Joel Searls

Joel Searls is a journalist, writer and creative who serves as a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve. His writing has appeared in Military.com, We Are The Mighty, Leatherneck Magazine and The War Horse. Joel has completed the Writers Guild Foundation’s Veterans Writing Project, is a produced playwright, a commissioned screenwriter and an entertainment consultant. His most recent feature film-producing project is “Running with the Devil,” written/directed by retired Navy SEAL Jason Cabell. His most recent TV series producing credit is with “Top Combat Pilot,” hosted by Dennis Quaid.

Latest Articles

Jack Carr, the author of 'The Terminal List' series of books, served with the Navy SEALs.

How Jack Carr's Time as a Navy SEAL Permeates 'The Terminal List' Universe

These days, Jack Carr is a busy man. The author of seven "The Terminal List" books, he has also helped oversee television...

Ben Edwards (Taylor Kitsch) and Raife Hastings (Tom Hopper) are shown during a scene from 'The Terminal List: Dark Wolf."

'Terminal List' Prequel Series 'Dark Wolf’ Delves into the Darker Side of Warfare

Based on the bestselling "The Terminal List" books from author Jack Carr, the series revolves around SEAL James Reece, who...

Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland on set (A24)

4 Questions for 'Warfare' Filmmakers Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza

24's "Warfare" has a relatively simple mission: to drop audiences into the chaos of a Navy SEAL mission gone wrong, told in...

Acclaimed screenwriter William Broyles Jr. (right) served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.

How a Military Veteran's Experience in Vietnam Inspired Him to Write 'Cast Away'

Academy Award-nominated screenwriter William Broyles Jr. is a decorated Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran and shares how "Cast...

June (Kim Hunter) and Peter (David Niven) stand against the judge, jury and trial members.

This Gem of a Movie About an Airman’s Brush with Death Holds Up 80 Years Later

“A Matter of Life and Death” is a romantic fantasy that centers around a British airman’s love for a U.S. Army Air Corps...

Utkarsh Ambudkar, Sonequa Martin-Green (middle) and ‘My Dead Friend Zoe’ director/co-writer Kyle Hausmann-Stokes prepare for a scene in which the 2 actors play a shooter arcade game.

How ‘My Dead Friend Zoe’ Reflects its Director’s Real-Life Military Experiences

"My Dead Friend Zoe" -- now available on several streaming services -- is inspired by the experiences of director and co...

Sonequa Martin-Green, left, and Natalie Morales in 'My Dead Friend Zoe.'

'My Dead Friend Zoe' Delivers an Eye-Opening Message for Military Veterans

In "My Dead Friend Zoe," a female Afghanistan veteran -- engaged in a mysterious relationship with a wise-cracking (and dead)...

'Warfare' is a visceral story of modern combat and brotherhood.

'Warfare' Is One of the Best War Movies of the Post-9/11 Era

"Warfare" is a must-see that brings full combat immersion, miles of depth and natural believability, making for one of the...

Military News

Get the Military Insider Newsletter

Get the latest on pay updates, benefit changes and award-winning military content. Right in your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Notice.

Thank you for subscribing!

View more newsletters on our Subscriptions page.

One last step.

Verify your free subscription by following the instructions in the email sent to:

Most Popular Military News

George Foster and a soldier examining Hideki Tojo for his new set of dentures.

This Navy Dentist Engraved 'Remember Pearl Harbor' on Hideki Tojo's Dentures

For roughly three months in 1946 and 1947, the man who approved the attack on Pearl Harbor walked around Sugamo Prison with...

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host Tuskegee Airmen at a showing of the movie “Red Tails” at the White House. Cicero Satterfield is in the second row, far right. White House photo. Source: DVIDS

Black History Month Turns 100

Black History Month highlights Black servicemembers whose courage shaped the military despite segregation and discrimination.

Navy Chaplain Cmdr. Jason M. Constantine leads a prayer during Easter vigil in the chapel of amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), April 16, 2022. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nadia Lund)

DoW Christian Service Draws Dozens of Complaints from Members, Contractors

One contractor told Military.com that the email invite was "stark, depressing, almost threatening."

Official U.S.M.C. portrait of PFC. Dan Bullock. He altered his birth certificate to appear older and enlisted in the Marines at 14 -years-old. he died in combat at the age of 15 while acting as an ammunition runner for his unit which was under attack. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Youngest American Killed in Vietnam Enlisted in the Marines at 14

PFC Dan Bullock became the youngest American service member killed in the Vietnam War after forging his birth certificate to...

Why You Didn’t Get the Job: Understanding How Companies Hire

In today’s turbulent, unpredictable and frustrating hiring market, job-seekers are seemingly doing everything right and...

Latest Military Videos

US Military Boards Oil Tanker in Indian Ocean

US military boards oil tanker in Indian Ocean after tracking it from the Caribbean.

US Military Flies Nuclear Reactor from California to Utah

US military flies nuclear reactor from California to Utah as part of broader energy initiative.

North Korea Unveils Apartments for Families of Soldiers Killed Fighting for Russia

North Korea unveils apartments for families of soldiers killed fighting for Russia against Ukraine.

Iran Holds Naval Drill Amid Tensions with US

Iran holds naval drill amid tensions with U.S.

Investigations and Features

In One of the Marines' Most Iconic Jobs, a Stunning Pattern of Suicide

Marine Corps drill instructors are a national symbol of discipline. But for some, their imposing persona belies a dark...

Army Capt. Jeremy Kuykendall and his wife Kate, cradle their daughter

Unsupervised: Military Child Care Centers Slow to Report Abuse with Little Oversight

A Military.com investigation into military day care centers revealed that service branch rules generally prioritize...

Army News

Godfrey Wade poses in his U.S. Army uniform during his military service. (Kozycki Law, LLC)

Army Veteran Deported Despite Pending Appeal: 'He Served This Country'

“He served. He did what he was supposed to do. And now he’s not even here.”

Raymond and Jane Whittaker fell in love while attending school in Nashville, Tennessee during World War II and exchanged 200 love letters. Raymond and Jane Whittaker C. 1942.

Love Letters From a World War II Couple On Display in Nashville

The Nashville Public Library is showcasing a digital display of more than 200 love letters exchanged between a loving couple...

Navy News

US Military Boards Another Oil Tanker in Indian Ocean After Tracking it From the Caribbean

“The vessel tried to defy President Trump’s quarantine — hoping to slip away,” the Pentagon said.

On Feb 13, 2026, Capt. Chavius Lewis was removed from command of the USS Mason (US Navy Photo)..

USS Mason Commander Relieved: The Hidden Cost of ‘Loss of Confidence’

The Navy relieved the USS Mason’s commander during a key training exercise, a move that underscores accountability and the...

Air Force News

DoW Christian Service Draws Dozens of Complaints from Members, Contractors

One contractor told Military.com that the email invite was "stark, depressing, almost threatening."

U.S. Air Force veteran Choice Jackson spent eight years at Beale Air Force Base in Yuba County, Calif. (Choice Jackson)

Transitioning From Military to Civilian Life: An Air Force Veteran’s Story

"From what I learned in the military, I know how to pivot," Air Force veteran Choice Jackson told Military.com.

Space Force News

A Vulcan rocket carrying the USSF-87 mission successfully launches from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Feb. 12, 2026. (U.S. Space Force photo by Staff Sergeant Samuel Becker)

The Ultimate High Ground: Space in US Defense Strategy

The 2026 Defense Strategy elevates space as the new high ground. In an exclusive interview, Stephen Kitay explains how AI and...

POLARIS at NATO Exercise REPMUS 25 in October 2025. POLARIS is a small, gimballed free space optical communication solution for naval vessels and unmanned surface vessels. (Photo source: NATO DIANA, courtesy of Astrolight)

Russian Satellite Activity Exposes Gaps in Satellite Communications Security

Military.com spoke with Astrolight CEO Laurynas Mačiulis on why laser-based optical communications offer a resilient...

Marine Corps News

Judge Dismisses California Deportation Case for Mexican Father of 3 US Marines

An immigration judge has dismissed the deportation case against a landscaper who was arrested in Southern California last...

Virginia Supreme Court Rules US Marine’s Adoption of an Afghan War Orphan Will Stand

The Virginia Supreme Court has ruled that a U.S. Marine and his wife will keep an Afghan orphan they brought home in defiance...

Coast Guard News

A Department of Homeland Security building sign in Washington.

What to Know About the Homeland Security Shutdown

The vast majority of employees at the Secret Service and U.S. Coast Guard will continue their work, though they could also...

More than 12,750 pounds of cocaine and marijuana are stacked on pallets aboard USCGC Seneca (WMEC 906) to be offloaded at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Sept. 30, 2025. Seneca is a Famous Class medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, Virginia. (U.S Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Diana Sherbs)

Coast Guard Seizes 200,000 Pounds of Cocaine in Six Months in Pacific Ocean

Operation Pacific Viper, which began in August, is getting rave reviews from federal officials.