once their three-month training is complete. When enlisted, the soldiers are accompanied by a therapist as well as a psychologist for their own benefit as well as to accommodate for some social barriers their commanders and colleagues may encounter.

The program also helps to prepare young adults with autism for their futures with training on how to deal with challenging situations related to their civilian life such as public transportation. The unit also helps to prepare people for future careers in technological fields and careers. Unit 9900 aims to utilize skills people on the autism spectrum exhibit, as well as end stigma surrounding autism.