Fox News host and retired Marine Staff Sgt. Johnny “Joey” Jones officially reenlisted in the United States Marine Corps on Wednesday, returning to military service more than a decade after losing both of his legs in an IED blast while serving in Afghanistan.
The reenlistment ceremony took place at the Pentagon in the Hall of Heroes and was led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who previously worked alongside Jones at Fox News before joining President Donald Trump’s administration.
According to Fox News, Jones will continue serving as co-host of The Big Weekend Show while also remaining a military analyst across the network’s various platforms. The move marks a remarkable return to uniform for the former Marine staff sergeant, who previously served eight years in the Corps and completed two deployments before his life-changing injury in Afghanistan.
Jones framed the decision as deeply personal, describing his earlier retirement from military service as “unfinished business.” His comments reflected a continued desire to serve despite the physical toll of war — a reminder of the sacrifices carried for years by many veterans long after America’s foreign conflicts fade from the headlines.
Johnny “Joey” Jones is heading back into the Marine Corps.
The FOX News host and combat veteran announced he is reenlisting more than a decade after medically retiring following a 2010 IED-related incident in Afghanistan that cost him both legs.
Jones has become one of the most… pic.twitter.com/RCmvIdphBR
— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 21, 2026
“If there’s an opportunity for me to serve, there’s no reason why a no-legged 40-year-old staff sergeant should be able to put the uniform on, other than these men believed it,” Jones said during the ceremony. “And the goal here is to open that door for anyone else that has something left to give.”
The comments underscored a message that military service does not necessarily end after injury or adversity. At the same time, Jones’s story also stands as a sobering example of the human cost paid by American troops during years of conflict overseas, particularly in Afghanistan, where countless service members returned home carrying permanent wounds.
Hegseth praised Jones during the ceremony, calling the reenlistment “an absolute no-brainer” and describing the Fox News host as a powerful advocate for military service and veteran issues.
“When I first got word that he was interested in getting back in uniform, it actually didn’t surprise me,” Hegseth said.
The defense secretary also highlighted Jones’s ability to communicate the realities of military life to viewers across the country.
“I don’t think there’s a better spokesman for the Marine Corps, understanding what it’s all about, what it means to serve, the brotherhood that exists then, than how Joey talks about it on television so that the American people understand it and connect to it in a visceral way,” Hegseth added.
Jones has become a familiar face to many Americans through his television appearances and commentary on military affairs, often speaking openly about sacrifice, service, and the lasting bonds formed in combat. His return to the Marines comes at a time when military recruitment and public confidence in national institutions remain major topics of debate across the country.
For supporters, the reenlistment represented both a patriotic moment and a tribute to perseverance. But it also served as a quiet reminder that behind every discussion about war and national security are service members who carry those experiences for the rest of their lives.
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