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These are broken down into five military services and two services which are considered uniformed but are not military.
The Public Health Service and NOAA wear uniforms closely resembling the uniforms of the US Navy.
The distinction between a commissioned officer of a non-military uniformed service and a civilian is important under the laws of war. The US Coast and Geodetic Survey originally began commissioning officers so that if captured while engaged in battlefield surveying, they could not legally be tried as spies.
See also United States armed forces
Military services
Other uniformed services
Members of these services are paid on the same scale and wear similar insignia of rank.