In this episode of The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices, host Andrew “AJ” Cox and the FireSide Chat crew welcome Barry Morris, Marine Corps veteran and Communications Director for Mission Roll Call, for a conversation about something that should matter to every veteran: making sure our voices are actually heard.

Barry begins by sharing his own journey—from growing up in a military family and enlisting in the Marine Corps, to becoming a Staff Sergeant, earning a commission through MECEP, serving as a Public Affairs Officer, and deploying to both Iraq and Afghanistan. That background eventually led him into communications and veteran advocacy and, today, his work with Mission Roll Call.

The heart of this episode focuses on what Mission Roll Call actually does and why it matters.

Barry explains how the organization regularly goes directly to veterans through polling and surveys to find out what issues are affecting them—not what someone assumes veterans need, but what veterans themselves say is important. Mission Roll Call then takes that information, along with veterans’ testimonials and experiences, and puts it in front of decision-makers.

As Barry explains during the conversation, the goal is to collect that information and present it so leaders can make better decisions “for the greater good of our veteran community.”

The discussion covers issues facing veterans across the country, including care for service-connected conditions, disability compensation, military retirement, VA healthcare, mental health and suicide prevention, education benefits, civilian employment, housing and home-loan assistance, caregiver support, survivor benefits, long-term care, and veteran homelessness.

The crew also digs into the importance of identifying the gaps between what veterans need and the services available to them, and how many issues that appear to be local problems are directly connected to larger national challenges.

One of the biggest takeaways from the conversation is the importance of participation. If organizations like Mission Roll Call are going to carry the veteran community's priorities forward, veterans have to be willing to speak up, complete the surveys, share their experiences, and make their voices part of the data being presented to those making decisions.

This episode is also a reminder of how much stronger the veteran community can be when organizations work together instead of operating in isolation. Whether the mission is advocating for veterans today or preserving their stories for tomorrow, it begins with listening to the people who served.

And, as always with a FireSide Chat, AJ, Barry, and the crew mix an important conversation with plenty of camaraderie, Marine Corps stories, humor, and the unscripted back-and-forth that makes these episodes what they are.

🎙️ Host: Andrew “AJ” Cox — U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sergeant (Ret.) 🇺🇸 Special Guest: Barry Morris — U.S. Marine Corps Veteran | Communications Director, Mission Roll Call 🔥

• Andrew “AJ” Cox — Host
• Jess — FireSide Chat Crew
• Mark O’Loughlin — FireSide Chat Crew
• Mike — FireSide Chat Crew
• Vic — FireSide Chat Crew

The Lost Art Project: Veterans’ Voices Preserving Voices. Protecting Legacies. Collect • Preserve • Educate • Inspire