Theory popped up on my third listen.
After the episode opens
Saul says:
The soldiers report it to be December 1st.
What is UNTIL NOW? By the date given this could be as little four dates after November 27th, to 34 days. [December 1st, to December 31] Maybe he is reporting the incident to someone…maybe
Fort Irwin? He got the patch from the body, so he would know that he came from Fort Irwin [it could be a fake to Saul but he’s a shoot first kind of person], the tape nametag would indicate that he is newer because in this instance they can’t get a nametape as fast as they would before.