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The Duffel Brief · the free edition, Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Vol. 15 · No. 135 · Thursday, 12 November 2026

Veterans

Homeless veterans receive 10% off cardboard boxes this Veterans Day

Home Depot and Lowe's announce new discount on temporary shelter for America's heroes

Hegseth asks staff to make next execution more like ‘The Running Man’

Pete Hegseth picks wrong week to stop drinking

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Vol. 15 · No. 135

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Duffel Blog

Established 2012 · Deployed worldwide

Vol. 15 · No. 135 · Deployed worldwide

Thursday

12 November 2026

0715 Zulu

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Navy & Marines · Page 5

Navy replaces all sailors with Overpaid contractors to cut costs

Filed · 1546

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus

NORFOLK, VA - Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus went on a tour of the USS San Antonio today to promote his new initiative to separate all enlisted sailors and replace them with civilian contractors.

"This is a great way to save the Navy money," Mabus said as he explained the reasoning behind the pending decision. "Every sailor costs the Navy roughly $300,000 a year, so we decided to give them all generous separation packages and rehire them as contractors at double their enlisted salary. It won’t cost a thing to recruit or train them."

Many observers noted that Mabus has ignored the fact that they were previously recruited and trained by the military.

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