2007-03-28 13:51:33 · 2 answers · asked by John B 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
They use the USN uniform (and an adapted rank structure) because they are one of the Uniformed Services of the United States. These are:
The Army
The Navy
The Air Force
The Marine Corps
The Coast Guard
The Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
The National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Commissioned Corps
They are set up in this fashion by an Act of Congress. The USCG has a para-military role. The PHS is derived from an agency to provide medical services to the military. The NOAA Corps wear the uniform to avoid Geneva Convention Regulations about spies -- the uniform protects them from summary execution. Both the PHS and NOAA can be militarized in times of crisis, and they use the military pay scale.
2007-03-29 20:50:25 · answer #1 · answered by Fred 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
US Health Service personnel imitated the uniforms of the Navy in order to look smart.
2007-03-28 13:55:35 · answer #2 · answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋