Intel student鈥檚 Russian aircraft database earns praise from U.S. Army
Monika Benesh never expected a class assignment to open doors to the U.S. Army, but that鈥檚 exactly what happened.
As part of her studies in 海角乱伦社区 University's Intelligence Studies program, the Hamburg, New York, native meticulously compiled a 98-page database cataloging Russian military and civilian aircraft, using only open-source materials. She scoured publicly available information, piecing together details until she had something she couldn鈥檛 find anywhere else鈥攁 comprehensive reference guide.
Realizing the potential value of her work, Benesh decided to take a chance. She shared her research with an Army representative on campus, thinking, maybe they鈥檇 be interested.
She didn鈥檛 have to wait long for an answer.
The very next day, an email landed in her inbox: The Army wanted to publish her entire document on the OE Data Integration Network (ODIN), a key digital hub used by the U.S. Army鈥檚 Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) to support military training, education, and leadership development.
That news alone was a major validation of her efforts. But the surprises didn鈥檛 stop there.
鈥淭RADOC was so impressed with Monika's work they invited her to visit their headquarters in Fort Eustis, Virginia, over spring break,鈥 said Brian Fuller, executive director of the university鈥檚 Center for Intelligence Research, Analysis, and Training (CIRAT), under whose guidance Benesh completed her project.
鈥淭hey want her to spend time in different sections of the TRADOC footprint so she can get a snapshot of all the different jobs available. They鈥檙e hopeful she鈥檒l want to come work for them.鈥
For Benesh, the experience has been nothing short of surreal. When she first learned the Army wanted to publish her work, she was thrilled. But an invitation to visit TRADOC? That was beyond anything she鈥檇 imagined.
"Well, I honestly never expected anything like this would ever happen to me,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 worked on the project and meticulously chose where I found my sources to ensure accuracy, but never really assumed that it would amount to anything.鈥疘鈥檓 beyond honored that the U.S. Army TRADOC chose not only to adopt my document but also invited me to their headquarters.鈥疘鈥檓 especially excited to meet the people behind TRADOC, the analysts working hard day in and day out, since I know I can learn a lot from them." 聽
One thing is certain: What started as a school assignment has turned into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity鈥攐ne that might just shape the course of her future.聽