#102 Forge Your Future: Admissions Tips and Insight from The Founders of FYF

The Academy Insider Podcast - Your Guide to The Naval Academy Experience

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Forge Your Future

Are you passionate about serving your country and seeking a top-tier education? In this episode, I sit down with two remarkable Naval Academy graduates who are on a mission to help aspiring service academy and ROTC candidates achieve their dreams.

Meet Hersh and Mateo, founders of Forge Your Future, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free application assistance to high school students interested in attending U.S. Service Academies or pursuing ROTC scholarships. These two first-generation Americans share their inspiring journeys from immigrants to Naval Academy graduates, and now to MBA candidates at the University of Chicago.

What You'll Discover in This Episode:

• The story behind Forge Your Future and its mission to support underrepresented communities
• Insights into the Service Academy application process and how to prepare
• The life-changing impact of a Service Academy education
• How you can get involved and support this incredible initiative

Key Takeaways for Aspiring Candidates:

• 1. When to start preparing for your Service Academy or ROTC application
• 2. The importance of leadership experience and extracurricular activities
• 3. How Forge Your Future can assist you with essays, interviews, and more
• 4. The long-term benefits of a Service Academy or ROTC education

For Service Academy Graduates and Supporters:

• • Learn how you can contribute to shaping the next generation of military leaders
• • Discover volunteer opportunities with Forge Your Future
• • Understand the impact of mentorship on aspiring candidates

This episode is a must-listen for anyone considering a Service Academy or ROTC education, as well as those looking to give back to the military community. Join us as we explore how Forge Your Future is opening d

The Vermeer Group is a residential real company matching military families with trusted real estate teams across the country. If you have any real estate questions at all, please text Grant at [phone] or email [email protected]

To stay most up to date with Grant, Naval Academy updates, and real estate insights, follow him on LinkedIn

The mission of Academy Insider is to guide, serve, and support Midshipmen, future Midshipmen, and their families.
Grant Vermeer your host is the person who started it all. He is the founder of Academy Insider and the host of The Academy Insider podcast. He was a recruited athlete which brought him to Annapolis where he was a four year member of the varsity basketball team. He was a cyber operations major and commissioned into the Cryptologic Warfare Community. He was stationed at Fort Meade and supported the Subsurface Direct Support mission.

He separated from the Navy in 2023 and now owns The Vermeer Group, a residential real estate company that matches service academy families with trusted real estate teams all across the country. Text [phone] with any real estate questions.

We are here to be your guide through the USNA experience.

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If you are interested in sponsoring the podcast, have an idea, question or topic you would like to see covered, reach out: email [email protected] or text Grant at [phone]

챕터

1. Introduction to Forge Your Future (00:00:00)

2. Meet Hirsch and Mateo: First-Gen Naval Officers (00:03:21)

3. Birth of a Non-Profit Organization (00:09:36)

4. Application Support Services Overview (00:15:23)

5. Getting Involved as a Volunteer (00:21:16)

6. Timeline for Student Applications (00:28:41)

7. Value of Service Academy Education (00:33:43)

8. Closing Thoughts and Call to Action (00:39:11)