LOS ANGELES -- The Navy operates in a fast-paced and ever
changing environment. Turning sailors into contributing members of this
worldwide team requires quality mentorship, from Day One.
Stepping up to this challenge is Navy Petty Officer 2nd
Class Kristofer D. Wilson, a ship serviceman and recruiter assigned to Navy
Recruiting District Los Angeles. He greets those future sailors with a
handshake and a smile to break the ice.
Wilson was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and is the younger of
two sons. He attended Germantown High School, where he played football and ran
track.
He met his wife while attending the University of Memphis,
and even as they began their family together, he still pursued his bachelor’s
degree in health and sport science.
After graduation, Wilson enlisted in the Navy in 2012.
Growth Through Service
Wilson said he joined because the Navy would not only help
him develop new skills and a better work ethic, but it would also provide for
his family and give him the chance to give back, train and mentor the next
generation of sailors.
“What makes the Navy an outstanding branch is that we are
top-notch on training and mentorship,” Wilson said.
Wilson’s first duty station was the amphibious dock landing
ship USS Harpers Ferry in San Diego. Working in the supply department, he
advanced quickly through the ranks and participated in two deployments to the
Western Pacific and 5th Fleet area of operations.
“My strength is that I have tenacity,” he said. “What I mean
is that when someone says I can’t do something or challenges me, I put forward
my all to accomplish the task and will not stop until it is completed.”
The Navy offered Wilson the opportunity to be commissioned
as a surface warfare officer, which he declined in hopes he could instead
become an officer in the supply community, an area he felt he would benefit the
Navy the most.
“After all my years in the Navy, I saw my mentorship develop
in the supply community,” he said. “I felt it would be a bigger benefit for the
Navy and its sailors if I stayed in the community. If you’re not doing the
right thing for your junior sailors, then there’s no point in advancing.”
Recruiting Duty
In 2017, he saw an opportunity to help his Navy outside of
the supply community and decided to become a Navy recruiter.
“I feel that being a recruiter is about mentoring the community
that you are currently recruiting in,” Wilson said. “I have a passion for
helping others and mentoring them to take advantage of the opportunities that
are presented to them.”
Wilson said he has learned that recruiting is a very
challenging but rewarding duty. “The unique part of my job in recruiting is
that I get to meet new people every day and learn about the different
personalities that come into the office,” Wilson said. “Recruiting gives me the
opportunity to help others obtain their personal goals in life.”
He recently earned the “Six Shooter Award” and the “Heavy
Hitter Award,” both of which are granted to sailors who surpass their
recruitment goals.
Wilson is on track for another promotion, and he continues
to invest time in his educational ventures by working on his master’s degree in
business administration.
Despite his accomplishments, Wilson said he continues to
have his eyes set on higher goals.
“Being an officer would be my ideal future,” he said. “I’ll
resubmit my package and help shape the Navy for future sailors to come.”
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