Aspies For Freedom

Here is a piece which appeared in Israeli newspaper "Maariv" on Friday, 28th of December, 2007. It was originally in Hebrew. I translated it into English. IDF is Israel's armed forces:

A small-big step

Starting in January: IDF recruits autistics

By Felix Frisch

A small but an important revolution is going to happen in the IDF in a few days time: Starting on the 1st of January, the army will recruit into its ranks men and women with mild autism, amongst them also people with Asperger Syndrome.
Recruiting the autistic candidates is made possible following a revision in the military profiles book which was initiated by the IDF's human resources department, due to a human resources shortage in the army which is expected to increase during the next few years. The new profiles book re-classifies several diseases and disabilities which used to be classified under medical profile #21 and usually prevented people's recruitment as disabilities people can be recruited with under medical profile #45. These are mild mental disorders and disabilities such as Autism and Asperger's, which people that are affected with can be high functioning.
Until now, these men and women could only be recruited to the IDF as volunteers. Nowadays there are 11 soldiers with such disabilities who serve in the IDF, and now the army estimates that following the revision in the profiles book dozens of additional autistic men and women will be recruited by law.
A few days ago, an assistant to the defence secretary, solicitor Ruth Bar, contacted the people of ALUT, the charity which handles and promotes the interests of autistics in Israel, and delivered the happy announcement to them. And so, autistic boys and girls who will turn 18 starting next year, will be recruited to the army by law.

The positive aspect of the revision:
Say "autistics" to random people in Israel and they will automatically think about the most profoundly autistic people one can imagine. Say "autistic spectrum" or "Asperger" and they will not know what you are talking about. Therefore, it is good to know that the army is aware of the spectrum aspect of autism and of the fact that some autistics are capable of being recruited.

The negative side of the revision:
They made the revision because of human resources shortage...
The revision makes it *legally required* for some autistics to be recruited...

And one more thing: ALUT is the charity which handles and promotes the interests of *parents of autistics* in Israel

I don't think it is a good thing to forcibly recruit Aspergers people into the army but it would be good for them to have the choice to go into the army if they wish to.

I suppose that's good, neurodiversity-wise, but I still don't really like the idea of people being forced to join the army to begin with.

Yes, that's my concern too. I think joining up should be completely voluntary.

While I wouldn't like the idea either (I am, generally, pacifist), from my understanding due to Israel's small size and the constant turmoil in the area, that's why they have the law that people have to join.

Do I smell 300 aspies?

Is this group related to Aluteva, by any chance?

I served in the military and liked it. Very regulated. Everything is spelled out -- what to wear, how to wear it, where to go, when to go there, what to do when you get there, what to eat, when to eat it .... rules and regulations for everything. I was an electronics tech -- a good fit. Many days I sat in our bay and quietly soldered itty-bitty parts onto a board.  Just lovely.  There were a few others in my company who were aspier than I. By the time I ETSed I was working with the battalion command group and recommended for OCS.  It can be a good place for aspies, I think. There is a fine line between "obsessive" and "being a hard charger." By the way, promotions were largely based on knowing regulations ...

That's a good point. There are noncombatant jobs in militaries for us pacifist auties.