Ascend - Vanguard Rising

Because of an exclusive partnership with The ASCEND Collective®, LEAF Lab has been granted the unique opportunity to recruit civilian students for their Vanguard Rising program. This is a rare chance to join something that very few will have access to.

Vanguard Rising is an Experiential Applied Learning Lab designed to help military-connected talent move from potential to performance through a skills-first, no-resumé approach.

Exclusive Opportunity to Join Now

Through LEAF Lab’s partnership with The Ascend Collective®, you'll join the Vanguard Rising program alongside transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses, gaining all the same experiences and entering the same professional talent pipeline as military talent.

“This opportunity will give you something to put on your resume that nobody else competing for the same roles will have. You’ll be working 5-10 hours per week alongside team members who are committing up to 40 hours per week, as a full collaborative contributing team member on real client work.”
— Vanguard Rising
Join Us
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Shaping the Leaders of Tomorrow

    • Cybersecurity - Designed to prepare participants for the realities of modern cyber roles by combining technical foundations with real-world execution.

    • Software Engineering - Prepares participants to move beyond coding in isolation and into the realities of modern, team-based software development.

    • Distribution/Operations/Logistics - Prepares participants to lead and execute in complex, fast-moving environments where efficiency, coordination, and accountability are critical.

    • College students at any institution in any year

    • Curious learners excited about working with military-connected professionals

    • Anyone interested in building real professional capabilities through client work (no prior experience required)

    • Students who want to learn leadership, adaptability, and teamwork alongside military professionals

    • Open to all majors - if you can learn, you can execute on project teams

  • You'll work on real business challenges, not simulations:


    • Collaborate with military-connected teammates on distributed, cross-functional project teams

    • Execute projects aligned to client needs across various business functions

    • Develop skills through hands-on, project-based learning in collaborative team environments

    • Create work products that demonstrate capability, not just credentials

    • Build confidence and career readiness through applied learning that mirrors real organizational work

    • Learn from the leadership, discipline, and teamwork approaches that military professionals bring to civilian work

  • Skills (transferable competencies you develop):


    • Collaboration: Working with distributed teams to achieve shared goals

    • Critical thinking: Analyzing challenges to make strategic decisions

    • Planning: Managing multiple projects and priorities

    • Refinement: Iterating based on feedback and performance metrics

    • Leadership: Guiding team efforts toward measurable outcomes

    • Adaptability: Navigating ambiguity and adjusting to changing requirements


    Capabilities (technical abilities you demonstrate):


    • Project management and execution in real business contexts

    • Cross-functional collaboration using Fortune 500-grade platforms

    • Professional communication and stakeholder engagement

    • Data-driven decision making and problem-solving

    • Industry-specific tools and methodologies relevant to your career path

  • This IS:

    • An ASCEND Collective® Vanguard Rising program experience in collaboration with LEAF Lab

    • A safe, structured learning environment

    • An educational experience aligned with federal standards (Perkins V) and the DOW’s Skillbridge program

    • A community where you control your learning journey

    • An opportunity to work alongside and learn from military-connected professionals

    This is NOT:

    • An internship

    • A paid job

    • Traditional classroom learning

    • Duration: Up to 26 weeks

    • Commitment: 5-10 hours per week

    • Location: Remote

Apply Here

At the LEAF Lab, we're not just shaping students; we're nurturing adaptive leaders of tomorrow.

Our 12-week program is your stepping stone to a future filled with opportunities. Don't wait for the job market to come to you—become the candidate that the job market seeks.

Shu-Ha-Ri

Don't just chase opportunities; create them.

Join the LEAF Lab Program and embark on a journey of transformation. **Your future starts here.**

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Legal & Educational Disclaimer

LEAF Lab operates as an apprentice ready incubator and work-based learning environment. Participation is 100% educational and preparatory, designed to build skills, judgment, and readiness for future opportunities. This program is not a registered apprenticeship program under federal or state law and does not confer apprentice status for purposes of labor or employment regulations. Participation does not create an employment, independent contractor, or agency relationship, and participants are not entitled to wages, benefits, or any rights associated with employment. Completion of the program does not guarantee internships, apprenticeships, employment, or placement of any kind, though participants may become better prepared to pursue opportunities independently. Participants engage in project-based learning aligned with federal education standards (e.g., Perkins V) to prepare for future career success.

Want to learn more?

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