The IDF's ICT unit also has a very large budget (it's actually the only unit with an increasing budget despite a 2 billion overall budget drop), and with access to all kinds of technologies that only a government can afford. When the engineers get out of there, they know things that few people know about.

Yep. This is why many people believe that Stuxnet was developed by Israel - it was so advanced that only a country like that could have done it.

According to Snowden it was co-written by Israel and the US.

"military service is compulsory for all men when they are 18 years old."

Not correct. All men (and women) except those in a Yeshiva (religious school). As I understated it, they can post-pone their enlistment indefinitely.

I also understand this is a touchy subject in Israel right now.

Sure. But a vast majority of men do that, and are proud to do it. In Israel, you meet your best friends in the army.

you're speaking on behalf of a "vast majority of men"?

Interesting, I remember reading that the hacker (jsz) who helped Kevin Mitnick back in the day with the IP spoofing attack against Shimomura's computer was from Israel as well.

> for 3 years

Not exactly true. There are a few different computer groups, one of which requires only three years and it is nowhere near the level of sophistication of an average programmer (they are mostly responsible for the technological infrastructure of the army). The other programs require a degree beforehand (so they only go into the army at about 22) and then require 5 years of service. These are the people who create cool things. But let me say: even the things that they do are closer to things you can think about than what you would find in a sci-fi novel.

You describe the mamram thing, but aman conscripts people who are better at 17 than good compsci grads from the technion at 22. They do 4 years, not like atuda. aman also gets people from talpiot and the best mamram has to offer.