عام
Diagnosed with autism only at 19, he is now one of those who kept the pilots safe on the way to Iran
03.10.2026 · AUTIFACE
Staff Sergeant Y., 26, serves as an aerial imagery analyst in the Israeli Air Force and currently commands a photo interpretation unit. He was part of the intelligence preparation for the strikes on Iran - and he is also a person on the autism spectrum. In an interview with Maariv, he speaks openly about his journey, the pressure he faced, and what he considers his true advantage.
A late diagnosis and an independent path
He always knew he was on the spectrum, but his family chose not to have him formally diagnosed during childhood, so he could grow up like any other child. The diagnosis came only at age 19. Until then, he studied in a science-track class, graduated with honors without a classroom aide, and obtained a driver's license. Only after receiving his first military draft notice did the question of his medical profile arise - but for him, there was never a question about whether to enlist. Through the "Ro'im Rachok" (Seeing Far) program, he joined the Air Force in an intelligence research role.
The responsibility
He says that knowing the lives of pilots and the security of the country depend on his work is deeply frightening. On October 7th, he rushed to his unit, and since then he and his team have tracked threats across all arenas, including Lebanon and Syria. Early in the war, he was called upon to build the intelligence framework for the strikes on Iran. He was also assigned to intelligence support for special operations, returned to a branch he hadn't worked in for several years, and insisted on showing up and contributing every single day despite the long shifts and intense pressure. His mission, as he defines it, is to make sure the pilots come home safely.
When asked how he felt after the first strike in Operation "Am Kelavya," he spoke of pride. The fear of missing something never leaves him, he says - but it is precisely that fear that sharpens his focus and improves his work.
A mind that works differently
Staff Sergeant Y. does not hide the fact that during wartime he tends to fall into fixed patterns, and that he makes a conscious effort to break out of them. But in the way his mind processes information, he sees a genuine advantage: the ability to connect details in ways others do not. He describes moments when he pushed back against his commanding officers over an anomaly he had identified. In his words, "the signals in our brains work differently" - and that is what makes people like him better intelligence analysts.
He also speaks honestly about the challenges. He is single, and he shares that he sometimes struggles to pick up on social cues and may not navigate social situations correctly. On the other hand, he describes a strong capacity for learning: he studies every mistake carefully so as not to repeat it, and that quality serves him well in his military role too.
Achievements and family
On Independence Day 2022, he was selected as a Presidential Excellence Award recipient. He serves in the regular army and plans to continue, while completing an undergraduate degree at Bar-Ilan University. He lives with his parents in central Israel and emphasizes that without his family's support, he would not have gotten where he is - and that his chain of command also helped him integrate successfully. He sums up the secret to his success simply: to be the best version of himself.
Source: Maariv, Avi Ashkenazi, 2.10.2026
What this means for families:
The story of Staff Sergeant Y. shows that autism and meaningful service in the IDF can go hand in hand. Programs like "Ro'im Rachok" have opened doors for young people on the spectrum to roles where their different way of thinking is an advantage, not an obstacle. If your child is approaching draft age, it is worth looking into what pathways exist and how the medical profile process works.
An important note: his family's decision not to have him diagnosed in childhood worked for him - but it is not right for every child. For most children, an early diagnosis unlocks rights, therapies, and school support, and it does not close any doors.
One more thing: a 26-year-old who lives with his parents, sometimes struggles with social connections, and is at the same time a Presidential Excellence Award recipient and a commander in the Air Force. Challenges in one area do not cancel out excellence in another. His family's support, as he himself says, is a central part of his success.
A late diagnosis and an independent path
He always knew he was on the spectrum, but his family chose not to have him formally diagnosed during childhood, so he could grow up like any other child. The diagnosis came only at age 19. Until then, he studied in a science-track class, graduated with honors without a classroom aide, and obtained a driver's license. Only after receiving his first military draft notice did the question of his medical profile arise - but for him, there was never a question about whether to enlist. Through the "Ro'im Rachok" (Seeing Far) program, he joined the Air Force in an intelligence research role.
The responsibility
He says that knowing the lives of pilots and the security of the country depend on his work is deeply frightening. On October 7th, he rushed to his unit, and since then he and his team have tracked threats across all arenas, including Lebanon and Syria. Early in the war, he was called upon to build the intelligence framework for the strikes on Iran. He was also assigned to intelligence support for special operations, returned to a branch he hadn't worked in for several years, and insisted on showing up and contributing every single day despite the long shifts and intense pressure. His mission, as he defines it, is to make sure the pilots come home safely.
When asked how he felt after the first strike in Operation "Am Kelavya," he spoke of pride. The fear of missing something never leaves him, he says - but it is precisely that fear that sharpens his focus and improves his work.
A mind that works differently
Staff Sergeant Y. does not hide the fact that during wartime he tends to fall into fixed patterns, and that he makes a conscious effort to break out of them. But in the way his mind processes information, he sees a genuine advantage: the ability to connect details in ways others do not. He describes moments when he pushed back against his commanding officers over an anomaly he had identified. In his words, "the signals in our brains work differently" - and that is what makes people like him better intelligence analysts.
He also speaks honestly about the challenges. He is single, and he shares that he sometimes struggles to pick up on social cues and may not navigate social situations correctly. On the other hand, he describes a strong capacity for learning: he studies every mistake carefully so as not to repeat it, and that quality serves him well in his military role too.
Achievements and family
On Independence Day 2022, he was selected as a Presidential Excellence Award recipient. He serves in the regular army and plans to continue, while completing an undergraduate degree at Bar-Ilan University. He lives with his parents in central Israel and emphasizes that without his family's support, he would not have gotten where he is - and that his chain of command also helped him integrate successfully. He sums up the secret to his success simply: to be the best version of himself.
Source: Maariv, Avi Ashkenazi, 2.10.2026
What this means for families:
The story of Staff Sergeant Y. shows that autism and meaningful service in the IDF can go hand in hand. Programs like "Ro'im Rachok" have opened doors for young people on the spectrum to roles where their different way of thinking is an advantage, not an obstacle. If your child is approaching draft age, it is worth looking into what pathways exist and how the medical profile process works.
An important note: his family's decision not to have him diagnosed in childhood worked for him - but it is not right for every child. For most children, an early diagnosis unlocks rights, therapies, and school support, and it does not close any doors.
One more thing: a 26-year-old who lives with his parents, sometimes struggles with social connections, and is at the same time a Presidential Excellence Award recipient and a commander in the Air Force. Challenges in one area do not cancel out excellence in another. His family's support, as he himself says, is a central part of his success.
ماذا يعني هذا لك
This story belongs to all of us. Staff Sergeant Y. does not present autism as something to hide or "overcome," but as part of who he is - with both its challenges and its strengths. He speaks openly about living at home with his parents, about difficulty in social relationships, and about the fact that his mind sees things others miss. That is exactly the kind of voice our community needs to hear more of.
For parents, this is a reminder that there is no single right path. A child on the spectrum can grow into a role where human lives are entrusted to him, and at the same time still need family support in adulthood. Both of those things can be true at once.
For teenagers and adults on the spectrum, this is proof that the different way you think can be a strength - in the military, in studies, and at work. You don't need to be "like everyone else" to succeed. You need to find the place where what you do best is truly needed.
And that is why AUTIFACE exists. Every story like this one - of a soldier, a student, a parent, or a child - shows society that we are here and that there are many of us. Alone, we are a case. Together, we are a force.
Do you have a story of service, studies, or work on the spectrum? Share it in the community - it could give strength to another family that is just starting out on this road.
For parents, this is a reminder that there is no single right path. A child on the spectrum can grow into a role where human lives are entrusted to him, and at the same time still need family support in adulthood. Both of those things can be true at once.
For teenagers and adults on the spectrum, this is proof that the different way you think can be a strength - in the military, in studies, and at work. You don't need to be "like everyone else" to succeed. You need to find the place where what you do best is truly needed.
And that is why AUTIFACE exists. Every story like this one - of a soldier, a student, a parent, or a child - shows society that we are here and that there are many of us. Alone, we are a case. Together, we are a force.
Do you have a story of service, studies, or work on the spectrum? Share it in the community - it could give strength to another family that is just starting out on this road.
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