Are you a Naval Academy family struggling with the high costs of visiting Annapolis for special events? Or perhaps you're a midshipman looking for a safe place to stay during your travels? The Academy Families Travel Network might be the solution you've been searching for.

In this episode, we sit down with Marnie and Paula, the creators of this incredible service that connects Academy families across the nation. They share how this network of generous hosts has become a lifeline for midshipmen, cadets, and their families, offering free accommodations and support during travels, emergencies, and special events.

What You'll Discover:

• How the Academy Families Travel Network began and grew to over 800 host families worldwide
• The types of support hosts can offer, from a simple airport pickup to multi-day stays
• How the network ensures safety and vets both hosts and travelers
• Real-life stories of how this network has helped Academy families in need
• The process for becoming a host or utilizing the network as a traveler

Why This Matters:

The Academy Families Travel Network is more than just a free place to stay. It's a community of support that extends the spirit of the sponsor family program beyond the Academy walls. For families struggling with the financial burden of attending special events like Commissioning Week, this network could make the difference between being there for those precious moments or missing out.

Key Takeaways:

• The network is open to midshipmen, cadets, graduates, and their families from all service academies
• Hosts can offer as much or as little as they're comfortable with, from a meal to a week-long stay
• The network has been crucial during emergencies, helping stranded travelers and those facing unexpected situations
• Joining as a host is flexible - you can specify your availability and preferences

If you're part of the Academy community, whether as a current midshipman, a graduate, or a family member, this episode highlights a valuable resource you won't want to miss. Learn how you can benefit from or contribute to this amazing network of support.

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 specializes in serving the United States Naval Academy community with nationwide consulting and connection.

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: podcast@academyinsider.com.