'Female sailors in bikinis would boost recruitment'

Says Australian navy commander; navy defends him despite protests

Says Australian navy commander; navy defends him despite protests

An Australian navy submarine commander is in hot water for suggesting female sailors wearing bikinis might boost recruitment. Cdr Tom Phillips also revealed that the submarine equivalent of the "mile-high club" is the "going down club".

In an interview with Ralph magazine, he said the naval uniform worked to "either pull a chick or get in a fight".
He was asked, "If female sailors all had to be hot and wear bikinis, would that help recruitment?"

He is quoted as responding, "It would certainly get the right demographic of young men in. I'm not sure how feasible it is."

The Federal Opposition and feminists have called for disciplinary action over the article. But navy deputy chief Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas defended the submarine captain, saying the offending comments were a response to a "flippant question and the commanding officer's response was not intended to be serious".