The commander of a Navy destroyer escorting the San Diego-based aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Middle East has been relieved of duty since being spotted about four months ago. photograph Firing a rifle with a rear-facing scope.
The image drew considerable ridicule for the Navy on social media. San Diego Union-Tribune The captain of the destroyer USS John McCain, Cameron Yaste, was relieved of command on Friday.
The Navy said Yaste was fired “due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command the guided-missile destroyer currently deployed in the Gulf of Oman.” The statement did not elaborate on why Yaste was being replaced.
In April, photograph Photos posted to Navy social media sites show Yaste holding the rifle with the scope facing backwards and ready to fire.
Military News Media Stars and Stripes The Marines reported that a man took to social media to criticize the Navy, sharing a photo of a Marine firing his weapon aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer with the caption “Clear view.”
The post featuring Yaste was eventually deleted. “Thank you for pointing out the riflescope error in the previous post,” the Navy later wrote on social media. “The photo has been removed pending completion of EMI (special military training).”
Yasute will be temporarily replaced by Capt. Allison Christie, vice commander of Destroyer Squadron 21, part of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, which is also deployed in the Gulf of Oman.
The Pentagon sent the carrier to the Middle East in case such an eventuality occurred and Israel needed help fend off an attack from Iran or another country, military officials said.
The Roosevelt is the flagship of a strike group that recently added three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, $2 billion ships designed to protect aircraft carriers from air, sea and land attacks.
