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

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Mujuni Menani, a senior drill instructor with Fox Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, recites the drill instructor creed on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., Jan. 31, 2026. These drill instructors will be responsible for training and mentoring their recruits during the 13 weeks of recruit training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jordy Morales)

The Recruiting Surge Was Engineered. Can It Last in a War with Iran?

The military’s recruiting surge didn’t happen by accident. New programs drove gains, but as the war with Iran grows...

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...

A U.S. Army armored vehicle equipped with advanced targeting and air defense systems maneuvers through a training range, reflecting the service’s push to integrate AI-driven capabilities and rapidly field combat-ready technology. (U.S. Army Materiel Command)

Army Speeds AI Warfighting Push as US Troops are in Active Combat

An Army test used AI tools to hit 15 targets in one hour, signaling a rapid shift in how battlefield decisions are made and...

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...

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...

Latest Military Videos

Speaker Johnson Says Iran Should ‘Take Note’ of the Troop Buildup in Middle East

Speaker Johnson says Iran should ‘take note’ of the troop buildup in the Middle East.

Colombia Investigates Military Plane Crash that Killed 69

Colombia investigates military plane crash that killed 69 as doctors identify victims.

Most Americans Say US Military Action Against Iran Has Gone Too Far

Most Americans say US military action against Iran has gone too far, poll finds.

Iranian Military Statement Mocks US for 'Strategic Failure'

Iranian military statement mocks US for 'strategic failure', suggests no negotiations over 15-point plan.

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 Speeds AI Warfighting Push as US Troops are in Active Combat

An Army test used AI tools to hit 15 targets in one hour, signaling a rapid shift in how battlefield decisions are made and...

At Least 1,000 US Troops from 82nd Airborne Set to Deploy to Mideast, Sources Say

The U.S. military is preparing to deploy at least 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, according...

Navy News

USS Ross Departs Naval Station Norfolk

The destroyer is part of the George H. W. Bush carrier strike group, which is likely relieving the overdue Gerald R. Ford’s...

U.S. Navy veteran John Wells is honored on March 20 with the DAR Medal of Honor by the Louisiana Society of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) during its 117th state conference held in Alexandria, La. (DAR)

Navy Veteran Who Helped Service Members Affected by Agent Orange Honored

Navy veteran John Wells has given to his country, and to his fellow men and women. His legal work helped result in landmark...

Air Force News

This year's USO 2026 "Service Members of the Year." (USO)

'Exceptional Courage': USO Announces its 2026 Service Members of the Year

This year's crop of USO honorees saved motorcycle crash victims, rescued bodies underwater, saved civilians from a building...

Air Force Veteran Kay Perkins Wins Right to 'Double-Dip' for VA education benefits (Kay Perkins).

Rulings Over Veterans’ Education Benefits Allow for ‘Double-Dipping’

Over 1M veterans may qualify for extended VA education benefits after a federal appeal withdrawal clears the way to use both...

Space Force News

'Exceptional Courage': USO Announces its 2026 Service Members of the Year

This year's crop of USO honorees saved motorcycle crash victims, rescued bodies underwater, saved civilians from a building...

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...

Marine Corps News

D. R. Howe (Glencoe, MN) treats the wounds of Private First Class D. A. Crum (New Brighton, PA), Company H, 2nd Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment, during Operation Hue City. (USMC Photo)

'Like Dante's Inferno': One Marine’s Experiences in Vietnam and the Battle of Hue

Cpl. Charles McMahon was on a convoy entering Hue when the NVA seized the city. He spent the next month fighting through it...

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina meets with U.S. service members during a visit at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, April 15, 2023. Graham visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to meet with Team PSAB service members and show support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephani Barge)

Senator References Bloodiest Battle in USMC History While Urging Attack on Kharg Island

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., drew sharp criticism from fellow GOP lawmakers after invoking the Battle of Iwo Jima while...

Coast Guard News

'Exceptional Courage': USO Announces its 2026 Service Members of the Year

This year's crop of USO honorees saved motorcycle crash victims, rescued bodies underwater, saved civilians from a building...

Service members move through a TSA Honor Lane at a U.S. airport, as security systems face increasing pressure amid a Department of Homeland Security funding lapse (DVIDS).

Rising US Casualties in Iran Put New Strain on Homeland Security

As U.S. casualties rise in Iran, a DHS shutdown is stretching homeland security—exposing growing strain between war abroad...

Joel Searls

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