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

Vol. 15 · No. 126 · Wednesday, 21 October 2026

Pentagon

Hegseth consults God thru dumpster fire behind Pentagon

Secretary says God commanded him to invade Greenland, restore Christian values

US to livestream execution of Ukraine

Iran condemns US plan to livestream execution as barbaric

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Vol. 15 · No. 126

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Vol. 15 · No. 126 · Deployed worldwide

Wednesday

21 October 2026

1207 Zulu

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Air & Space · Page 6

Air Force doubles down in Afghanistan, fields new band

Filed · 1542

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE — Despite looming budget cuts that have grounded a total of 17 combat squadrons, the Air Force has deployed its newest weapon in Afghanistan: A musical ensemble called "Hypersonic." Screened from a total force of more than 500,000, just eight Airmen earned the right to be inducted into what may be the Air Force’s most elite unit — the AFCENT Band.

“You think becoming a PJ or a Combat Controller is hard?” said Tech. Sgt. John Shuga' Reynolds, who washed out on zero day of the grueling selection course. “There are hundreds of PJs, probably thousands of Combat Controllers; there are only eight members of the AFCENT Band. You do the math.”

Reynolds went on to explain that he washed out following an intense “scale session” where he was made to play his saxophone underwater while tying knots onto a cable run across the bottom of the pool. “I met the wizard. That’s all I have to say about that.”

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