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

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

Pentagon

Trump considers replacing Hegseth with rock or something

White House sources say object would bring “much-needed stability” to Pentagon

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

First-generation American pilot excited to give family free ride on deportation flight

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Vol. 15 · No. 114

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Duffel Blog

Established 2012 · Deployed worldwide

Vol. 15 · No. 114 · Deployed worldwide

Wednesday

23 September 2026

0745 Zulu

Next edition Friday

← Front page
· Page 2

UAV sick of being told he's not a real pilot

Filed · 1537

CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is claiming the Air Force is discriminating against him because he is not human.

The MQ-9 Reaper has flown thousands of hours in combat missions, but says the Air Force has refused to award him pilot wings.

"I get more combat flight time in a week than every F-22 pilot in history combined," says the Reaper. "And not once have the guys invited me out to tell people we’re pilots and talk about how we’re so much more awesome than everyone else.”

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