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

Vol. 15 · No. 129 · Thursday, 29 October 2026

Army

Army FRG unveils haunted house featuring spouses saying ‘I’m fine’

Soldiers describe Halloween attraction as more frightening than combat deployment

Hasan execution venue double-booked with Comic-Con

Trump announces sale of Patriot missiles to Russia

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Vol. 15 · No. 129

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Duffel Blog

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Vol. 15 · No. 129 · Deployed worldwide

Thursday

29 October 2026

1606 Zulu

Next edition Friday

← Front page
· Page 2

First Sergeant orders troops to polish black boots 'just because'

Filed · 1547

Ft. Sam Houston, TX - With a breakdown in morale and discipline, 1SG Dan Melton had enough. The Company First Sergeant had to reach back to the past -- with his decades of experience -- and issue fresh orders.

"We just came back from a 15-month deployment," says Melton, "and we've been having some serious problems with our junior soldiers."

The First Sergeant, part of the 14th Military Intelligence Battalion, stares at his soldiers standing in formation, upset that it's come to this. "Everyone has grown so enamored with the 'New' Army stuff," he says, using condescending air quotes. "Well I for one think it's bullshit!"

The soldiers just stare back blankly, unsure of what the First Sergeant is talking about. He then goes on to tell them that "they'll be going back to his day." Most have no idea what he means.

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