Photo: U.S. Navy
Cmdr. Cameron Yaste, the commander of the USS John S. McCain, a US Navy destroyer, has been relieved of duty following an incident where he was photographed firing a rifle with the scope mounted backward. The image, which was posted on the Navy's Instagram account in April, led to widespread ridicule and was subsequently removed.
Yaste, who was stationed in the Middle East, was relieved of his duties on August 30 due to a "loss of confidence in his ability to command the guided-missile destroyer," according to a statement from the Navy. The decision to relieve Yaste of his duties was made just four months after the photograph was published.
The photograph showed Yaste in a firing stance, holding a rifle with a backward scope. This would have inverted the magnification of the weapon, making it impossible to aim accurately. The Navy acknowledged the error in a follow-up statement, thanking those who pointed out the mistake and stating that the picture had been removed until "extra military instruction" was completed.
Despite the change in leadership, the Navy has assured that this will not impact the warship's mission or schedule. "The Navy holds commanding officers to the highest standards and holds them accountable when those standards are not met," the Navy said in its statement.
Yaste has been temporarily reassigned to Naval Surface Group Northwest. His temporary replacement is Capt. Allison Christy, deputy commodore of Destroyer Squadron 21, which is part of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group also operating in the Gulf of Oman.