The U.S. Army has suspended Colonel Sheyla Baez Ramirez, garrison commander at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin, after a controversy involving missing photographs of President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from the base’s chain-of-command board. The Pentagon has initiated a review amidst growing concerns over discipline issues within the military ranks.
The incident came to light after social media posts depicted empty frames on the board, meant to house the images of these senior leaders, triggering immediate backlash and an investigation by the Department of Defense. While the Army Reserves initially described the situation as an act of vandalism on April 14, the suspension of Col. Ramirez has led to speculation regarding the nature of the event and her involvement.
Colonel Ramirez has been at the helm of the base's operations since July 2024. The revelation of the missing photos has raised questions about internal resistance within the military's leadership, although no official confirmation of deliberate omission by Ramirez has been provided. Task & Purpose reported that the images circulated widely, reflecting potential undercurrents of dissent.
Major General Patrick J. Reinert, Fort McCoy’s Senior Commander, announced Ramirez's suspension, stating, "This suspension is not related to any misconduct. We have no further details to provide at this time while this matter is under review."
Defense Secretary Hegseth has demonstrated a commitment to maintaining discipline, as evidenced by his retweet of a Breitbart story addressing the suspension. This incident is part of a larger shake-up at the Pentagon, including the dismissal of several top staffers implicated in an investigation into information leaks, signifying a robust change in leadership approach.
The case at Fort McCoy follows another disciplinary action against Colonel Susannah Meyers, removed from her command at Pituffik Space Base in Greenland. Her dismissal was a consequence of an email she sent that seemed to contradict Vice President Vance's critical remarks about Denmark's management of Greenlandic territories. Military.com reported that Meyers' email, sent to a diverse staff, expressed a commitment to unity and nonpartisanship, which led to the Space Force citing a "loss of confidence in her ability to lead."
These back-to-back disciplinary actions highlight a strict new direction in military conduct and the expectation for nonpartisan behavior among commanders. As the Department of Defense reviews Col. Ramirez's case, the military community awaits further information on the implications of these high-profile suspensions.
