What if military sports could unlock leadership potential and foster international diplomacy? Join us as we uncover this intriguing prospect with our special guest, Eli Bremer, an accomplished Air Force Academy graduate, Olympian, and Military World Games competitor. We explore Eli's captivating journey from a two-sport athlete at the Academy to earning global recognition. Together, we shine a light on the often-overlooked avenues for service academy graduates to extend their athletic dreams beyond their academic years, through remarkable programs such as the Armed Forces Sports Program.

The World Military Games aren't just about sports—they're a grand spectacle of camaraderie and competition on a scale that rivals the Olympics. Imagine military athletes from 141 nations coming together to display their prowess. This episode unpacks the historical and strategic importance of these games, organized by CISM, and the unique challenges faced by American military athletes in preparation. With personal anecdotes and insights from past competitions in Wuhan, China, we highlight the pressing need for enhanced support and recognition for these athletes who represent the U.S. on the world stage.

As we look ahead to the 2027 World Military Games in Charlotte, there's much excitement in the air. Plans are underway to present a world-class event featuring awe-inspiring ceremonies and an international military expo. This is more than just a sporting event; it's a chance for the U.S. to showcase its hospitality and strength. Additionally, we explore the profound impact of sports on military leadership, evidenced by successful figures like Chad Senior and the integration of sports in military duties in countries like Lithuania. We wrap up with heartfelt gratitude to our Academy Insider audience, encouraging feedback to make our podcast a continuous source of inspiration and information for the Naval Academy community.

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 and the USNA Property Network 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 boutique residential real estate company that specializes in serving the United States Naval Academy community PCSing to California & Texas.

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

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