Air Force cadet creates bulletproof breakthrough

From your dated article: "Neither type of armor is quite ready for battlefield use. STF-treated Kevlar armor could be available by the end of 2007 [Source: Business Week]. MR fluid may require another five to 10 years of development before it can consistently stop bullets. [Source: Science Central]. Check out the links on the next page to learn more about military technology, body armor and related topics."

This isn't to say the Lt has something battlefield ready and she even mentioned "everything that we've used in there has been researched (before) in some capacity for ballistics protection." However, this article then goes on to say they were able to find the way to consistently stop bullets, also realizing they reduced the weight required to do it, and finally stating "This is something that our competition doesn't have right now".

So while the concept is not new as you say, Lt Weir made a breakthrough in the science, possibly finding the right combination to make this work.

Private industry has been looking into this sane thing beyond what the story says. Maybe she has something maybe she doesn't. Once she goes through all the tests required with high and low temps. Physical abuse, chemical attack tests etc I will see it as more positive. Right now it is a neat concept but lab scale rests stopping a few bullets is easy. Full on qualification procedure is a lot more difficult. Honestly I do wish her luck and hope she has solved it BUT I will believe it more when it is going through a real qualification process.

Just pointing out your dated article and the fact that they noted prior studies. They still believe they have made a breakthrough.

Having use AF resources to come up with it, she won't be able to take the idea for herself. The AF owns it. She is welcome to finish her commitment and start something new or improve on the concept, but I imagine most people who decide to go to the Academy are generally not interested in such things at the beginning of their careers.