We were lucky to catch up with Natalia Earle Angelo Martinez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Natalia Earle, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Our mission is to consistently host electrifying events that take veterans from isolation to celebration, improving mental health and preventing veteran suicide.

Angelo Martinez – On December 12th, 2019, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace, not because life was getting better, but because I had made the decision to end it. As I got up to grab my roommate’s gun, my phone rang. It was a Marine I had recently met, inviting me to shoot a video for his supplement company. I figured, “Why not? It’s better than what I was about to do.” He had no idea what was going on with me, and I thought my presence wouldn’t matter either way.

We dressed up as Navy SEAL Christmas elves and stormed the beach for Santa, surrounded by other soldiers, sailors, and Marines. I came home cold, wet, sandy—but for the first time in a long time, I felt happiness and joy. Sitting on my broken futon, I realized something powerful: “I don’t have to die. I don’t have to kill myself.”

It clicked in that moment—I needed the veteran community. That day marked the beginning of my journey to understand not just how close I came to becoming a statistic, but also the harsh reality that the real number isn’t 22 veterans a day taking their lives; it’s 44. The often-quoted number excludes alcohol and drug-related deaths, masking the true extent of this tragedy.

So, how do you combat something as devastating as 44 veterans taking their lives each day? You fight it with action, by consistently addressing the issue and taking veterans from isolation to celebration. This mission runs deep in my veins, because I know firsthand how vital it is for veterans to regain the camaraderie they lost when they left the service.

At The Barracks Legend Foundation, our mission is to save lives, to ensure that no veteran feels alone, and to restore the brotherhood and sisterhood that once kept us strong. This mission isn’t just meaningful—it’s life or death. We are committed to creating a community where veterans are celebrated, supported, and most importantly, alive.

Natalia Earle, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Angelo Martinez, the visionary CEO of Barracks Legend Foundation, and Natalia Earle, the compassionate COO, are dedicated to shedding light on the hidden struggles and scars that veterans encounter as they transition from military to civilian life.

Over the past two years of collaboration, our focus has been on hosting an average of four high-impact events per month, each attended by approximately 30 veterans. Quality takes precedence over quantity in our efforts to provide meaningful support and create a lasting positive impact on the lives of those who have served our country.

Through the Barracks Legend Foundation’s events, The Barracks Legend Conference was created to address the needs of veterans and their families. Natalia and Angelo have identified seven key pillars for veterans’ well-being: PTSD, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Relationships, Health, Spirituality, and Community. These pillars signify a dedicated commitment to supporting veterans during their transition to civilian life.

More than just an event, the Barracks Legend Conference serves as a beacon of hope and a lifeline for veterans seeking understanding, support, and a pathway to a brighter future. It fosters a community united by a shared mission to help veterans reclaim their strength, find purpose, and build a network of support that will uplift them every step of the way.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

Natalia Earle – I had the privilege of meeting Angelo at a fundraiser where he courageously took the stage as the keynote speaker, sharing his deeply personal story of resilience and the dark moment in 2019 when he nearly lost his life. As the room fell into a hushed reverence, moved to tears by his words, I, like many others, was profoundly impacted by the struggles within the veteran community that Angelo so poignantly described.

Following his speech, I felt a compelling urge to connect with Angelo and offer my support. I asked the host of the fundraiser to introduce us, eager to extend a helping hand and learn how I, as a civilian, could contribute to serving our country alongside veterans. This serendipitous meeting blossomed into a profound friendship and a partnership that led us to co-found the Barracks Legend Foundation and subsequently launch our conference. Together, we are dedicated to shining a light on the challenges faced by veterans and fostering a community of support and understanding.

Have you ever had to pivot?

When we initially launched our foundation, our focus was primarily on hosting events tailored exclusively for veterans. However, as we delved deeper into the experiences of those we aimed to support, a significant realization dawned upon us – the crucial need to involve families in our initiatives. Many of the men and women we encountered expressed a sense of disconnect from their children, stemming from prolonged absences due to deployments and military service.

Witnessing the transformative power of familial bonds firsthand, we recognized the profound impact of including family members in our events. It has been incredibly heartening to witness the strengthening of relationships between mothers and daughters during our cooking classes, as well as the bonding moments between fathers and their sons on our deep-sea fishing trips. Moreover, we came to understand the vital importance of educating families on topics such as PTSD and traumatic brain injury, equipping them with the knowledge and tools needed to support their loved ones during the transition to civilian life.

This pivotal shift towards embracing and empowering families as a crucial part of our mission has not only enriched our programs but has also underscored the significance of holistic healing and support within the veteran community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.barrackslegendfoundation.com
• Instagram: @barrackslegendfoundation
• Facebook: BarracksLegendFoundation
• Linkedin: barrackslegendfoundation
• Twitter: Barrackslgndfnd