Transition Hawaii

Military Pathways

Hawai‘i National Guard

Specialist: Austin Bennett

In a Honolulu meeting room, Specialist Austin Bennett stands in front of a large projected map of Afghanistan. In this mock briefing, the relief of roadways, mountains and waterways create squiggling lines across his face. Standing in military fatigues and pointing to various spots on the map, he briefs his commanders of a fictional situation—using military terms like UAV, IED and others, terms not easily recognized by ordinary civilians. In addition to information such as last-known sightings, geographics and tactical maneuvers, he also provides his senior officers with cultural background of the area. Although this is a mock simulation, his professional manner and delivery are true to form.

Two years ago, he might not have understood his own report. But today, Bennett works as an intelligence analyst in the Hawai‘i National Guard. He interprets data from a variety of sources—unmanned area vehicles (UAV), human intelligence reports and signals collection—and then presents a clear picture for his commanders. It is a highly selective specialty and requires focus, determination and an aptitude for understanding complex systems.

“His job is to figure out or anticipate the enemy’s next move,” says Cmdr. Stoddard Binder. “And how we can counteract it.”

A 2003 graduate of Saint Louis, Bennett says he didn’t envision himself working for the government or in the military. In high school, he had vague notions of “going into business.” He tried college on the Mainland. He tried working as a DJ on weekends. He tried working in retail. He tried working as a security guard.

“I never really thought about the future when I was growing up,” says the 23-year-old Bennett. “I kept thinking, I’ll worry about it later. But then, I thought, I can’t worry about it later, because it’s happening now.” (Read more)