45 episodes
The Academy Insider Podcast - Your Guide to The Naval Academy Experience GRANT VERMEER
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- Society & Culture
The mission of Academy Insider is to guide, serve, and support Midshipmen, future Midshipmen, and their families. Through the perspective of a community of former graduates and Naval Academy insiders, this podcast will help you learn about life at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. Through our shared experiences, Academy Insider guides families through the anxiety and frustration caused by lack of understanding, misinformation, and confusion. This platform is designed to better relationships between midshipmen and their loved ones. This podcast is not affiliated with the United States Naval Academy, the United States Navy or Department of Defense. The thoughts and opinions are exclusively those of your host and his guests.
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#044 Inside the Naval Academy's Drum and Bugle Corps with Andrea Howard
In this episode, Andrea Howard, former commander of the Naval Academy's Drum and Bugle Corps, joins us to recount her musical journey and leadership at this prestigious institution. Listen as we peel back the curtain on D&B.Andrea takes us through the high notes of her tenure—performing at international spectacles and rousing sporting events, where the D&B's presence amplifies the spirit of competition. Her stories of Mardi Gras parades and the Navy-Notre Dame game in Ireland shine a ...
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#043 Learning and Understanding the Plebe Summer Organization at the Naval Academy
Sail with us down memory lane as my dear friend Christian Blanchard, a fellow Naval Academy alumnus, and I recount the transformative experience of Plebe Summer. Our conversation charts the course of the program's evolution, the impact of more intimate company sizes, and the intimate bonds that last a lifetime. Whether you're a proud parent of a midshipman or simply fascinated by the culture of the Naval Academy, this episode offers a rare glimpse into a world where civilians morph into leade...
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#042 Generational Changing Opportunity - The United States Naval Academy
Generational Changing Opportunity - The United States Naval AcademyIn this special episode of the Academy Insider Podcast, host Grant Vermeer is joined by Troy Thompson, a class of '17 graduate, for a deep dive into the transformative impact of the United States Naval Academy on its midshipmen and graduates. They share their personal experiences, touching on the challenges and rewards of life at the academy, the power of the Naval Academy network, and the generational opportunities it provide...
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#041 The Herndon Climb: A History Lesson about the end of Plebe Year at the Naval Academy
The Herndon Climb Tradition at the United States Naval Academy Rear Admiral James McNeal joins me to narrate the saga of the Naval Academy's Herndon Climb. The Herndon Climb has long been seen as a milestone event for fourth class midshipmen (freshmen or “plebes”) at the Naval Academy. Demonstrating the teamwork and perseverance they have learned during their first year at the academy, the plebes build a human pyramid to remove the “dixie cup” cover (hat) at the top of the vegetable shortenin...
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#040 Explaining the role of Senior Enlisted Leaders and the Enlisted Footprint at the United States Naval Academy with Jeff Kirby
Insights from a Command Master Chief's Time at the Naval Academy. A conversation with Jeff Kirby: In this episode of the Academy Insider Podcast, the host is joined by Jeff Kirby, a retired Command Master Chief who served at the Naval Academy. Kirby recounts his 33-year Navy career, highlighting his roles in mentorship and leadership, especially his time at the Naval Academy. He explains the rank structure of the Navy enlisted, emphasizing the significance of becoming a Command Mast...
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#039 The Purpose of Plebe Summer at the Naval Academy
Step inside the rigorous world of Plebe Summer with Commander Mike Murnane as we unravel the threads of leadership and mentorship that define the Naval Academy's transformational journey. This episode is your ticket to understanding the intense preparation and selection of the upperclassmen detailers, who are pivotal in molding incoming plebes into the future leaders of the Navy. The commitment of these detailers, handpicked for their exemplary traits, lays the groundwork for an experience th...