'Israel's Edge'

Author: Jason Gewirtz

Publisher: Gefen Publishing House / 2016

Pages: 230

The Talpiot programme is an elite training programme for Israeli Defense Forces recruits who have demonstrated outstanding academic ability in the sciences and leadership potential.

While it's historically true that it is associated with the IDF - now more than ever tied to Israel's position in a war that began defensively on 7/10 but has since expanded to involve military actions in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and even Iran, resulting in the deaths of countless victims - it is, in essence, a concept that could be applied or replicated anywhere. Certainly, we can see the results.

Talpiot graduates pursue double higher education while they serve in the army and they use their expertise to further research and development in technological leadership positions.

The programme was inaugurated as recently as in 1979.

It was created by Professor Felix Dothan and Professor Shaul Yatsiv of the Hebrew University.

The idea was to harness human creativity, which peaks at an early age, to develop new technologies.

The programme is sponsored by the Israeli Air Force and the IDF Administration for the Development of Weapons and the Technological Industry and run under the auspices of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

During their period of initiation, the cadets study for their B. Sc. in physics, mathematics or computer science at the Hebrew University in Air Force uniform, while also undergoing different periods of field training designed to familiarise them with all branches of the IDF, including basic training, combat engineering course, armoured corps course, artillery corps course, and instruction in military tactics.

At the end of the course, which lasts 40 months, the cadets receive the rank of first lieutenant and a B. Sc. and become integrated in R&D in the IDF or alternatively in various combat positions, if they so choose.

In addition to the three years of service, as obligated by Israeli law, the service includes six years of standing army service in a wide variety of positions. The total programme, including military service, is nine years.

The first class had 25 cadets. Later, the class was increased to 50-60. The applicant pool consists of nearly 10,000 top scorers in a test taken by all graduating high school seniors.

Three hundred potential applicants are then subjected to a two-day series of tests. These include further IQ exams, as well as group-tasks designed to test one's social dynamics, all conducted under the supervision of trained psychologists and military personnel.

For example, teams of applicants are given a specific task but then the instructions are changed while the test is in progress, such as shortening the allotted time or changing the assigned tasks.

Final acceptance into the programme entails a high security clearance rating, given by the Air Force.

The book being reviewed today, by CNBC executive producer Jason Gewirtz, was published by Gefen in Jerusalem.

We might go back in history and we will come to the conclusion that Talpiot was born out of the despair that almost destroyed Israel after the initial days of the Yom Kippur war when suddenly all it had gained in the Six-Day War looked like being lost. Israel found it was not invincible and that its enemies had made great improvements. It also realised its leaders, from Golda Meir down, had been almost criminally superficial in their assessments. In fact, both Meir and her minister, the legendary Moshe Dayan, were forced to retire within months.

It was under these circumstances that Talpiot was born. It was the fruit of the collaboration between two scientists - Hebrew University professor of physics Shaul Yatsiv and Professor Felix Dothan, who was far away in California.

The research paper they authored slowly was accepted by the new government and the Tapiot Programme became reality.

Although, as I said at the beginning, the circumstances in our case are vastly different, there is still a lot to learn and improve.

I am writing on the day when the results of Physics A Level were sent to the students and their families amid the usual controversies.

But the more serious question to be made is what is the level of science among our young.

Ever since the Trade Schools were downgraded and the Dockyard closed, more and more of our students have been pushed to choose Arts and we keep getting a glut of lawyers, etc.

It is beyond time to do a revaluation and take courageous and creative steps.