The US Navy deleted a photo Tuesday after social media users highlighted a commanding officer improperly holding a rifle that was also incorrectly assembled.
The photo featured Cmdr. Cameron Yaste firing rounds while aboard the USS John S. McCain, with a caption reading, “From engaging in practice gun shoots, conducting maintenance, testing fuel purity, and participating in sea and anchor details, the #USNavy is always ready to serve and protect.”
One embarrassing faux pas immediately spotted in the DoD branch’s photo, however, the optic scope on Yaste’s M4 carbine was installed backwards. Additionally, others commented the scope’s lens covers may not have been flipped open.
Moreover, the Trijicon scope may not have been necessary at all, as one user pointed out.
Scope appears to be mounted in reverse. Awfully short barrel to bother with a scope. You either set it up for CQC or accuracy at distance, but not both at the same time.
— American BadAss (@HumbleGuru) April 9, 2024
Others spotted various other things were also wrong with the photo, including the butt of the rifle not being properly shouldered, his elbow flaring out, and a vertical pistol grip’s location too far up on the bottom rail.
It gets worse the longer you look.
— Travis P (@Travis_P__) April 9, 2024
In an X update, the Navy acknowledged deleting the post following the criticism, writing, “Thank you for pointing out our rifle scope error in the previous post. Picture has been removed until EMI is completed!”
