The Uniform of the California Naval Militia
In its true military sense of the word "uniform," as a noun, is specifically used to denote the distinctive style of dress and equipment by governmental regulation and worn by any naval or military organization in order that all of the individual elements of that organization will present a homogeneous appearance.
The rank of officers of the Navy is indicated in four ways; first, by stripes upon the sieve; second, by rank insignia worn on each side of the collar; third, by stripes upon the shoulder marks (or straps); and fourth, by rank insignia on the upper surface of the epaulets worn with full dress and evening dress. All Line Officers of the regular Navy wear a star embroidered in gold. Staff and Corps Officers wear the branch insignia of the service (e.g., Medical Corps, Dental Corps, Naval Constructors Corps, etc.) to which the officer belongs which is indicated in the same manner as Line Officers except they do not wear the gold star. Officers of the Line and of the Staff Corps of the Naval Militia or Naval Reserve Force wear the same rank marks as those described for officers of the regular Navy, but, instead of the silver anchor collar devise for the Line Officers and the various Corp devices and insignia to indicate the Corps or branch of the service of the Staff officers of the Staff of the regular Navy, they wear the Naval Reserve Force device on the collar. The Naval Reserve Force insignia or devise is of the same design as the devise worn on the front of the cap of commissioned officers of the Navy. The gilt buttons worn by officers are the same sizes but the design is different. The Naval Reserve Force gilt button bears a plain vertical anchor and letters U.S.N.R. Like Officers of the Line of the Naval Reserve Force, the rank marks are the same as those described for the regular Navy, but the gold star for Line Officers of the Naval Militia was surrounded by a gold circle (which use would later be abandoned for that of the regular navy design). This also applies to the shoulder marks or straps. The gilt buttons worn by the Naval Militia bears the seal of the State instead of the U.S.N.R.
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The Naval Officer
The Naval Militia, National Naval Volunteers and Naval Reserve Force wear the same uniforms as those prescribed for the regular Navy with the addition of the distinguishing mark for the Naval Militia or Naval Reserve.
Enlisted men of the Naval Militia wear the same uniforms as those prescribed for the regular Navy with the addition of the distinguishing mark for the Naval Militia, consisting of a vertical foul anchor enclosed in a diamond shaped lozenge. This mark being embroidered. It is worn on overshirts and jumpers just below the neck opening and on coats on the same sleeve as the rating badge midway between the wrist and the elbow. The cap ribbon worn by enlisted men of the Naval Militia bears the words "Naval Militia" followed by the authorized abbreviation for the state or territory to which they belong thus, for the Naval Militia of California, "NAVAL MILITIA, CA." When United States ships are assigned for the use of the Naval Militia of any state such men of the organization as the Governor of the state may designate may wear on their cap ribbons the name of the ship so assigned with the distinguishing mark for the Naval Militia before and after the name of the ship. Like the Naval Militia, the Naval Reserve enlisted men wear the same uniform as prescribed for the various grades of the regular Navy, with the exceptions that all gilt buttons worn on the uniforms are of the special design prescribed for the Naval Reserve, that is, having upon them in relief a plain vertical anchor surrounded by the letters U.S.N.R., and the cap ribbons bear the words U.S. NAVAL RESERVE FORCE.
To learn more about the California Naval Militia or the uniform of the Naval Battalion of the National Guard we invite you to press the California Bear Flag below.
Enlisted Uniform
Related Pages
(c) copyright 2001-2010
CW3 Mark J. Denger, LTC Roger D. McGrath and COL Norman S. Marshall
Naval History Research & Study Element
California Center for Military History
Enlisted Uniforms of the Naval Militia
California Naval Militiamen during Gunnery Practice
