The first instructions for women’s uniforms, March 1943, provided blue and white service uniforms and a working dress. The creation of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Emergency Service) on 30 July 1942 required changes to provide uniforms for this latest addition to the personnel of the United States Navy. The metal pin-on devices were 5/8th the size of the embroidered ones shown on the sleeves of the blue coats. Line officers wore rank insignia on both sides, while staff officers indicated grade on the right and corps on the left side. The 1941 Regulations carried forward the recent changes and also permitted officers to indicate their rank and corps on the khaki shirt collar tips. A message of 25 April 1941 directed that khakis be worn with gilt buttons and shoulder marks, doing away with the bronze buttons and black sleeve markings of the earlier orders. This change was a boon to all officers and especially to those of the Civil Engineer Corps who were engaged in a world-wide construction program. An “AlNav” of 21 February 1941 authorized the wearing of the khaki uniform by all officers, at the discretion of their commanding officers. As tension grew prior to the entrance of the United States into World War II, the use of the khaki uniform was broadened to include officers performing duties for which the standard blue or white service uniforms were not suitable.

Later the order was expanded to permit officers on duty at air stations and submarine bases, other than those qualified as flyers or submariners, to wear greens or khakis. Modifications in 19 provided a suitable working uniform for aviators and submariners. Under the 1922 Regulations, a dungaree working uniform was provided for both officers and men but its use was very limited.

Us navy uniforms during the civil war