Talpiot program
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Talpiot program is a training program in the Israeli Defense Forces. The main goal of the program is enlisting highly motivated youth with special talents in the field of natural science, like physics and mathematics. Those youth will later participate as soldiers in the IDF's research and development. A secondary goal of the program is to create a potential for technological leadership to the community of research and development in the different military branches. The program was created in 1979, due in part to the lessons of the Yom Kippur war.
The initiators of the program were Prof. Felix Dothan and Prof. Shaul Yatziv of the Hebrew University. Here are some lines from the original paper that was delivered to the Israeli chief of staff Rafael Eitan , initiating the establishment of the Talpiot program.
"this proposal is a summary of the thoughts and ideas which first arose several years ago and crystallized after the Yom Kippur war. The concern to the fate of Israel and the wish to do the utmost to lower the number of casualties in the future wars motivated us to submit a written proposal our proposal includes three important starting points that we do not encounter in the existing research institutions"
"A firm recognition that the state of Israel must make an effort to develop totally innovative weapons that do not exist among the nations. Utilization to this goal of the human creativity that reaches its peak at the low biological age of the twenties. Inventive capability requires creative imagination, vast knowledge and deep understanding, but can be significantly encouraged by presenting challenges and creating a lively and motivating atmosphere where every effort and contribution will get encouragement from the surrounding environment. As one of the ways to reach this goal we propose a systematical and condensed effort to invent… and develop new and efficient weapons , where "new" is defined as a weapon that is not in use in other armies , even in the armies of the superpowers…" "It is essential that the core of this program will be based on the most talented and dedicated people, who also possess the required background in the natural sciences and in the weapons technology.."
The program is headed by the IDF administration for the development of weapons and technological infrastructure and it is based in the base of the Israeli Air Force (IAF) in Jerusalem.
During their initiation period the cadets study for their B.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics (some of them Computer Science – according to their choice) in the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and also undergo different military trainings. At the end of the course which lasts for 40 months the cadets receive a rank of first lieutenant and the B.Sc. and become integrated in the R&D in the IDF and Israeli military industries.
The service includes half a year of additional compulsory service and 5.5 years of standing army service.
The article is a partial translation from the Hebrew wikipedia.
