US Navy captain behind backwards rifle sight gaffe relieved of command

The captain of a US destroyer who was pictured firing an M27 assault rifle with the sight fitted the wrong way round has been relieved of his command.

Commander Cameron Yaste was forced to step down as the commanding officer of the USS John S McCain.

Captain Allison Christy, the deputy commodore of Destroyer Squadron 21, has temporarily assumed command of the guided missile vessel.

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'Loss of confidence'

Cdr Yaste was ridiculed when an image went viral showing him shooting the 5.56mm M27 with the optic back to front.

The US Navy, however, said this was not why he had been relieved of his position, instead saying it was due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command the guided missile destroyer.

US Naval Forces Central Command said: "The Navy holds commanding officers to the highest standards and holds them accountable when those standards are not met.

"Naval leaders are entrusted with significant responsibilities to their sailors and their ships."

After Cdr Yaste's image was originally posted, the US Marine Corps was quick to respond.

An image was posted of marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) wearing their Marpat uniforms lined up on the deck firing their M27s – but with the optics fitted the correct way around.

Cdr Yaste assumed the role of USS John S McCain's commanding officer in October 2023 but has now been temporarily reassigned to Naval Surface Group Northwest.

USS John S McCain, now under the command of Capt Christy, is operating in the Gulf of Aden area.