In honor of Veterans Day this Monday, November 11, NYU Stern MBA Class of 2025 students Brad Cassidy and Caleb Primos, Co-Presidents of Stern’s Military Veterans Club, share their journeys to business school in this edition of Fridays from the Frontline.
Service-Members to Sternies
By Brad Cassidy and Caleb Primos, NYU Stern MBA Class of 2025
Brad Cassidy: After six years of service in the Army, including two deployments to Afghanistan as an Army Ranger, I found myself at a crossroads. I realized that the aspects of my military career I found most fulfilling – leading diverse teams, tackling complex problems, and driving organizational excellence – aligned perfectly with the world of management consulting. However, I knew I needed to build a strong foundation in business fundamentals. This realization led me to explore MBA programs, and NYU Stern quickly emerged as the clear frontrunner. What truly set Stern apart, though, was the warmth and enthusiasm I encountered when reaching out to the Stern Military Veterans Club (MVC). The genuine passion MVC members expressed for their school and their eagerness to support my transition spoke volumes about Stern’s culture of both intellectual and emotional intelligence.
The Fertitta Veterans MBA Program at Stern was a game-changer in my transition. This program, established through a generous contribution from alumnus Lorenzo (MBA ’93) and brother Frank J. Fertitta III, supports Veterans in their transition to business school. The program allows first-year Veterans to begin their MBA journey in July. I was able to dive into core classes while receiving specialized career coaching and early networking opportunities with target firms across New York City.
This early start was invaluable. By the time the fall semester and consulting recruiting started, I felt confident and well-prepared. Now, in my second year at Stern and as Co-President of the Military Veterans Club, I’ve witnessed firsthand how Stern continues to support and empower Veteran students – future, past, and current. Our club is a crucial bridge, helping members transition from military service to the business world while giving back to the broader Veteran community.
Change: Embody It!
Brad: Making the decision to leave the military was one of the hardest decisions I have made. I would be leaving a steady career that I had trained for over the previous 10 years. I knew leaving this life behind would be challenging, but I didn’t realize how important it was to foster a strong support system as I transitioned to civilian life.
Reflecting upon the past year and a half, I am grateful for Stern and the community here. Upon arriving in July 2023, I joined a cohort of other Veterans in a similar situation. A group of individuals who raised their hand for the next challenge and were willing to help others rise to meet the new goals we all set. That community that we built and that Stern helped foster was paramount in helping me transition to the rigors and standards at Stern. This group has always been willing to go the extra mile to help Veterans at Stern and the broader Stern community, and members continue to serve as critical leaders inside and outside of Stern.
The MVC at Stern has no greater purpose than to help cultivate this culture at the school and support future generations of Veteran leaders in navigating the transition process. Whether that is speaking with prospective students about the application process, providing one-on-one mentorship with first-year MBAs during recruiting, or connecting with Vet alums who have secured their dream jobs, mentorship and support starts before you apply to Stern and continues after graduation!
Caleb Primos: Upon graduating from West Point in 2015, I spent eight years in the Army as an Infantry Officer and then as a Logistics Officer. I served in a variety of roles and was fortunate to lead some extremely talented soldiers, both in domestic assignments and abroad. While I thoroughly enjoyed my experience in the military, I had known for a few years before exiting that I wanted to pursue other opportunities outside the Army once my service obligation ended. From talking to other Veterans who had attended MBA programs and utilizing different Veteran resources, I decided that I needed to attend business school for the structured recruiting process and to learn the technical and business skills required for a career in finance. I applied to multiple schools, but ultimately chose Stern due to the strength of the brand, location in the heart of NYC, and the Fertitta Veterans MBA Program, including scholarship support.
Stern is so unique in the support they provide to Veterans, and the administration and professors ensure we have every resource we need to transition to civilian life. Also, being able to take the Statistics and Accounting class in the summer prior to the first semester enabled myself and my Veteran classmates to build a strong foundation of technical business skills, without the stress of recruiting or other in-semester commitments. The support of the Veteran alumni network began immediately, and the ability to visit different companies during the summer program enabled me and the other Fertitta students to make connections and narrow down career choices.
Change: Welcome It!
Caleb: Preparing to leave the military is a daunting task, one that often requires significant advanced planning and support from family and friends. It can be extremely scary to leave the security of a steady job, the camaraderie you find in your teams and assignments, and the fulfillment you gain in serving a noble cause. When you pair that with the prospect of moving to a new city, adjusting to a school environment, and then career recruiting, it is easy to understand why some soldiers are hesitant to leave the military.
The MVC at Stern has helped with the transition immensely. It has been amazing having a group of like-minded individuals who supported me during the application process, once I arrived on campus and started adjusting to school, all throughout recruiting, and even now as I prepare to graduate and start work as an investment banker. Many of these people have become lifelong friends, and I’m so thankful that I chose to welcome the changes I knew would come with leaving the military and getting an MBA, and I couldn’t imagine a better place to do that than Stern.
