Their impression of the Navy will be the one you give them. OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE In general, any matter that might have a bearing on the official business of a command will be referred by officers to their commanding officer through their chain of command. If  you  make  any  official  communication  to  a superior   authority   other   than   your   commanding officer, except as provided for in  United States Navy Regulations, 1990, ensure the communication is sent through your commanding officer. Use  your  grade,  full  name,  branch  of  service, military   personnel   identification   number   (Social Security   number),   and   designator   in   all   official correspondence to clarify your identification. EXAMPLE: From:    ENS Jane B. Doe, USN, 777-77-7777/1110 To: Chief of Naval Personnel (Pers-313D3), Washington, DC  20370-5000 Via: Commanding Officer, Naval Education and Training Program Management Support Activity, Pensacola, FL 32509-5000 If your subordinates forward communications to higher  authority  through  you,  make  sure  you  take prompt action and forward the correspondence up the chain   of   command. Do   not   delay   official correspondence involving a naval member to ensure letter  perfection. Promptness  should  take  priority over neatness. Refer   to   the   Navy   Correspondence   Manual, SECNAVINST  5216.5,   and   to   the   Navy   Military Personnel   Manual,   article   5410160,   for   more information about official correspondence. UNIFORMS Historically, uniforms have been the product of a sailor’s  surroundings: physical,  geographical,  and technical. Uniforms   were   first   provided   for protection against the elements or to create distinction among  specialists  in  a  growing  Navy. Foremost, however,  was  an  element  of  simplicity  providing  a uniform  that  would  not  interfere  with  the  sailor’s everyday  tasks. Women’s  uniforms,  on  the  other hand,  were  originally  designed  to  duplicate  civilian fashion trends. Today’s   Navy   has   narrowed   the   gap   between men’s   and   women’s   career   paths. Women   now perform  many  of  the  same  tasks  and  have  the  same specialties as their male counterparts.   These changes required   a   more   definitive   policy   to   bring   the uniforms of both men and women more closely in line with each other.  Navy uniforms are distinctive visual evidence of the authority and responsibility vested in their wearer by the United States. PRESCRIBING AUTHORITIES Naval   area   coordinators   are   the   prescribing authorities  responsible  for  issuing  and  controlling uniform  policy  within  the  geographic  limits  of  their assigned   region. The   senior   officer   present   is responsible for uniform policy afloat. Prescribing   authorities   select   uniforms;   the individual does not.   Normally, only one uniform of the  day  is  authorized  for  wear  at  a  given  time  and location. BUYING UNIFORMS Officers   are   responsible   for   buying   and maintaining  uniforms  appropriate  to  their  assigned duties. Refer   to   U.S.   Navy   Uniform   Regulations, NAVPERS 15665, for a listing of the major items of uniform clothing normally prescribed for officers. Most   Navy   Exchanges   have   a   uniform   shop where you can purchase uniforms.   In addition, many cities have reputable uniform tailors.  The U.S. Naval Uniform   Shop   in   Norfolk,   Virginia   will   supply uniforms  by  mail  or  phone  through  their  mail  order center.   The mailing address of the uniform shop is: Uniform   Support   Center,   1545   Crossways   Blvd., Suite  200,  Chesapeake,  VA     23320.     The  toll-free telephone numbers of the shop are as follows: Continental United States (CONUS): Toll free 1-800-368-4088 Alaska,  Hawaii,  Virgin  Islands,  and  Puerto Rico: 1-800-368-4089 Overseas: Defense Switched Network (DSN) 680-8586 5-8