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...

TV producer Chas. Floyd Johnson is on the set of 'JAG' with U.S. Marine Corps Cobra gunship helicopters in the background.

The Circle Makes Its Rounds: ‘NCIS’ Producer Chas. Floyd Johnson on Military Service and Hollywood Success

Chas. Floyd Johnson is the executive producer for the long-running CBS TV series “NCIS” and won an Emmy for his work on “The...

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Most Popular Military News

Rep. Michael Lawler, R-N.Y., left, confronts House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.

Federal Government Shutdown Grinds into a Second Week as Tempers Flare at the Capitol

As the federal government shutdown enters a second week, there’s no discernible endgame in sight.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) questions U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi as she testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Trump Targets Blumenthal, Calling for Investigation into Senator's Vietnam Service Claims

President Donald Trump is targeting U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal again after Connecticut’s senior U.S. senator grilled U.S...

Pvt. Paul Douglas, age 50, performs a rifle inspection with his drill instructor aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot S.C., 1942. Douglas, at age 50 was the oldest recruit in the history of Parris Island, and went on to become a purple heart recipient and Chicago senator (DVIDS).

At 50, He Survived Marine Boot Camp — Then Fought at Peleliu and Okinawa

When 50-year-old Paul Douglas showed up at Marine Corps boot camp in 1942, the white-haired economics professor looked more...

Pack and transport platoon of the Russian army. Southern Military District. Ministry of Defense of Russia (Wikimedia Commons).

Ukrainian Drones Attack Russian Cavalry Troops in Rare 21st-Century Encounter

A short video circulating online this month appears to show a Russian mounted patrol being struck by a Ukrainian drone near...

When The Government Can Afford Everything Except The Essentials

Every shutdown forces the government to decide what counts as “essential.” Air traffic controllers and TSA agents fall into...

Troops Will Miss Paychecks Next Week Without Action on the Government Shutdown

The federal government shutdown is raising anxiety levels among service members and their families, because those in uniform...

Latest Military Videos

Japan's Defense Minister Says $58 Billion Budget Is Minimum Necessary

Japan's defense minister says record $58 billion budget is minimum necessary for country's security.

Iran Seizes Oil Tanker in Strait of Hormuz It Accuses of Smuggling Fuel

Iran seizes oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz it accuses of smuggling fuel.

Christmas Celebrations Slowly Return to Bethlehem During Ceasefire in Gaza

Christmas celebrations slowly return to Bethlehem during ceasefire in Gaza.

Trump Announces Plans for New Navy 'Battleship' as Part of a 'Golden Fleet'

Trump announces plans for new Navy 'battleship' as part of a 'Golden Fleet'.

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

Army Capt. Willibald Bianchi. (Photo from DPAA)

Remains of WWII Medal of Honor Recipient, Killed as a POW, Finally Comes Home

After more than 80 years, Army veteran Willibald Bianchi was properly identified using advanced forensic science. Next May...

Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe and his staff gathered inside Bastogne's Heintz Barracks for Christmas dinner Dec. 25th, 1944. This military barracks served as the Division Main Command Post during the siege of Bastogne, Belgium during WWII. The facility is now a museum known as the "Nuts Cave". (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)

Seven American and German Soldiers Sat Down and Enjoyed a Christmas Dinner Together During the Battle of the Bulge

Elisabeth Vincken had listened to artillery fire for eight straight days before someone knocked on her cottage door on...

Navy News

Projected design and capabilities of the USS Defiant (BBG-1), the first ship in the line of Trump-class battleships for the U.S. Navy. (U.S. Navy)

Trump Announces New Class of Battleships Despite Century of Evidence Proving the Large Warships Are Obsolete

The ship will displace more than 35,000 tons and be capable of speeds exceeding 30 knots, according to the Navy. The...

At Sea US Venezuela Second Tanker Seized (CR) (U.S. Department of Defense via AP)

Caribbean 'Quarantine': US Forces Take On Trump’s Oil Tanker Crackdown

Escalating interdictions of oil tankers linked to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro occur as part of a sweeping naval...

Air Force News

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, answer NORAD calls from children on Dec. 24, 2025.

Trump Warns Against Infiltration by a 'Bad Santa,' Defends Coal in Jovial Christmas Calls With Kids

The president and first lady Melania Trump participated in the tradition of talking to youngsters dialing into the North...

U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Dec. 20, 2025) M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers fire missiles in in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Hawkeye Strike, Dec. 20, 2025. (U.S. Army video by Task Force Lightning – 3-116th FAR)

Operation Hawkeye: US Attack on ISIS in Syria Leaves Open Questions

The United States' latest coordinated strikes against ISIS targets comes as Washington signals sustained pressure on the...

Space Force News

A painting of a Defense Support Program satellite from the Air Force Art collection. DSP provides a variety of national security capabilities. Its flagship mission of launch detection was made famous during the Cold War. (U.S. Air Force image)

Clearing The Orbits: Space Force Partnerships In Orbital Cleanup

The growing congestion of Earth orbit has raised risks to satellites, space stations, and long-term space sustainability. The...

Ceremony transferring service members to United States Space Force.

Space Force Ranks: A Complete Guide to Enlisted and Officer Ranks

Explore U.S. Space Force ranks from specialist to general. Learn about the rank structure, pay grades, insignia, and...

Marine Corps News

Rob Reiner’s career spans more than five decades as a defining force in American film and television, from his early acting days to directing and producing some of the most enduring movies in modern Hollywood (CBS).

Rob Reiner’s Cultural Impact: The Movies and Quotes That Shaped America

Rob Reiner’s tragic death has left an unmistakable void in Hollywood. Across five decades, his work—from All in the Family to...

Military themed entry to 1918 Tournament of Roses (Photo from the "Tournament of Roses Number," Pasadena Star-News, January 1, 1918, Public Domain)

When Marines Beat the Army: The Epic 1918 Rose Bowl That Saved Bowl Season

With the backdrop of WWI going on, the 1918 Rose Bowl was in jeopardy. With presidential permission, it was decided that the...

Coast Guard News