Young Israeli men go through three years, and girls two years, of compulsory military service when they reach 18 years of age. All Israeli Jews of age belong to the reserve and retrain every year. The first thing they pack when leaving is a cellular phone to stay in contact with family and friends.
Military training also leads to the young naturally incorporating technology into their lives; the Israeli army is the most sophisticated in the Middle East. Therefore, many wireless companies, offering innovative services and products, were founded in Israel.
“Many youth stay five to 10 more years in the army and then go on to form their own high-tech companies,” commented an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel.