The United States Navy • Commander of USS John S. McCain Relieved Following Backward Rifle Scope Photo Flap

"The commander of a Navy destroyer that’s helping protect the San Diego-based aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Middle East has been relieved of duty about four months after he was seen in a photo firing a rifle with a scope mounted backward. The image brought the Navy considerable ridicule on social media. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Cameron Yaste, commanding officer of the destroyer USS John McCain, was removed on Friday. The Navy said 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. The statement didn't elaborate about why Yaste was replaced. In April, a photo posted on the Navy's social media showed Yaste in a firing stance gripping the rifle with a backward scope."

https://www.yahoo.com/news/commander-navy-warship-relieved-duty-171445028.html

https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2024-04-11/navy-backwards-scope-photo-13528758.html

It's unclear from the linked articles whether the rifle scope photo-op screw-up had anything to do with Yaste's relief of command. While certainly an embarrassing if not downright cringe-worthy PR moment, it's hard to see how that rises to a level worthy of relieving him of command. He's a destroyer captain, not an infantry squad leader.  There must be something more serious to this. Maybe he used the wrong gender pronouns.

statistics: Posted by F106Delta — 11:25 PM - 1 day ago — Replies 1 — Views 34

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