What do you do with a rude navy recruiter?

Answer 1

First, don't expect much at the local level as far as results go, especially if the recruiter is maintaining recruit quotas. Complaining to the local station head won't do much as they tend to stick together. I'm not saying it's right, but it's reality.

Aside from telling him/her where to stick it, your best bet is to file a complaint with the Naval Recruiting Command that covers the particular Recruiting Station you're having problems with. You want to direct your complaint to the highest level Command for the Region - I've added a link below to the National NRC so you can narrow it down for your area. Address it to the Commanding Officer, and be specific about what occurred - date, time, place (in the office or locally elsewhere), if it involved inappropriate behavior (besides being an ass), and what you've done to bring attention to the issue. If you want to get faster attention, put a CC at the bottom of the letter indicating you've forwarded a copy to your Congressman and Senator - nothing gets a CO motivated like keeping Congress out of their hair. You might even consider CC'ing a copy to the National Navy Recruiting Command in Tennessee.

It's important to add as much factual detail as possible - remember that it's your word against the Recruiter's, but you have no way of knowing if you're the only complainant. Make sure you add contact information, and whether you were a potential recruit, or the family member of a recruit (Wife, Mother, etc.).

If the problem involves a sexual remark or advance, be sure to include that as well. Nothing irritates me more than bad sailors making the rest of us look bad.

Don't embellish things - like Joe Friday said, "Just the Facts". Include what type of resolution you'd like to see happen (formal written apology, etc.).

It's important to understand that Recruiters, like all sailors, represent both their country and their Commanding Officers, and when they act like jerks, it reflects on all of us, both current sailors and Vets like me. No CO likes that type of attitude toward recruits or anyone else, as it fosters a bad impression of the Navy and the military in general. Attitudes have come a long way from when I joined in '79 - back then you didn't wear your uniform on the street for fear of getting attacked or at least harassed.

Whether you get a result or not, I'd like to apologize to you on behalf of the rest of us sailors who aren't asses (well, most of time anyway).