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

Vol. 15 · No. 118 · Saturday, 3 October 2026

Navy & Marines

Paste-eating Marine praised for unmatched commitment to unit

Unit leaders say his ability to stick with the mission is unmatched

Backed-up toilet appointed new Secretary of the Army

Space Force’s new uniform puts a little goose back in the step

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Vol. 15 · No. 118

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Duffel Blog

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Vol. 15 · No. 118 · Deployed worldwide

Saturday

3 October 2026

1232 Zulu

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Army · Page 4

Airman wishes people would stop asking 'which branch of the Army' he's in

Filed · 1538

MARIN, Calif. — An airman visiting his hometown as part of the Air Force Recruiter's Assistance Program is tired of people asking "which branch of the Army" he's in, Duffel Blog has learned.

Airman 1st Class Michael Arrierez, who recently finished Air Traffic Control technical training at Keesler AFB, Mississippi, is taking advantage of the RAP program so he can go home for two weeks without using up too much leave. His duties have mainly included dropping off Air Force brochures in shops or schools around town while wearing his uniform, but this has led to people asking questions involving the Army — an entirely different service from his own.

"I've had this happen to me eight times already," Arrierez says. "Some civilian will see me in my ABUs (Airman Battle Uniform), thank me for my service, and then ask, 'So, which branch of the Army are you in?' or, 'How's Army life?'"

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