Colonel Sheyla Baez Ramirez, a commander at Fort McCoy, has been suspended just one week after an investigation was launched into photos of President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Defense Secretary Hegseth that were omitted from the base’s chain-of-command display.
The U.S. Army Reserve posted to X on April 14th that they had been made aware of the problem, in which the photos appeared to have been turned around so the leaders’ images were facing the wall, and an investigation had been launched.
They described the incident as “vandalism.”
“The Fort McCoy leadership team and the Army Reserve were unaware of the vandalism of the leadership board at a building at Fort McCoy, WI,” the Reserve’s official X page wrote. “Once it was brought to their attention, the leadership at Fort McCoy took immediate action to correct it.”
On behalf of the U.S. Army Reserve pic.twitter.com/J5WQViFHhb
— U.S. Army Reserve (@USArmyReserve) April 14, 2025
The Rapid Response account for the Department of Defense restored the photos on the command wall within a couple of hours, reiterating that an investigation would be undertaken.
“Regarding the Ft. McCoy Chain of Command wall controversy…. WE FIXED IT!” they stated. “Also, an investigation has begun to figure out exactly what happened.”
It didn’t seem like it would take long to discover that somebody at the base had simply rearranged the images as a form of protest.
Regarding the Ft. McCoy Chain of Command wall controversy….
WE FIXED IT!
Also, an investigation has begun to figure out exactly what happened. pic.twitter.com/y0gcRtBQZq
— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) April 14, 2025
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Baez Ramirez, who assumed the role of Garrison Commander at Fort McCoy in July of last year, had overseen the daily operations and management of the military installation.
However, according to a vague statement on the Army’s website, the timing of her suspension seems to indicate it is simply coincidental.
“Col. Sheyla Baez Ramirez has been suspended as Garrison Commander at Fort McCoy. This suspension is not related to any misconduct,” the statement reads. “We have no further details to provide at this time while this matter is under review.”
Baez Ramirez was celebrated as the installation’s “first Hispanic female Garrison Commander” at a change-of-command ceremony in July 2024, during which she celebrated their diversity.
“I think that as a society, we are looking to integrate our society and we’re better with each other,” she said. “I think that showing the public that we could have diversity in every part of our society is an important thing.”
Also, an important thing? Respect for the chain of command.
Baez Ramirez’s suspension comes amid a turbulent week for the Pentagon. Several top staffers were let go following an investigation into leaks, and, coincidentally, the media started running with anonymous claims regarding Hegseth’s involvement in a second Signal chat group.
“What a big surprise that a few leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax,” Hegseth said in a fiery response to the latest media-generated controversy.
“This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations.”
Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership, the warrior ethos is coming back to America’s military.
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