They are worn with all uniforms to indicate the special duty of the wearer as an aide entitled to convey the orders of the officer to whose staff he is assigned.
The Sword knot for naval officers is a loop of gold braid ending in a bullion tassel, worn on the hilt of the sword. The original purpose of this loop was to wear it around the right wrist when the sword was carried in the hand to prevent the loss of the sword if it should be accidentally dropped or knocked from the hand in combat. The sword knot is worn by commissioned officers only.
Officers of the Line and of the Staff Corps of the Naval Reserve Force wear the same rank marks as those described for the officers of the regular Navy, but, instead of the silver anchor for the Line Officers and the various Corps 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 of the blue service coat.
The Naval Reserve Force Device or insignia is of the same design as the device worn on the front of the cap by commissioned officers of the Navy. It is one inch in height, made of metal, the shield and eagle being of silver and the crossed anchors of gold.
The gilt buttons worn by officers of the Naval Reserve Force are of the same sizes as those worn by the officers of the regular service but the design is different, and by this design the fact that an officer is a member of the Naval Reserve Force is shown when he is wearing any uniform having gilt buttons. The Naval Reserve Force gilt button for officers bears a plain vertical anchor and the letters U. S. N. R., as illustrated.
UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA OF MIDSHIPMEN
The Corps of Midshipmen at the Naval Academy is organized into a regiment of four battalions of four companies each for military formations and drills, with Midshipmen Officers and Petty Officers, as follows:
| Midshipman Commander | Commanding the Regiment. |
| Midshipman Lieutenant Commander | Commanding a Battalion. |
| Midshipman Lieutenant | Regimental Adjutant and Company Commander. |
| Midshipman Junior Lieutenant | Regimental Commissary and Regimental Signal Officer, Battalion Adjutant, and junior Company officer. |
| Midshipman Ensign | Regimental Aide, Battalion Commissary, and junior Company officer. |
| Midshipman Regimental Staff Petty Officer. | |
| Midshipman Battalion Staff Petty Officer. | |
| First Petty Officer. | |
| Second Petty Officer. | |
| First-Class Petty Officer. | |
| Second-Class Petty Officer. | |
The Midshipmen are provided with uniform as follows:
Full dress—consisting of a dark blue double-breasted jacket cut to reach just below the waist, roached at the sides over the hips, pointed at front and back, with standing collar and two rows of gilt buttons down the front and three gilt buttons on each cuff; dark blue trousers, a blue cap similar to that worn by other naval officers, white gloves and black shoes.