Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Srija Rai | 251119-N-SR028-1002 GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK, United States (Nov 19, 2025) Gunner’s...... read more read more
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. — “Every time I share the Navy’s opportunities with future Sailors, I am reminded of my own journey and the people who helped shape it,” said Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Deandre Robinson, November’s Recruiter in the Spot Light.
“I have had to beat the odds,” Robinson said. “I was fortunate to have mentors who believed in me, challenged me and helped me grow into the Sailor I am today.”
Born and raised in the inner city of Chicago, Robinson said he was no stranger to adversity. Born three months premature and frequently the smallest in his class, he said he often felt overlooked. He credited resilience and the guidance of mentors with helping him find his path and eventually build a successful Navy career.
Robinson first encountered the Navy as a high school student while in in-school suspension, a setting where students spend the day in a separate room instead of attending their regular classes, when retired Senior Chief Lloyd Morrow stopped by. Robinson said what began as a light-hearted conversation with Morrow grew into a mentorship that he describes as life-changing. Morrow became a mentor, brother and father figure, guiding him toward enlisting through the Professional Apprenticeship Career Track (PACT) Seaman program, he said.
Fourteen years later, Robinson has served on multiple ships and shore commands across the fleet, earned four Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, qualified in both surface and air warfare, and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He currently serves as a recruiter assigned to Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Empire State in North Haledon, New Jersey.
Robinson describes recruiting as both a challenge and a privilege to give back. He said the role is about more than meeting goals, it is about changing lives. “Someone once invested in me, and now I have the privilege of paying that forward,” he said. “Recruiting is more than numbers. It is about inspiring the next generation.”
One of Robinson’s most meaningful experiences as a recruiter involved helping an applicant who, he said, initially struggled with self-assurance and direction. Through consistent mentorship and encouragement, she met body composition assessment standards and qualified for enlistment, he said. She is now in her seventh week of training at Recruit Training Command, where she serves as her division’s recruit chief petty officer.
“Watching her transformation has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my recruiting career so far,” Robinson said.
He believes relationship-building is key to recruiting success. Robinson said he relies on what he calls the “Four Rs” as his personal approach to earning trust and connecting with applicants from diverse backgrounds: realize, recognize, relate and respond. The Four Rs, a framework practiced at recruiting commands, help him understand how he communicates and connects meaningfully with each applicant, he said. “The biggest challenge has been building trust with applicants from different walks of life,” he said. “I overcome that by meeting people where they are and showing genuine care.”
Throughout his career, Robinson said the Navy has provided him with stability, professional development and leadership opportunities. He considers his ability to connect with people his greatest strength.
“The stability knowing that I will be taken care of both financially and professionally, provides a sense of security,” he said.
With six years left before retirement, Robinson said he is focused on continued growth. His short-term goals include earning his recruiter-in-charge qualification, advancing to first class petty officer and purchasing a home in New Jersey. His long-term goals include converting to the Navy Counselor community, completing a bachelor’s degree in political science and retiring as a chief petty officer.
Outside of uniform, Robinson enjoys unwinding at cigar lounges and watching “The Sopranos.” A proud Chicago Bears fan, he said if he is not in uniform, he is likely wearing Bears gear.
For those considering military service, Robinson offers simple guidance: take initiative.
“Some people wait for things to happen, others wish for them to happen, but a select few take action to make it happen,” he said. “The Navy is for those who make it happen.”
NTAG Empire State is one of 26 NTAGs under Navy Recruiting Command. Headquartered in Garden City, New York, it encompasses New York City, Long Island and northern New Jersey, and includes 41 recruiting stations with additional locations in Germany and Italy. The command’s mission is to attract and recruit qualified candidates to serve in the United States Navy, ensuring the fleet remains strong, capable and ready to defend the nation.
| Date Taken: | 11.19.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.19.2025 14:18 |
| Story ID: | 551750 |
| Location: | GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 17 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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