The officer in charge of the USS John McCain was previously seen in a picture holding a rifle with a scope mounted backwards
The captain of the destroyer USS John McCain, Cmdr. Cameron Yaste, has been relieved of his post several months after he was featured in a viral photo holding a rifle with a backwards-mounted scope, according to a Navy press release.
The embarrassing image was shared on the Navy’s social media back in April and showed Yaste in a firing stance gripping the rifle with the optics mounted in reverse. The picture was ridiculed online, including by the US Marine Corps which posted in response its own picture of a Marine firing a weapon with the caption “Clear Sight Picture.”
While the Navy did not explicitly cite the photo as the reason for relieving Yaste of his duties, it stated that it holds its officers “to the highest standards and holds them accountable when those standards are not met.”
“The commanding officer of USS John S. McCain was relieved Aug. 30 due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command the guided-missile destroyer,” the Navy explained in a statement, noting that Yates’ removal has not impacted the ship’s mission or schedule.
Commander of the USS John McCain firing his rifle with the optic on backwards.
The scope is also covered.
The post was later deleted by the U.S. Navy on all social media platforms. pic.twitter.com/AN8xxeSqbr
