“We’re Going To Lose A Major War”: US Navy Deletes Photo Of Ship Commander Shooting Rifle With Backwards Scope

Original article here.

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…

By PatriotmanPublished On: April 11, 2024Categories: Uncategorized1 Comment

About the Author: Patriotman

Patriotman currently ekes out a survivalist lifestyle in a suburban northeastern state as best as he can. He has varied experience in political science, public policy, biological sciences, and higher education. Proudly Catholic and an Eagle Scout, he has no military experience and thus offers a relatable perspective for the average suburban prepper who is preparing for troubled times on the horizon with less than ideal teams and in less than ideal locations. Brushbeater Store Page: http://bit.ly/BrushbeaterStore

One Comment

mike April 11, 2024 at 10:48

I recall a recent anecdote from some SF vet who had to provide material assistance to an effort to recruit more “ethnics” into the “too white” Army SF several years ago. Persons with sufficiently dark skin were provided to wear the SF garb and pose for a photograph with some high speed gear. The staged action shot intended for a recruiting poster featured a night vision scope mounted backwards. It was a setup by the SF guys who felt it was their job to protect the integrity of SF. The poster went into production without the sabotage being detected. People who do real things for a living don’t like posers coming around for make believe PR photos.
What we have here is likely a setup as well. I’m not defending the Navy, they are the largest organized group of posers I have personal experience with and they love nothing better than a photo op. It matters little to them that the photo does not reflect any reality. The moment the Press leaves or the unit PAO photographer is gone the level of enthusiasm for the training drops off a cliff. I have never seen Navy sailors who showed even the slightest interest in mastering their supposed craft. It is just a job to them. They also have no problem taking photographs of other people’s work while they are away and claiming it as their own, Yes, the next naval war is already lost.