US Navy Deletes Embarrassing Photo of Ship Commander Shooting Rifle with Backwards Scope

This article originally appeared on ZeroHedge and was republished with permission.

Guest post by Tyler Durden

Cmdr. Cameron Yaste, the Commanding Officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), was recently photographed shooting a 5.56×45mm M4 carbine with the optics installed backward. 

The now-deleted image and press release on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service website featured Yaste shooting the M4 with the Trijicon VCOG scope installed backward while pointed at a giant target balloon.

Here’s what the press release said before it was deleted: 

Cmdr. Cameron Yaste, the Commanding Officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), fires at the “killer tomato” during a gun shoot. The ship is in US 7th Fleet conducting routine operations. 7th Fleet is the US Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific Region.

Here’s how to properly use the scope…

The website Internet Archive saved a snapshot of the press release: 

Netizens mocked the Navy commander, and that’s probably why the service deleted the image and text. 

Here’s what the internet had to say: 

“we’re going to lose a major war”

— Dr. Chiyoda (@DaikanyamaGuy) April 9, 2024

How could this have passed muster by any Navy Personnel? Scope backwards, fore-grip in an almost totally unusable position, entirely ridiculous! My 6 year old grandson knows better than this!

— Keith Personett (@TxMarvelFan) April 10, 2024

Wow what a laughingstock we’ve become

— DP (@PerkesinDiego) April 9, 2024

Another DEI genius. Only thing missing is his skirt and heels.

— Anthony C. Blandino (@AnthonyCBl38708) April 10, 2024

Yaste merely shows how the US Navy is unprepared to fight the next major conflict. Sigh… 

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