Skip to content
DUFFEL BLOG

Free military brief. No CAC required.

For more than a decade, we've deployed pitch perfect satire to service members around the world.

Join thousands of troops, veterans, and defense insiders who read Duffel Blog before breakfast.

“A must-read for national security nerds.”

—The Daily Beast
Subscribe form

Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

14years publishing
4,200+dispatches filed
17,000+readers briefed

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

Vol. 15 · No. 120 · Thursday, 8 October 2026

Pentagon

DTS works properly after hack by rogue AI

Pentagon scrambling to restore slow load times, incomprehensible errors and traditional user experience

Lincoln sailor returning from deployment already broke

Paste-eating Marine praised for unmatched commitment to unit

Three editions a week, paid for by our subscribers

Vol. 15 · No. 120

Worldwide edition

Reader supported

Delivered 3× weekly

America's most trusted military news source

Duffel Blog

Established 2012 · Deployed worldwide

Vol. 15 · No. 120 · Deployed worldwide

Thursday

8 October 2026

0700 Zulu

Next edition Friday

← Front page
· Page 2

Transition success! This retiring Colonel started a career flipping bases

"Where did they get all this taupe paint?"

Filed · 0827

It’s a fixer-upper

FORT LIBERTY, N.C.—Colonel Howard Ratner is retiring soon, following a successful Infantry career leading units from platoon to brigade level. His greatest challenge, however, is still ahead of him. Ratner is building a business buying, rehabilitating, and selling neglected DOD garrisons for profit.

As a retired Colonel, with 30 years of service, a 100% disability rating, and a 100% Combat-Related Special Compensation award, Ratner has a post-tax annual income of $142,473.48. His budget is $33 million.

Ratner says, “I was inspired by Tyler Perry’s purchase of Fort McPherson. Sure he’s insanely wealthy from playing an old lady and I have a defined benefit annuity based on inhaling burn pits and getting blown up outside of Mosul, but some of these military transition programs are just giving away money.”

Also on this page

Your Cart

Your cart is empty

Browse the shop to find something you like.

Continue Shopping →
Subtotal

Add more for free shipping.

✓ You qualify for free shipping!