Fort Belvoir, VA — A military spouse is calling on elected officials to intervene after her husband, Major Jacob LaGue, received a formal reprimand stemming from a February 2025 SHARP (Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention) complaint that she says is rooted in “revenge, personal grievances, and a soured friendship.”
In an exclusive message to Law Enforcement Today President Kyle Reyes, Samantha LaGue, identifying herself as a Republican constituent, a mother, and a “proud military wife” , expressed outrage over what she calls a deeply flawed and one-sided investigation process.
The initial complaint was filed on February 14, 2025. According to Mrs. LaGue, her husband was never given an opportunity to provide a statement during the investigation, which concluded on March 21.
The case was referred to the Office of Special Counsel, which declined prosecution and sent the matter back to the command for administrative handling.
Major General Trevor J. Bredenkamp, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Military District of Washington and Joint Task Force – National Capital Region, reportedly declined to issue a General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand (GOMOR), instead forwarding the case down the chain of command.
Colonel David J. Stewart, Garrison Commander at Fort Belvoir, then issued Major LaGue a formal Letter of Reprimand (LOR). According to the family, an appeal was submitted by attorneys Andrew and Katie Cherkasky on April 18. On May 28, the Army informed Major LaGue that the reprimand would be permanently filed in his Army Military Human Resource Record (AMHRR), effectively tarnishing his military career.
“This determination is far from justice being served,” Mrs. LaGue wrote in her message, emphasizing that Major LaGue submitted over 35 character statements in support of his appeal. Among them was a letter from Major General John T. Reim, PEO and Commanding General at Picatinny Arsenal, where Major LaGue currently serves as XO, advocated that the reprimand be filed locally and not in the permanent record.
Mrs. LaGue described the SHARP complaint as a misuse of the system, stating that it had been "used as a weapon for revenge and out of jealousy," rather than as a legitimate report of misconduct.
In her plea to Reyes, she urged officials to "step in" and to "enforce" the “No More Walking On Eggshells” policy signed by former Army officer and current Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in April, or to connect her with someone who could help.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” she wrote.
The “No More Walking on Eggshells” policy, as reported by Fox, is an initiative by Defense Secretary Hegseth aimed at reforming the military's complaint systems, particularly the Military Equal Opportunity and DoD civilian Equal Employment Opportunity programs.
While its official title is “Restoring Good Order and Discipline Through Balanced Accountability,” Hegseth refers to it as the "No More Walking on Eggshells" policy to highlight its main goal: empowering military leaders to make tough decisions without fear of retaliation through bad-faith complaints.
Comments