Reader help

Duffel Blog is written and edited by a team of military service members and veterans who run the gamut of enlisted and officer ranks from every branch of the U.S. military.

Yes, regularly. Duffel Blog is frequently taken seriously despite its satirical nature.

The most notable example happened in 2013 when Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) wrote a letter to the Pentagon asking for more information about a Duffel Blog article that reported G.I. Bill benefits would be offered to prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. The letter made national news and made us laugh ourselves silly.

Other notable examples include a story that fooled a writer at Gizmodo and another that led to constituents calling into the office of Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), which prompted an official statement in response. There have been many stories that have prompted debunking on the fact-checking website Snopes.

We like to think the top leadership at the Pentagon enjoys Duffel Blog, despite several public affairs officials complaining over the years after they've received angry calls that can be traced back to us (sorry, not sorry).

Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is one of our biggest fans. In a 2013 CBS News interview, Mattis said, "They've made a lot of fun of me and I've enjoyed every bit of it. It's good that these young men are poking a little bit of fun at us. I enjoy the feedback actually." In a separate Washington Post interview, he called Duffel Blog "a beautifully crafted response to an increasingly stuffy environment in today's America."

At one point, Mattis had Duffel Blog mentioned in his official biography at Stanford's Hoover Institution.

Pentagon spokesman George Little also praised Duffel Blog, telling The Washington Post that "it helps put many things in healthy perspective, even when it's a little over the top or overly satirical." He also urged military public affairs professionals to read the site in a speech he gave at Fort Meade.

We're sorry to see you go. Cancel your subscription here, or use the Cancel subscription link on your account page or at the foot of any page while you are signed in. You may be offered a discount before you confirm; you can decline it and cancel. You keep access until the end of the period you have paid for. If you still have trouble, email support and we'll take care of it.

Duffel Blog is a consortium of military service members and veterans who gather in a virtual writing room to pump out the content that you love. So we're not surprised others would like to join this awesome crew. If you'd like to apply to become a writer, fill out an application here.

We're open to people who want to republish Duffel Blog content on their website, in their newsletter, or on an official PowerPoint briefing for their commanding officer. That is, as long as you obtain our permission first and provide a note saying the content was originally published at Duffel Blog with a link. Email your request here and make sure you include a link to the article in question.

We have regular contributors to our site, so one-off ideas and articles are almost never published. Still, if you're really determined and you think what you have is incredible and hilarious, feel free to send it in, though we're not likely to respond.