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

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron lands at a base in the Middle East, Jan. 18, 2026. The F-15's presence enhances combat readiness and promotes regional security and stability. (Courtesy Photo)

The US Military Will Risk Everything for Its Own. Here’s Why

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Bruce Willis in military gear in Tears of the Sun, actor who grew up in a military family. (Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing)

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Latest Military Videos

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Investigations and Features

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

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

Army News

Jim Whittaker stands atop Mount Everest on May 1, 1963, holding an American flag and ice axe after becoming the first American to reach the 29,032-foot summit. He and Sherpa Nawang Gombu spent roughly 20 minutes on the peak before dwindling oxygen forced them to descend. (Photo courtesy of the Whittaker Family Collection)

Remembering Army Veteran Jim Whittaker, First American to Climb Mount Everest

Whittaker trained Army soldiers at Camp Hale during the Korean War before becoming the first American to summit Everest and...

An Army Veteran Is Charged with Sharing Classified Details of an Elite Commando Unit

An Army veteran has been charged with sharing classified information about an elite commando unit with a journalist, which...

Navy News

USS Halsey conducts routine underway operations.

Iran War Diverts US Military and Attention from Asia Ahead of Trump's Summit with China's Leader

By the time Trump rolled out his national security strategy in late 2025, the U.S. strategy in Asia had been narrowed to...

From left, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Steve Kapala, Lt. Cmdr. Jesse Wang, Chief Hospital Corpsman Vlad Link, and Senior Chief Hospital Corspman Laddy Aldridge, the U.S. Navy dive medical team with Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1, pose for a group photo ahead of Artemis II recovery operations while underway on Amphibious transport dock ship USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) in the Pacific Ocean, April 9, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class August Clawson)

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The Navy dive team lead called the experience "the honor of a lifetime."

Air Force News

The Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen board member James Thompson honors the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen in Philadelphia, Penn., on March 28. (The Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen)

'Not Just a Moment in History': Tuskegee Airmen Honored in Philadelphia

“It’s something that we need to make sure the rest of the world knows about,” a Tuskegee Airmen supporter told Military.com...

Screenshot of the AI-generated image that circulated on X and Facebook over Easter weekend. The photograph is fabricated. (Facebook)

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A fabricated image claiming to show an American airman rescued from Iranian soil spread across social media before users...

Space Force News

Robbie Robertson, Sedaro CEO and co-founder, presents a live demo to USSF leadership Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, at Spacepower Conference in Orlando, FL. (Photo courtesy of SFA)

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

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Marine Corps News

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Marine Corps veteran Michael Garcia. (Facebook)

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Coast Guard News

Coast Guard Cutter Midgett (WMSL 757) prepares to Moore at their homeport Honolulu, Hawaii Oct. 3, 2025. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jennifer Nilson)

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The rescue mission was one not "routine" to the Coast Guard and cutter crew that succeeded.