US Navy Dismisses Warship Commander After Photo of Backward Rifle Scope

The U.S. Navy has relieved the commander of the destroyer USS John S. McCain of duty after an image showing him firing a rifle with a scope mounted backward was widely shared on social media.

Users quickly noticed Commander Cameron Yaste’s error in a picture posted to the Navy’s Instagram four months ago.

The photo led to widespread ridicule and criticism, prompting the Navy to remove the image.

The Navy confirmed Tennesse-native Yaste was relieved of duty “due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command the guided-missile destroyer” that’s currently deployed in the Gulf of Oman.

He was in charge of the destroyer providing protection for the San Diego-based aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Middle East.

Yaste was removed from his position on Friday and faces a demotion to Naval Officer.

The photo, taken in April, showed Yaste in a firing stance, holding a rifle with a backward scope—meaning the magnification of the weapon would be inverted, rather than enhanced, and making it impossible to aim.

“From engaging in practice gun shoots, conducting maintenance, testing fuel purity and participating in sea and anchor details, the #USNavy is always ready to serve and protect,” read the original post’s caption.

Social media users pointed out the mistake, leading to a wave of negative comments.

After deleting the post, the Navy acknowledged Yaste’s error in a follow-up statement that read: “Thank you for pointing out our rifle scope error in the previous post. Picture has been removed until EMI (extra military instruction) is completed.”

Yaste’s faux pas also drew attention from other branches of the military.

The Marine Corps took the opportunity to poke fun at the Navy by posting a photo on its Instagram account of a Marine correctly firing a weapon aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer.

Its caption read: “Clear Sight Picture” in an apparent jab at the Navy’s mistake.

Yaste’s temporary replacement, Captain Allison Christy, deputy commodore of Destroyer Squadron 21, has taken over the command of the USS John S. McCain.

This squadron is part of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, also operating in the Gulf of Oman.

Each deployment of these carrier groups to the Middle East is a strategic move by the Pentagon intended to provide a strong deterrent against potential threats to Israel, particularly from Iran.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt serves as the flagship of a strike group that includes three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers—$2 billion vessels designed to protect aircraft carriers from a range of attacks, whether by air, sea or land.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.