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

Vol. 15 · No. 114 · Wednesday, 23 September 2026

Army

Mitch McConnell returns from extended drill weekend

Staff says senator’s three-month absence was “routine National Guard obligation”

Trump considers replacing Hegseth with rock or something

Army adopts ‘Your body, my choice’ as new recruiting slogan

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Vol. 15 · No. 114

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Vol. 15 · No. 114 · Deployed worldwide

Wednesday

23 September 2026

1340 Zulu

Next edition Friday

← Front page
· Page 2

SEALs quietly end relationship with PR firm behind ‘bad boy’ image campaign

Filed · 1551

CORONADO, Calif. – Sources close to the Naval Special Warfare Command (NAVSPECWARCOM) have revealed the command has discreetly severed ties with the public relations firm of Livingston, Aldred, and Burley. Contracted in 2011, the firm had a single purpose — to help bring a paradigm shift to the public image of the Navy’s premier commando force, the SEALs. That edict ultimately would go horribly awry.

Reeling from years of veteran ridicule as Hollywood pretty boys as concerned with hair gel, chest waxing, and book deals instead of as killers of the enemies of freedom, NAVSPECWARCOM contracted the firm to help change the narrative. LA&B recommended changing the SEALs’ reputation from pretty boys to bad boys.

Unbeknownst to Naval commanders, the storied frogmen would take the new message and run with it. From SEALs being accused of illegally killing ISIS prisoners and taking selfies with their bodies to a variety of other heinous crimes, the Navy SEALs apparently went from SOCOM Navy SEALs to Grand Theft Auto in the blink of an eye.

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