The commanding officer of the Navy destroyer USS John S. McCain, Cameron Yaste, has been removed from his position after a photograph surfaced showing him firing a rifle with its scope facing backward.

According to the Collins Dictionary, when someone is “relieved of their duties” or “relieved of their post,” it means they are informed that their job responsibilities are no longer required.

The Navy issued a statement indicating that Yaste was removed from command on Friday because of a diminished trust in his capability to lead the guided-missile destroyer effectively.

Rear Admiral Christopher Alexander, the commander of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, was responsible for relieving Cameron Yaste from his command of the USS John S. McCain.

Reports indicate that Yaste’s removal occurred while the destroyer was stationed in the Gulf of Oman, where it is currently providing protection for the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt amid ongoing regional tensions in the Middle East.

Yaste assumed command of the USS John S. McCain in October 2023.

A Navy statement emphasized that the service maintains stringent standards for its commanding officers and holds them accountable if these standards are not upheld. Following his removal, Yaste has been temporarily reassigned to Naval Surface Group Northwest.

The controversial photograph of Yaste, which emerged approximately four months ago on the U.S. Navy’s official Instagram, showed him with a rifle scope pointed backward. The Marine Corps’ Instagram account humorously responded with a photo of a Marine aiming a weapon aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, captioned “Clear Sight Picture,” as reported by Stars and Stripes.

Captain Allison Christy, the deputy commodore of Destroyer Squadron 21, has temporarily taken over Yaste’s duties. Destroyer Squadron 21 is currently operating as part of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group in the Gulf of Oman.