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

Vol. 15 · No. 122 · Tuesday, 13 October 2026

Army

AI deemed ‘too smart’ to replace infantry

Prototype proved too competent, financially responsible for infantry service

Hegseth opens up new TradWife MOS

DTS works properly after hack by rogue AI

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Vol. 15 · No. 122

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Vol. 15 · No. 122 · Deployed worldwide

Tuesday

13 October 2026

1335 Zulu

Next edition Wednesday

← Front page
· Page 2

Confused O-3 celebrates rank by changing profile photo to red equal sign

Filed · 1545

FT. HOOD, TX — A U.S. Army Captain changed his Facebook profile picture to a red equal sign in the mistaken belief it was a set of captain bars, reportedly unaware of the symbol's association with gay rights, according to his Facebook friends.

Captain John Wilkins, a 25-year-old native of Appleton, WI, first became aware of the symbol last night while at his laptop.

"I saw all these people making captain ranks [sic] their main photo on Facebook," Wilkins said. "I thought to myself, 'Hell yeah—about time we got some recognition.'"

Although initially confused by the red and pink in the image, Wilkins said he eventually realized those colors stood for the blood shed by captains before him.

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