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In the IDF (Israel's military) due to mandatory conscription there are plenty of young people in various leadership capacities. So yeah, you can be 19+, an off

by YZF 4y ago

In the IDF (Israel's military) due to mandatory conscription there are plenty of young people in various leadership capacities. So yeah, you can be 19+, an officer, leading people into combat. Or flying a jet/cargo plane/helicopter. Or leading a software project. That said, there are older people around in more senior roles and the way leaders act there is very structured but leaders are also expected to improvise when necessary. It's somewhat amusing when you're dealing with those guys on some sort of technical collaboration. You might have a team from some big tech and then a bunch of "kids" in the room.

elcritch 4y ago
They also have explicit leadership training and military discipline. Most of the Israelis I met at TAU (post IDF) were much more disciplined and mature than even American grad students at similar ages. Wouldn’t surprise me at all. Side note, sometimes I get “flashbacks” of my time in Israel and miss it. In those moments the US feels sorta like a surreal place detached from reality a bit too much. Silicon Valley/California is the worse for that.
- nazka 4y ago
  I’m curious, which flashbacks do you have? What do you miss about Israel? If you want to share. I want to go there one day so I’m genuinely curious to know more about your experience. :)
  - elcritch 4y ago
    It's really more like a "reverse" deja vu. It was my first time traveling overseas and experiencing a very different culture. Tel Aviv was also my first time living in a "major world metropolis". Many of the sites, sounds, smells, and people made a very strong impression (the mangos were just amazing). Tel Aviv's vaguely similar to a more edgy Miami with less mansions and more falafel. Israel overall has a fascinating mix of different cultures from east and west (with no small amount of tension at times). Many of my assumptions about the world were shattered and your sense of history changes (for an American at least). I had an Austrian roommate and a Palestinian neighbor in the dorms. If you visit, definitely try to get off the beaten path, visit a Kibbutz, goto a Shabbat dinner, etc. Try and visit Jordan too! Israeli's are generally a passionate lively people, but also serious and pragmatic. They can be... prickly too. It makes sense how Israel has so many startups and technology per capita -- lots of smart motivated people paired with discipline gained from IDF service.
helge9210 4y ago
> So yeah, you can be 19+, an officer, leading people into combat. More like 30+. On average, conscripts are basically useless for the first three years. Only those on extended contacts can be (somewhat) relied upon. > Or leading a software project. Software engineering units use 5+ years extended contracts in addition to mandatory 3 years. Plus very heavy selection.

by YZF 4y ago

elcritch 4y ago

They also have explicit leadership training and military discipline. Most of the Israelis I met at TAU (post IDF) were much more disciplined and mature than even American grad students at similar ages. Wouldn’t surprise me at all. Side note, sometimes I get “flashbacks” of my time in Israel and miss it. In those moments the US feels sorta like a surreal place detached from reality a bit too much. Silicon Valley/California is the worse for that.

nazka 4y ago
I’m curious, which flashbacks do you have? What do you miss about Israel? If you want to share. I want to go there one day so I’m genuinely curious to know more about your experience. :)
- elcritch 4y ago
  It's really more like a "reverse" deja vu. It was my first time traveling overseas and experiencing a very different culture. Tel Aviv was also my first time living in a "major world metropolis". Many of the sites, sounds, smells, and people made a very strong impression (the mangos were just amazing). Tel Aviv's vaguely similar to a more edgy Miami with less mansions and more falafel. Israel overall has a fascinating mix of different cultures from east and west (with no small amount of tension at times). Many of my assumptions about the world were shattered and your sense of history changes (for an American at least). I had an Austrian roommate and a Palestinian neighbor in the dorms. If you visit, definitely try to get off the beaten path, visit a Kibbutz, goto a Shabbat dinner, etc. Try and visit Jordan too! Israeli's are generally a passionate lively people, but also serious and pragmatic. They can be... prickly too. It makes sense how Israel has so many startups and technology per capita -- lots of smart motivated people paired with discipline gained from IDF service.

helge9210 4y ago

> So yeah, you can be 19+, an officer, leading people into combat. More like 30+. On average, conscripts are basically useless for the first three years. Only those on extended contacts can be (somewhat) relied upon. > Or leading a software project. Software engineering units use 5+ years extended contracts in addition to mandatory 3 years. Plus very heavy selection.