Commander Cameron Yaste, who was in charge of the USS John McCain, has been relieved of his duties, according to an official statement from the U.S. Navy.
This decision comes after months of public criticism following the release of a photo that showed Yaste with a rifle, its scope mounted backward, as reported by Fox News. The Navy cited a “loss of confidence in his ability to command the guided-missile destroyer” as the reason for his removal but did not provide additional specifics.
In April, the Navy’s Instagram account posted a photo of Yaste holding the rifle with the incorrectly mounted scope. The accompanying caption, quoted by Stars and Stripes, read: “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.”
The post quickly drew attention on social media, where users pointed out the incorrect setup of the rifle. Meanwhile, the Marines posted a similar image on their X account, this time showing a correctly configured rifle with the caption “clear sight picture.”
After the backlash, the Navy deleted the post featuring Yaste and acknowledged the mistake. “Thank you for pointing out our rifle scope error in the previous post,” the Navy stated on social media, as reported by The Associated Press. “The picture has been removed until EMI (extra military instruction) is completed.”
Currently, the USS John McCain is deployed in the Middle East to support the USS Theodore Roosevelt. In the interim, Capt. Allison Christy, the deputy commodore of Destroyer Squadron 21 within the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, has taken over command in the Gulf of Oman.
According to military officials, these deployments are part of the Pentagonās efforts to remain prepared in case Israel requires support against potential threats from Iran or other adversaries.
Yaste, originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, has earned several honors throughout his career, including the “Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards),” as listed on the Navyās website.
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