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...

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Most Popular Military News

New recruits take the oath of enlistment at the Advocate Center for the Eleventh Annual Chicago Bulls Special Recruit Division Enlistment Ceremony in Chicago. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Camilo Fernan)

Could the US Bring Back the Draft? Who Would Be Called First — and Who Qualifies

Could the U.S. bring back the draft? Here’s how Selective Service works today, who would be called first and why only about...

VA Study: Ozempic, Other GLP-1 Drugs May Fight Addiction Across Every Major Substance

For the more than 48 million Americans with substance use disorders, including a disproportionate share of veterans, GLP-1...

Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Delaware (SSN 791) emerges from the ice after performing a vertical surfacing to kick off Operation ICE CAMP 2026, Mar. 7. (U.S. Navy Photo)

US Navy Sends Submarines Under Arctic Ice for 100th Time in Milestone Exercise

The U.S. Navy has reached a Cold War-era milestone in the Arctic, deploying two Virginia-class submarines beneath the polar...

Bonnie Carroll, founder of TAPS, hugging a survivor (Photo courtesy of TAPS).

After the Knock on the Door: How TAPS Supports Military Families for Life

After a service member dies, families face a lifetime of grief. TAPS founder Bonnie Carroll explains how the organization...

Exclusive: John Ripley, the Marine Who Blew Up the Dong Ha Bridge, to Receive the Medal of Honor

More than 50 years after hanging beneath a Vietnam bridge to stop a North Vietnamese armored invasion, Marine Col. John...

Latest Military Videos

Cyber Threats Rise as Iran-Linked Hackers Eye US Targets

Cyber threats rise as Iran-linked hackers eye US targets.

US Military Refueling Plane Crashes in Iraq

US military refueling plane crashes in Iraq, with rescue underway.

North Korean Leader and Daughter Shoot Guns

North Korean leader and daughter shoot guns on visit to weapons factory.

Ukrainian Company Showcases Interceptor Drone

Ukrainian company showcases interceptor drone designed to stop Shaheds.

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 Sergeant Wants to Plead Guilty in Georgia Base Shootings that Injured 5

An Army sergeant accused of shooting and wounding five co-workers at a southeast Georgia base last summer is seeking to plead...

Army National Guard 'Disasterville' training for students simulates disasters (Army National Guard).

Army National Guard 'Disasterville' Training for Students Simulates Real-World Disasters

An Army National Guard program blends recruiting and disaster training, letting students use AI-powered Google glasses in a...

Navy News

Could the US Bring Back the Draft? Who Would Be Called First — and Who Qualifies

Could the U.S. bring back the draft? Here’s how Selective Service works today, who would be called first and why only about...

US Navy Sends Submarines Under Arctic Ice for 100th Time in Milestone Exercise

The U.S. Navy has reached a Cold War-era milestone in the Arctic, deploying two Virginia-class submarines beneath the polar...

Air Force News

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter refuels from a KC-135 Stratotanker over Western Alaska Feb. 19, 2026. (U.S. Department of War photo)

All 6 Airmen Dead After US Tanker Crash in Iraq

Early Pentagon assessments say the KC-135 crash that killed six airmen happened in friendly airspace and shows no sign of...

A US Military Refueling Plane Crashed in Iraq. Here's What to Know

The U.S. military says a KC-135 refueling aircraft supporting operations against Iran crashed in western Iraq, killing four...

Space Force News

How Nuclear Waste Can Save Military Satellites and Lunar Exploration

Russia and China can black out military satellites in seconds. A Latvian startup says nuclear-waste generators using 5x less...

After the Knock on the Door: How TAPS Supports Military Families for Life

After a service member dies, families face a lifetime of grief. TAPS founder Bonnie Carroll explains how the organization...

Marine Corps News

U.S. Marines with Company I, Battalion Landing Team 3/1, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, land at the objective point during a simulated bilateral small boat raid at Kin Blue Training Area, Okinawa, Japan, Feb. 26, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Rebeka Falcon)

How US Sending of Marines to Strait of Hormuz Signals Posture Shift

Warships carrying about 2,500 Marines could soon patrol the region as attacks on oil tankers intensify.

Could the US Bring Back the Draft? Who Would Be Called First — and Who Qualifies

Could the U.S. bring back the draft? Here’s how Selective Service works today, who would be called first and why only about...

Coast Guard News

USCGC Polar Star (WAGB 10) crew members observe the cutter from a 26-foot Cutter Boat-Large (CB-L) in the Ross Sea during Operation Deep Freeze 2026, Feb. 21, 2026. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Bokum)

GOP Senators Approve Coast Guard Commander Promotion Despite Whistleblower Retaliation

A Coast Guard commander was found in 2018 to have violated the Military Whistleblower Protection Act but may still get a...

U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer Tyler Jaggers

A Wedding Proposal and a Promotion Honored a Coast Guardsman Before He Died of Injuries From Mission

The Coast Guard awarded Tyler Jaggers the Distinguished Flying Cross, one of the highest military awards for heroism.

Joel Searls

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