Today we’d like to introduce you to Sgt WarDawg®.
Hi Sgt, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Sgt WarDawg® (trademarked 2020) aka Sgt. Carnell Smith Jr., U.S. Marine 0311 Infantry “Grunt” Rifleman and 3x Iraq War Veteran… and my life has been defined by missions. I am from Orlando, Florida. The first mission began when I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at 18 years old in 2002 after high school, although I had several full academic scholarship offers to study Forensic Science and work in a Crime Lab. However, I have an unexplained passion for SWAT teams and Fugitive Hunters, and knew that I had to prove to myself that I could make it in the Marines Infantry. My mother was upset, but I put my college academic scholarships on hold, in order to prove that I could become a Marine Grunt and International Operator. I became an 0311 Marine Infantry Rifleman with the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines—better known as “Darkside.” Less than a year later, I deployed to Iraq for the opening of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Our battalion crossed into Iraq on the first day of the War in March 2003. We were one of the first U.S. Marine Corps Infantry units to reach Baghdad and were part of the force present during the collapse of Saddam Hussein’s regime, including the events surrounding the toppling of Saddam’s statue—one of the defining images of the Iraq War. For making it to Baghdad first, my unit “Darkside” 3/4 Kilo Company was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation (PUC).
The following year, in April 2004, my battalion was sent back to Iraq and became one of the first Marine Grunt units to enter Fallujah during Operation Vigilant Resolve, after the American contractors for Black Water were murdered. In 2005, we returned to Fallujah for a third combat deployment. Those three consecutive Iraq tours shaped every part of who I would become.
After leaving the Marines, I attended the University of Central Florida studying International Relations while working in private security for a defense contractor. Like many Combat Veterans, life after War proved to be its own battlefield. I was eventually diagnosed with PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, Paranoid Schizophrenia, and a Personality Disorder. Over the years, I struggled with suicide and endured five psychiatric hospitalizations, years of medications, therapy, counseling, and doctor’s appointments while trying to rebuild my life. Then, in 2015, another life-changing event occurred when I survived a serious automobile accident that left me with permanent metal implants in my neck, back, and hip. For a long time, it felt like life was taking more away than it was giving.
Instead of quitting, I decided to build. In 2019 I launched Sgt WarDawg TV® on YouTube as an outdoor tv channel and place to tell honest stories about military service, War Veterans, survival, and recovery. That grew into The WarDawg Trail™ Podcast, where I’ve interviewed War Veterans, authors, first responders, bounty hunters, Creators, and people with extraordinary life stories.
In 2024 I published my memoir, “The WarDawg Trail: A Marine Rifleman’s Struggle with War and PTSD” documenting my journey through War, disability, mental illness, and rebuilding purpose. Then in 2025, I received IRS approval and founded Camp Dawg House Inc. at CampDawgHouse.org, a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to eventually build a Homeless War Veterans community on private land in Holopaw, Florida.
Later, in 2026, I accomplished something I never imagined: I founded Sgt WarDawg TV® Network LLC, an independent, Marine Grunt-owned streaming television network. Today, the network features nine original television shows covering military history, true crime, veterans, women, outdoor programming, comedy, and Creator education. My network includes the following original shows that I created: The WarDawg Trail™, Prison Grind™, Man Hunting With Bounty Hunters™, The Victim’s Pain™ – When A Loved One Is Murdered, WarDawg Global Conflict Brief™, Comedy Without Surrender™, WarDawg LADIES™, and War Tales with Sgt WarDawg®. My War and True Crime streaming TV network is now available through dedicated TV apps on Amazon Fire TV and Roku, as well as a mobile app on Google Play store, while also streaming through SgtWarDawgTV.com and across major social media platforms. One of the things I’m most proud of is my 24/7 live television stream. Every day, around the clock, Sgt WarDawg TV® broadcasts original programming simultaneously across eight platforms simultaneously, including Fire TV, Roku, Google Play mobile app, SgtWarDawgTV.com, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook, and rotating streams on Rumble and Twitch.
Beyond just Sgt WarDawg TV® – Global War Veteran Entertainment™, I also created WarDawg Creators Class™ on Skool.com/sgtwardawgtv , which now includes eleven educational courses teaching independent Creators how to build their own media platforms. Additionally, through my reseller partnership with TVAppBuilder.com, I also own CreatorTVNetworkBuilder.com, where I help Creators launch their own Fire TV and Roku streaming apps, so they can expand beyond traditional social media and onto actual television platforms. Most recently, I also became a dealer for IWA International Inc., offering non-lethal pyrotechnic products.
Everything I’ve built ultimately supports one larger mission. Sgt WarDawg TV® Network, my book, podcasts, Creator education, consulting, and business ventures all exist to help fund and support Camp Dawg House Inc. at CampDawgHouse.org and its future mission of serving Homeless War Veterans.
My journey has taken me from Marine “Grunt” Infantryman to Combat Veteran, and from psychiatric hospitals to streaming television network owner and nonprofit founder. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that purpose can still be found long after the hardest battles are over.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The greatest obstacle in my life wasn’t surviving Iraq—it was learning how to live after Iraq.
Combat left invisible wounds that eventually resulted in diagnoses including PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, Paranoid Schizophrenia, and a Personality Disorder. Over the years I experienced five psychiatric hospitalizations, years of medications, counseling, therapy, and doctor’s appointments while also dealing with chronic physical pain.
Then a serious automobile accident in 2015 added permanent injuries to my neck, back, and hip.
There were many moments where giving up would have been easier than continuing. Instead, I decided to create. Every podcast episode, television show, documentary, book chapter, interview, and educational class became another step forward. Building Sgt WarDawg TV® Network wasn’t simply starting a business—it became part of my recovery.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Today I wear several hats, but they’re all connected. I’m the founder and owner of Sgt WarDawg TV® Network LLC, a Marine Grunt-owned streaming TV network featuring nine original shows and a 24/7 live television stream.
The network is available through dedicated apps on Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Google Play, SgtWarDawgTV.com, YouTube, Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok, and additional streaming platforms including Rumble and Twitch.
I host The WarDawg Trail™ Podcast, author “The WarDawg Trail: A Marine Rifleman’s Struggle with War and PTSD”, produce content and interview series, teach Creators through WarDawg Creators Class™ on Skool.com/sgtwardawgtv , and help independent Creators build their own Fire TV and Roku apps through CreatorTVNetworkBuilder.com.
Everything ultimately supports Camp Dawg House Inc. at CampDawgHouse.org, my 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a future Homeless War Veterans community in Central Florida.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Most people assume a streaming television network requires millions of dollars, investors, a production company, or a major media corporation. But, the surprising part is that Sgt WarDawg TV® Network was built independently.
I taught myself streaming television, OTT distribution, self-publishing, podcasting, app development, website creation, live streaming, and digital media while living with disabilities.
Today that work has grown into a 24-hour streaming television network with dedicated Fire TV, Roku, and Google Play apps broadcasting original programming around the clock. People can literally download the Sgt WarDawg TV® app onto their televisions and watch programming created by a former Marine Grunt who built the network himself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sgtwardawgtv.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sgtwardawgtv?igsh=cWYyNDV3eHYwaTE0
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/195YqSyyoG/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgt-wardawg?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_android
- Twitter: https://x.com/SgtWar
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sgtwardawgtv?si=DPouVVLYK6tRr6aq
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/bGGYV4xJz_
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/dcqCMlqM8Q2Vre8uqv
- Other: https://creatortvnetworkbuilder.com/
