If you do not go through your immediate CO first? Absolutely. It's an abrogation of your CO's command authority. ("You will respect your skipper's authori-TAAH!")
He did this while afloat, to boot--and a ship's captain is the last of the absolute monarchs. The Navy's culture isn't that different than that portrayed in "Master and Commander."
Not exactly.
You have to follow your chain of command.
You don't like your immediate supervisor? Tell'em. Then tell THEIR supervisor. As long as you follow your chain of command, and have documentation to back you up, you'll only be labeled a troublemaker and not a malcontent.