How Israel is preparing the next generation of cyber soldiers

BEERSHEBA, Israel — Israel’s new cyber defense training school is set inside a high-tech park in the southern city of Beersheba. Opened in August, the modern campus is part of the J6 and Cyber Defense Directorate, and it’s part of a broader move by the Israel Defense Forces to shift units south.

Defense News spoke with three senior officers at the training center to discuss their goals and how cyberspace is changing how Israel’s military functions. Capt. Noa Givner, who leads the school’s department of data science, has served with the IDF for seven years; Maj. Noam Bright, head of the department of computer science, has served for 12 years; and Maj. I, chief of the department of cybersecurity, has served for 10 years. (The full name of Maj. I was not provided for security reasons.)

This interview was edited for length and clarity.

What is the school’s purpose?

Maj. Noam Bright: We are here in the school of data science of the J6 directorate, of the C4i [command, control communications and computers/cyber and intelligence] forces. What we are doing is taking 18 year old and making them special technology experts. What we do the best is training them in all the high-tech fields — from data center management to cloud-centered training to programming and being the best software engineers.

Our graduates go to all the technological units across the army — from the Air Force to the Navy and the Ground Forces — and here in the school we train more than 1,500 students a year. We don’t focus on pre-knowledge, but on the way they think. There are exams to get into the school; if they think well, we take them to our school and we are responsible to train them well, and our graduates become entrepreneurs and end up in startups.

We moved here three months ago from Ramat Gan [in central Israel]. What we are doing here is not just changing the base and location but creating an ecosystem to empower this region and the children here to come to our school and have access to technological fields.

Capt. Noa Givner: They teach Python [a programming language], and we give them tools so they can train here and get a profession in high-tech fields and serve in technological units. There is also a program that trains soldiers on the spectrum [or those with autism].

Maj. I: Our goal is to provide opportunities to many social groups in Israel, not just in the Negev but also to promote women and others in society, and give them the opportunity to empower themselves in the army and outside of the service.

Bright: We have many special programs, such as a women’s preparation course; 52% of our soldiers are women, and the head of the school is a woman.

Israel's new cyber training center prepares the next generation of digitally focused soldiers. (Courtesy of the Israel Defense Forces)

Were these fields previously dominated by men?

Givner: Yes. But here in Basmach Maslul Alpha, [the name of the school in Hebrew], women are in charge. Out of five colonels, four are women. The next brigadier general of the tech division is a woman.

How has the demand for technology and this kind of training changed over the last decades?

Bright: The demand for tech in the army was less than we see now; we see a big increase, by three or four times than when I was recruited. It used to be four units’ worth was recruited for technology, and now [we recruit for] 10 units.

Givner: People are going into the field to make decisions with data. They are serving now, and not just in the technological units; they have to help the army base decisions on data for the next battle or escalation. Now there are data analysts at the division level.

Maj. I: We don’t go only by foot with tanks; we attack from the air and on networks, we attack using different fields. Cybersecurity entered the army [in a big way] five years ago to defend the networks.

Givner: The next battle and threat is on the net, such as with Iran.

Bright: The number [of soldiers we are training] has increased because the demand has grown. For instance the army nowadays is based on technology — whether operations or non-operations, from logistics to human resource management. This demand has grown a lot, especially in the last two to three years.

In terms of software and applications, is the army creating applications itself?

Maj. I: It’s complicated. Some systems we buy, some we develop for our needs. And if we buy something, we adjust for the army’s needs, and it is classified.

What about artificial intelligence and the five-year modernization plan Momentum ?

Givner: We are planning for the future in the data department. In the next [several] years, the IDF will own an AI lab so it can bring in the future things [needed] in the army. [Artificial intelligence] needs to be more developed. We can see that AI systems can make good decisions , and not just for commanders. In the end, we are humans, and we can’t make decisions like machines. It will help in the future combat field.

Bright: It’s not just in the data sector. In programming, we train [soldiers] to make algorithms based on AI and neural networks. We have exercises that deal with AI ... to identify things from pictures.

Maj. I: The army started with programming and cyber and DevOps — and the data field is a new one. When you combine all of this, [it’s] AI.

The exterior of Israel's new cyber training center in Beersheba. (Courtesy of the Israel Defense Forces)

How would you characterize digitization in the IDF?

Maj. I: In the past, the Navy and the Air Force did not work together. Digitization is about cooperation and technological change . Thanks to the systems we built in tech units, they can work together and shorten the fire circle [closing the gap between sensor and shooter].

How do you train for launching cyberattacks against adversaries?

Bright: We can’t speak about that.

How do you deal with an overreliance on technology? For example, units in the field might become dependent on certain applications.

Bright: It’s not related to our school. You always have a plan B, and offline there are alternatives; people plan for not having a network.

Do you deal with unmanned systems?

Bright: We train people to know their algorithms, but it depends. With units, we train them on the practical aspect, not theory. It’s 65% practical [training]. If a soldier goes to a program course, they go to learn bugs in code, for instance. We do a lot of trial and error.

Are most of the soldiers coming here directly from high school?

Bright: Yes, but after this they can go to earn an academic degree while they serve.

Maj. I: In the last several years, the army understood it needs to move all the units to the Negev, and it created [a center for most of the J6 units]. We are creating many areas of cooperation between the army and Ben-Gurion University [in the same city as the training center], the municipality of Beersheba and the technological ecosystem here.

Givner: We collaborate with high-tech companies in the park here. They come to our students, and students get lectures about new technology.

We work with the Ministry of Education on the Bagrut [standardized exam for the end of high school]. We developed a new program for data science, not just computer science; now they have data science courses, and we bring teachers here to learn what students to better prepare for military service.

Is it difficult to join this training school?

Bright: We are open to all of Israel’s society, not just those with previous knowledge. We’ve see a 50% increase in demand to get into the training center, and the army understands the need for technology and has increased the number the army allows us to train during the year. We already doubled and tripled the space we have here.

Maj. I: And in a few months we will expand again.

Givner: We doubled all the courses — some from 20 to 60 students.

If there are more soldiers in technology units, what gaps are left over as a result in other army areas?

Bright: The army now knows to optimize where people go. In the past, the army may have had soldiers end up in positions that didn’t fit them, and they could have been programmers. Now we are able to fit the position to soldiers in their service.

Givner: In the past, if you were allergic to gluten, you’d be excused from army service. Now we implement adjustments to recruit [those who might have been rejected in the past].

Do those who join this training program take a special test?

Givner: Yes, to filter out the right candidates.

Bright: It’s very special ecosystem here. Last week, a U.S. two-star general was here and was fascinated by what we are doing and the way we teach, how we take 18 year olds to make them technological experts. [The general] wants us to go to California to teach them what we are doing here. They aren’t do a programming course in five months; theirs is a year.

Editor’s note: The IDF declined to name the U.S. two-star general.

Seth J. Frantzman is the Israel correspondent for Defense News. He has covered conflict in the Mideast since 2010 for different publications. He has experience covering the international coalition against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, and he is a co-founder and executive director of the Middle East Center for Reporting and Analysis.

以色列贝尔谢巴——以色列新建的网络防御训练学校坐落于南部城市贝尔谢巴的一个高科技园区内。这座现代化的校园于8月正式启用，隶属于J6网络防御局，也是以色列国防军将部分部队南移战略的一部分。

《防务新闻》采访了该训练中心的三位高级军官，探讨了他们的目标以及网络空间如何改变以色列军队的运作方式。诺亚·吉夫纳上尉是该校数据科学系主任，已在以色列国防军服役七年；诺姆·布莱特少校是计算机科学系主任，已服役十二年；I少校是网络安全系主任，已服役十年。（出于安全考虑，未提供I少校的全名。）

为了篇幅和清晰度，本次采访内容经过编辑。

这所学校的宗旨是什么？

诺姆·布莱特少校：我们现在位于C4I（指挥、控制、通信、计算机/网络和情报）部队J6指挥部的数据科学学校。我们正在做的是，将18岁的年轻人培养成技术专家。我们最擅长的是在所有高科技领域对他们进行培训——从数据中心管理到云计算培训，再到编程，最终成为最优秀的软件工程师。

我们的毕业生遍布军队各个技术单位——从空军到海军再到陆军——我们学校每年培训超过1500名学生。我们不注重学生的先验知识，而是注重他们的思维方式。入学需要通过考试；如果学生思维敏捷，我们会将他们招入学校，并负责对他们进行良好的培训。我们的毕业生会成为企业家，最终加入初创公司。

三个月前，我们从以色列中部的拉马特甘搬到了这里。我们在这里所做的，不仅仅是改变基地和地点，而是要创建一个生态系统，让这个地区和这里的孩子们能够来到我们的学校，接触到科技领域。

诺亚·吉夫纳上尉：他们教授Python（一种编程语言），我们为他们提供工具，以便他们能够在这里接受培训，并在高科技领域获得职业技能，在技术部队服役。此外，还有一个项目专门培训患有自闭症的士兵。

少校 I：我们的目标是为以色列的许多社会群体提供机会，不仅在内盖夫地区，还要促进妇女和其他人的社会发展，并让他们有机会在军队内外增强自身能力。

布莱特：我们有很多特殊项目，例如女子预备课程；我们52%的士兵是女性，而且学校的校长也是女性。

以色列新建的网络训练中心旨在培养下一代精通数字技术的士兵。（图片由以色列国防军提供）

这些领域以前是否由男性主导？

吉夫纳：是的。但在巴斯马赫·马斯鲁尔·阿尔法（学校的希伯来语名称），女性掌权。五位上校中有四位是女性。技术部门的下一位准将也是一位女性。

过去几十年里，对技术和此类培训的需求发生了哪些变化？

布莱特：军队对技术的需求以前远不如现在这么高；现在的需求量大幅增长，比我入伍时增长了三到四倍。以前我们只招四个单位的技术兵，现在要招十个单位。

吉夫纳：人们现在奔赴一线，运用数据做出决策。他们现在就在战场上，而且不仅仅在技术部门；他们必须帮助军队根据数据为下一场战斗或局势升级做出决策。现在师级单位也有数据分析师了。

少校I：我们不只是开着坦克徒步作战；我们还会从空中和网络发起攻击，利用各种不同的攻击手段。网络安全五年前就已大规模地进入军队，用于保护网络。

吉夫纳：下一个战场和威胁在网络上，例如伊朗。

布莱特：我们训练的士兵人数增加了，因为需求增长了。例如，如今的军队非常依赖技术——无论是作战还是非作战，从后勤到人力资源管理。这种需求增长非常显著，尤其是在过去两三年里。

在软件和应用程序方面，军队是否自行开发应用程序？

少校 I：情况很复杂。有些系统我们是购买的，有些是我们根据自身需求开发的。如果我们购买了某种系统，我们会根据军队的需求进行调整，而且这属于机密信息。

那么人工智能和五年现代化计划“动力”又如何呢？

吉夫纳：我们在数据部门正在进行未来规划。未来几年内，以色列国防军将拥有自己的人工智能实验室，以便引进军队未来所需的技术。人工智能需要进一步发展。我们已经看到，人工智能系统能够做出正确的决策，而且不仅仅是为指挥官服务。归根结底，我们是人，我们无法像机器那样做决定。这将在未来的战场上发挥作用。

布莱特：这不仅仅局限于数据领域。在编程方面，我们训练士兵们编写基于人工智能和神经网络的算法。我们还有一些与人工智能相关的训练……比如从图片中识别物体。

少校 I：军队最初是从编程、网络安全和 DevOps 起步的——数据领域是一个新的领域。把所有这些结合起来，就成了人工智能。

以色列位于贝尔谢巴的新网络训练中心外观。（图片由以色列国防军提供）

您如何描述以色列国防军的数字化进程？

少校 I：过去，海军和空军并不合作。数字化意味着合作和技术变革。得益于我们在技术部门建立的系统，他们可以协同工作，缩短火力覆盖范围（缩小传感器和射手之间的距离）。

如何训练人员对敌方发起网络攻击？

布莱特：我们不能谈论这件事。

如何应对过度依赖技术的问题？例如，一线部队可能会过度依赖某些应用程序。

布莱特：这跟我们学校没关系。你总会有备用方案，而且离线状态下也有其他选择；人们会为没有网络的情况做好准备。

你们从事无人系统方面的工作吗？

布莱特：我们训练人们掌握算法，但这要视情况而定。对于部队来说，我们注重实战训练，而非理论。实战训练占65%。例如，如果一名士兵参加编程课程，他们就会学习如何找出代码中的漏洞。我们进行大量的试错。

大部分士兵都是高中毕业后直接来到这里吗？

布莱特：是的，但服役结束后他们可以一边服役一边攻读学位。

少校一：过去几年，军队意识到需要将所有部队转移到内盖夫，并建立了一个（容纳大部分J6部队的）中心。我们正在军队与本-古里安大学（与训练中心位于同一城市）、贝尔谢巴市政府以及当地的科技生态系统之间建立多方面的合作。

吉夫纳：我们与园区内的高科技公司合作。他们会来我们园区，给我们的学生讲解新技术。

我们与教育部合作开展高中毕业考试（Bagrut）。我们开发了一套新的数据科学课程，而不仅仅是计算机科学；现在他们开设了数据科学课程，我们还会邀请教师来这里学习如何更好地帮助学生为服兵役做好准备。

加入这所培训学校难吗？

布莱特：我们面向以色列社会各界开放，不仅限于那些具备相关知识的人。我们看到，培训中心的需求量增加了50%，军方也理解技术的重要性，并增加了每年允许我们培训的人数。我们这里的场地已经扩大了两到三倍。

少校 I：几个月后我们将再次扩张。

吉夫纳：我们把所有课程的人数都增加了一倍——有些课程的学生人数从 20 人增加到 60 人。

如果技术部队的士兵人数增加，那么其他军种会因此出现哪些兵力缺口？

布莱特：军队现在懂得如何优化人员配置。过去，军队可能会安排一些士兵担任不适合他们的职位，比如他们原本可以成为程序员。现在，我们能够根据士兵的实际情况安排合适的职位。

吉夫纳：过去，如果你对麸质过敏，就可以免服兵役。现在我们做出一些调整，招募那些过去可能被拒之门外的人。

参加这个培训项目的人需要参加专门的考试吗？

吉夫纳：是的，为了筛选出合适的候选人。

布莱特：这里的生态系统非常特别。上周，一位美国少将来过这里，他对我们正在做的事情以及我们的教学方式非常着迷，尤其是我们如何把18岁的年轻人培养成技术专家。[这位将军]希望我们去加州，把我们这里的做法教给他们。他们不是五个月就能完成一个编程课程，而是要花一年时间。

编者注：以色列国防军拒绝透露这位美国二星将军的姓名。

塞思·J·弗兰茨曼是《防务新闻》的以色列记者。自2010年以来，他一直为多家媒体报道中东冲突。他曾报道过打击伊拉克和叙利亚境内伊斯兰国组织的国际联盟行动，并且是中东报道与分析中心的联合创始人兼执行主任。