Cameron Yaste, the commanding officer of the destroyer USS John McCain, was removed “due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command the guided-missile destroyer,” according to a statement from the Navy. The vessel is currently operating in the Gulf of Oman. Yaste was relieved of duties by the commander of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, Rear Adm. Christopher Alexander, the Navy confirmed. The Roosevelt serves as the flagship of a strike group designed to defend aircraft carriers against potential threats. The decision to relieve Yaste comes five months after a photo posted on the Navy’s official Instagram account showed him firing a rifle with its scope mounted backwards and the lens cap still closed. The image quickly went viral, drawing widespread criticism and ridicule, prompting the Navy to delete the post. Social media users pointed out other apparent issues with the rifle’s setup, including an incorrectly mounted foregrip.A U.S. Navy officer at the center of a controversy earlier this year has been relieved of his command.
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Which transgression is the worst?
Check out my latest, "Through a Scope Backwards," @theammind
"The Navy chose to brag about a Commanding Officer shooting his poorly configured rifle on full auto, looking through a backward and closed scope" pic.twitter.com/UDScyJ514c
— William Thibeau (@WilliamThibeau) April 15, 2024 Dear U.S. Navy.
The scope is on backwards
This is why we have Marines on ships. pic.twitter.com/CffwaOBg69
— Travis Akers (@travisakers) April 9, 2024
In response, the U.S. Marine Corps also joined in, sharing a photo on its social media platforms of Marines firing rifles aboard the USS Boxer, accompanied by the caption: "Clear Sight Picture."
Following the backlash, the Navy issued a statement acknowledging the mistake: “Thank you for pointing out our rifle scope error in the previous post. The picture has been removed until EMI (extra military instruction) is completed.”
Yaste has been temporarily replaced by Capt. Allison Christy, the deputy commodore of Destroyer Squadron 21, based in San Diego. Christy’s squadron is part of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group.
The USS John McCain, along with other naval assets, has been deployed to the Middle East in support of U.S. interests in the region, particularly to provide assistance to Israel in the event of hostilities with Iran or other adversaries. The destroyer has been involved in operations to repel attacks by Houthi rebels targeting ships in the Suez Canal.
Yaste’s prior assignments included serving as a division officer aboard the USS Bataan and as a combat systems and weapons officer on the USS Hopper.
