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Navy Commander Relieved of Duty After Rifle Blunder Amid High-Stakes Deployment in Middle East

Writer's picture: Victor NwokoVictor Nwoko
Cameron Yaste, commanding officer of the destroyer USS John McCain, firing a rifle with a backwards scope
Cameron Yaste, commanding officer of the destroyer USS John McCain, firing a rifle with a backwards scope

The commanding officer of the USS John McCain, a Navy destroyer providing protection for the San Diego-based aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Middle East, has been relieved of duty following a widely criticized incident involving a rifle with a backward-mounted scope.


Commander Cameron Yaste was removed from his position on Friday, about four months after a photo surfaced on social media showing him in a firing stance with the rifle’s scope incorrectly installed. The image, which quickly went viral, subjected the Navy to significant ridicule, prompting the service to delete the post and issue an apology, acknowledging the mistake and vowing to correct it through extra military instruction.


The Navy cited a "loss of confidence in his ability to command" as the reason for Yaste's dismissal. He has been temporarily replaced by Captain Allison Christy, deputy commodore of Destroyer Squadron 21, which is currently deployed alongside the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group in the Gulf of Oman.


The USS John S. McCain, under repair at a dry dock
The USS John S. McCain, under repair at a dry dock

This leadership change comes at a crucial time, as the USS Theodore Roosevelt and its accompanying vessels remain on high alert in the Middle East, ready to respond to any potential threats against Israel, particularly from Iran or other hostile forces. The USS John McCain, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, plays a key role in shielding the aircraft carrier from various threats.


The blunder also sparked inter-service rivalry, with the Marine Corps taking a jab at the Navy by posting a photo of a Marine correctly firing a weapon aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, captioned “Clear Sight Picture.”


Meanwhile, the U.S. military has recently adjusted its naval forces in the region. The USS Eisenhower, after more than eight months of deployment countering strikes from Yemen’s Houthi rebels on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, is returning home. The USS Theodore Roosevelt will assume the Eisenhower’s role, continuing the mission in one of the most strategically important areas of the world.

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