Nine graduates of the prestigious joint program for the IDF and the Technion completed their studies and were commissioned in the intelligence, air, naval and armaments forces
Nine members of the first cohort of the "Barakim" program, which is shared by the IDF and the Technion, are currently finishing their studies and joining the intelligence, air, naval and armaments forces. The 17 members of the fifth cohort of the program began their studies today. Chief Intelligence Officer, Brigadier General Yuval Halamish, said at a ceremony held last week that the last war proved that the IDF must prepare for the next threat, and improve its technological means with the help of talented engineers coming, among other things, from the Technion.
The "Lightning" program, which takes place in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Technion, allows the outstanding conservators, who are carefully selected, to complete their studies for the bachelor's degree within four years, together with the compulsory subjects for the master's degree, and to reach an advanced stage in the thesis work for the master's degree, which is partly carried out as part of their military service.
The Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Professor Zalman Palmore, said that the unique and demanding curriculum was built by the Faculty's staff, in cooperation with the IDF, with the aim of training an elite of mechanical engineers, excellent mechanical engineers with upgraded knowledge and tools who will lead the research and development programs of the defense system and industry In the coming years.
The students admitted to the "Barakim" program receive a financial grant of 5,000 shekels each academic year, in addition to an allowance grant (this year - 8,500 shekels), accommodation (paid) in the student dormitories at the Technion, personal attention and close supervision by members of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering led by Professor Yitzhak Etzion and the administration of " Barkim" in the IDF.
Lt. Col. A., head of the "Barakim" administration, said that with the completion of the first cycle, the IDF conducts an inspection of the program's milestones and that the graduates have real potential to lead and lead the core of the technological activities in the IDF.
