uniform appearance. Your attention to detail
reflects the Navys image to the public. You
should keep your uniform scrupulously clean.
The gold bullion lace, devices, and insignia should
be bright and free from tarnish and corrosion.
When you are in uniform, no articles, such as
pencils, pens, jewelry, combs, large wallets,
cigarettes, or pipes, should protrude or be
visible on your uniform. If you wear a cross,
pendant, or some other emblem, you should make
sure it is not visible. You may wear wristwatches,
bracelets, and rings while in uniform, but they
should be in good taste. You may wear tie clasps,
cuff links, and shirt studs as outlined in U.S. Navy
Uniform Regulations (Uniform Regs).
When wearing jewelry you should not wear
something that would create a safety hazard for
you or one of your workers. You should avoid
wearing any eccentric or faddish articles that may
bring attention to you in either a negative or
positive manner.
You may wear sunglasses when not in military
formation, but they should be conservative in
style.
You should wear undergarments that preserve
the dignity and appearance of your uniform,
Figure 7-12.-CPO caps.
CPO Caps and Their Insignias
The most dramatic change to your uniform
is your cap. As a CPO, you wear a combination
cap similar to the type worn by commissioned
officers except with minor changes. One of these
changes is the cap device, the CPO insignia. This
insignia is a fouled anchor with the silver letters
USN superimposed on the anchor shank. Instead
of a gold chin strap, as on the officers cap, the
chin strap on the CPO cap is leather, covered with
black vinyl. This black vinyl gives the appearance
of patent leather. The strap adjusts by two
adjusting loops, one on either end. The chin strap
attaches to the cap with two small Navy eagle gilt
buttons. When you wear the cap, the eagles on
these buttons should be upright. When assembling
the combination cap, you should make sure the
rivet (centered in the adjustment loop) will be on
your left when wearing the cap. You wear the cap
squarely on the head, 1 1/2 inches above the
eyebrow. You may also wear a garrison cap or
tropical helmet if it is prescribed by proper
authority. You wear a tropical helmet with a
miniature cap device centered on the front of the
helmet in tropical climates. Women CPOs may
wear either a tiara or the combination cap with
the formal dinner dress white and blue uniform.
(See fig. 7-12 for the required CPO caps.)
Rating Badges
The CPO rating badge is similar to the first
class rating badge. The basic difference is the
position of the eagle. On the CPO badge, it is
perched on the center point of the rocker or arc.
The chevrons on the male rating badge measure
3 1/4 inches across; on the female rating badge,
they measure 2 1/2 inches across or about 3/4 the
size of the male rating badge. The color of the
rocker and chevrons depends on each particular
uniform. (See fig. 7-13 for the CPO rating badge.)
The rating badge worn on the dress blue
uniform has a navy blue background with the
Figure 7-13.-CPO rating badge.
7-18