In a move that’s caused ripples through both military circles and the public eye, the U.S. Army has suspended Colonel Sheyla Baez Ramirez—Fort McCoy’s first female garrison commander—after a puzzling breach of military decorum involving the official portraits of President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
At the heart of the controversy lies a seemingly simple, yet symbolically loaded act: the turning of presidential and defense secretary portraits to face the wall. The portraits, typically displayed on the installation’s chain of command wall, serve not just as decoration, but as emblems of civilian oversight and constitutional authority over the military.
When someone decided to flip those frames backward, it was more than a lapse in protocol—it was an implicit statement. The Army, understandably, responded with urgency.
Photos shared on the Department of Defense’s official X account on April 14 confirmed both the act and the correction: “WE FIXED IT!” the post declared, showing the portraits once again facing forward. The investigation, they said, is underway.
Colonel Baez Ramirez’s suspension was announced in a vague but pointed update on Fort McCoy’s website. While the statement stressed that the action wasn’t tied to misconduct, it confirmed that a review was in progress. Importantly, the Army has not officially linked Baez Ramirez to the incident involving the portraits—yet her removal from command signals the seriousness with which leadership is treating this breach.
This is not the sort of theater the Army typically entertains. Military bases are governed by an ethos of discipline, respect for hierarchy, and strict adherence to protocols—especially when those protocols reflect the constitutional chain of command.
Whether the flipping of portraits was an act of protest, a joke gone too far, or something else entirely, the symbolism was loud, and the Army could not ignore it.
Baez Ramirez brings with her a sterling service record. Commissioned in 1999 as a military intelligence officer, she has held a litany of key roles across the globe—from Fort Bragg to Korea—and holds a master’s degree in strategic studies from the Army War College. Her resume includes commendations such as the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Korean Defense Medal, reflecting a career of significant operational responsibility and intellectual rigor.
Her appointment as Fort McCoy’s garrison commander in July 2024 marked a historic moment—not just for the base, but for the broader push toward a more inclusive officer corps. That this moment is now overshadowed by controversy is a striking twist in a military narrative that generally resists drama.
