MRFF VICTORY! Army Substantiates Black Female Army Captain’s Complaint — Supervisor Who Made Racist “Tie You to a Tree and Beat You” Remark Punished

Monday Morning, August 17, 2026

MRFF VICTORY!!!

ARMY SUBSTANTIATES BLACK FEMALE

ARMY CAPTAIN MRFF CLIENT’S COMPLAINT —

SUPERVISOR WHO MADE RACIST “TIE YOU TO

A TREE AND BEAT YOU” REMARK PUNISHED

“Today, I can finally say that justice was served.

“After a long and difficult year, I was informed that the investigation into the incident I reported was substantiated for counterproductive leadership and that appropriate action was taken against the individual involved.”

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to Mikey Weinstein and the entire Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) for standing beside me throughout this fight. You listened to me when I needed to be heard. You believed that what happened deserved attention. Most importantly, you were willing to advocate for me when I felt like

I was fighting an incredibly difficult battle.”

— MRFF client U.S. Army Captain Tatyana Jordan

upon hearing results of Army’s investigation on August 14

The words justice is served on army camouflage background

MILITARY.COM

COVERS MRFF

Army Takes Action Against Chaplain Accused of Telling Black Captain He’d ‘Tie Her to Tree’

By: Nick Mordowanec

Monday, August 17, 2026

Article excerpts (emphasis added):

“Tatyana Jordan breathed a sigh of relief, maybe her biggest, as she learned the outcome of a months-long internal Army investigation.

“Military.com was the first to report how Jordan, 30, of Columbia, S.C., alleged that her superior made derogatory and racist remarks toward her in 2025 as she worked at Fort Jackson. Jordan, a Black female U.S. Army captain and Adjutant General (AG) officer, came to the Chaplain School in January 2025 on active duty and served as a force management officer.

“She claimed that on Aug. 13, 2025, her supervisor, Chaplain Maj. Edward Blackledge, purportedly made a remark involving having her ‘tied to a tree.’ Official internal documents obtained by Military.com showed two sides of the story, leading to an official investigation that culminated on Aug. 14, 2025—almost one year later, to the exact day.

“Jordan told Military.com on Friday, Aug. 14, that the investigation was substantiated for counterproductive leadership, and appropriate action was taken against the individual (Blackledge) involved.

“The information was relayed to Jordan in person by Maj. Gen. Daryl O. Hood, the Fort Jackson commanding general.”

[…]

“Feeling like she was ‘helpless’ and at a dead end in her military career, Jordan ultimately sought the help of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), which represents in excess of 100,000 current and former military personnel.

“‘I want to express my sincere gratitude to Mikey Weinstein and the entire Military Religious Freedom Foundation for standing beside me throughout this fight,’ Jordan said on Friday. ‘You listened to me when I needed to be heard. You believed that what happened deserved attention. Most importantly, you were willing to advocate for me when I felt like I was fighting an incredibly difficult battle.’

“Weinstein told Military.com on Friday that he and his organization commend CG Hood for seriously investigating the ‘horrific complaint’ made by Jordan, and the eventual outcome of her case.

“‘We salute the intrepidity, courage, steadfastness and bravery of our client, Capt. Jordan, in never giving up and, in fact, standing up to this wretched, personal tyranny,’ Weinstein said. ‘Her brilliant example should significantly buttress the motivation of any other military members to likewise stand up to the misogyny and white supremacy, Islamophobia, antisemitism, transphobia and homophobia of Christian nationalism, which so tragically pervades the entire U.S. military.’”

[…]

“‘There were both sides,’ she said. ‘There were many people that supported me, and it gave them the courage to speak up about things that they were experiencing.

“‘But on the other side of things, I did receive a lot of a lot of hate, a lot of racist messages, and it was very hurtful. But it also highlighted the fact that these things do still exist, further proving my point, if anything. But I tried not to let any of that get to me, and stuck to the positive things that were coming in."

“She said the situation served as a reminder for her and others to not stay silent when they sense something is wrong.”

Click to read the full story on Military.com

Military.com Deputy Editor Nick Mordowanec was previously a national news and investigative reporter for Newsweek, focusing on U.S. and international politics, immigration, crime, social issues and features over a four-year period. Other coverage has included education, economics, military/defense, and wars in Ukraine and Gaza. His reporting on the opioid epidemic garnered a statewide Michigan Press Association award.

Email to MRFF from Captain Tatyana Jordan after finding out on Friday that the Army’s investigation had substantiated her complaint

“Justice Is Served!”

From: CPT Tatyana Jordan

Subject: Justice Is Served!

Date: August 14, 2026 at 9:15:05 AM MDT

To: Mikey Weinstein <Mikey@militaryreligiousfreedom.org>

“Today, I can finally say that justice was served.

“There were many moments throughout this process when I questioned whether speaking up would make a difference. I experienced firsthand how exhausting and isolating it can feel to challenge something that you know is wrong, particularly while serving in an institution that means so much to you. But I also learned how important it is to keep advocating for yourself, even when the process becomes difficult.

I also want to extend my sincere appreciation to Fort Jackson and the Commanding General, Major General Hood, for taking this matter seriously, ensuring a thorough review, and ultimately upholding the standards of accountability and professionalism that our Army requires. Your willingness to address this issue and see it through resolution mattered deeply and it is not overlooked.

Your support meant more than simply helping me navigate a complaint. It reminded me that service members do not have to remain silent when something is wrong.

To any service member who finds themselves in a situation where they feel intimidated, mistreated, retaliated against, or afraid that their voice will not matter: please reach out for help. Organizations like MRFF exist for a reason. You do not have to know exactly what to do next and you do not have to navigate these situations alone. Speaking up can be frightening. The process can be long. There may be moments when you wonder whether continuing is worth it.

Keep going!!!

Accountability matters. Leadership matters. And every service member deserves to serve in an environment where dignity, professionalism, and respect are more than just words on paper or in the oaths and values that we recite.

On August 14, 2026, one year and one day after the incident that started this journey, I finally received confirmation that my concerns were substantiated.

That date will always mean something to me.

To Mikey and everyone at MRFF: thank you for answering when I reached out, for amplifying my voice, and for standing with me until accountability was achieved.

CPT Tatyana Jordan

Click to read in Inbox

MRFF Founder and President Mikey Weinstein salutes Captain Jordan and Fort Jackson commander Major General Hood

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation commends the Commanding General at Fort Jackson, Major General Hood, for initiating a new U.S. Army 15-6 investigation and substantiating MRFF client Captain Tatyana Jordan’s horrific complaint against the miserable Army Chaplain who outranked her and tormented her. We salute the intrepidity, courage, steadfastness, and bravery of our client, Captain Jordan, in never giving up and, in fact, standing up to this wretched, personal tyranny! Her brilliant example should significantly buttress the motivation of any other military members to likewise stand up to the misogyny and white supremacy, Islamophobia, antisemitism, transphobia and homophobia of Christian nationalism, which so tragically pervades the entire U.S. Military.

Previous coverage from Military.com, breaking the story on April 24 and reporting on Army’s reopening of investigation on May 12

MILITARY.COM

COVERS MRFF

‘Tie You to a Tree and Beat You’: Black Army Captain’s Allegations Against Supervisor

By: Nick Mordowanec

Friday, April 24, 2026

Article excerpts (emphasis added):

“A Black female U.S. Army captain and Adjutant General (AG) officer claims that her supervisor, a chaplain superior, made a remark last year that involved having her ‘tied to a tree,’ with official documentation of the alleged incident showing different sides of the story.

“Tatyana Jordan, 30, of Columbia, S.C., spoke with Military.com about remarks allegedly made towards her while at work last year at Fort Jackson. ...”

[…]

“That was when [Chaplain Maj. Edward] Blackledge allegedly said the following to her: ‘You need to focus on getting that spreadsheet done before the meeting or I’ll need to tie you to a tree and beat you.’

“‘This is something I will never forget,’ Jordan told Military.com. ‘This was not said in isolation. It was said by a senior leader, in uniform, in a professional Army environment. As a Black woman, that statement carried a weight far beyond the words themselves. It evoked a deeply painful and violent history in this country: lynching, racial terror, and the dehumanization of people who look like me.’”

Click to read the full story on Military.com

MILITARY.COM

COVERS MRFF

Army Reopens Investigation: Supervisor’s ‘Tied to Tree’ Remark to Black Captain

Military.com broke the story of the captain going public after a chaplain superior allegedly made an incendiary comment, then denied it.

By: Nick Mordowanec

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Article excerpts (emphasis added):

“The U.S. Army has reopened an investigation into a Black female U.S. Army captain and Adjutant General (AG) officer who alleged that her supervisor, a chaplain superior, remarked last year about having her ‘tied to a tree.’

“In April, Military.com broke the story of the remark purportedly made towards Tatyana Jordan, 30, of Columbia, S.C., while she was helping patch a hole in an office while at work last year at Fort Jackson in South Carolina. Jordan alleged that on Aug. 13, 2025, her supervisor, Chaplain Maj. Edward Blackledge, told her the following: ‘You need to focus on getting that spreadsheet done before the meeting or I'll need to tie you to a tree and beat you.’”