This is the experience for many in the Navy trying to navigate broken personnel pay processes. Due to cost cuts and failed IT efforts, a lot of the staff at personnel offices that have to process things like pay transactions and travel reimbursements are entry level, and the organization suffers from high turnover to boot.

This means that Sailors with enough experience in the Navy are usually better off bringing copies of pertinent references and Navy instructions, especially if they have any kind of unusual case, so that they can hand-walk the clerk through the process that needs to be followed.