The first camp, held in June of 2014, trained 14 veterans in Denver, Colorado.  During camp, the students learned the fundamentals of umpiring: from calling balls and strikes, to the mechanics of positioning, and of course, the rules of the game.  At the end of camp, these service members can umpire anywhere baseball is played.  The graduates of the program leave with a new career opportunity, but more importantly, a brotherhood and newly found support system to last a lifetime.

Our Academy Board and staff members are all volunteers, with the majority being veterans themselves or married to a veteran.  Although we have amazing veteran support sponsors, their criteria for support limits what they can provide and how.  It still takes about $20,000 on top of their support to hold our 10-day camp.  We are always looking for sponsors to help us, not just have a successful camp, but the ability to continue to serve these veterans throughout the coming years.