the United States entered the war. Merchant marine training and most aspects of merchant marine activity transferred to the newly created War Shipping Administration on 1 September 1942. The transfer allowed the Coast Guard to take a more active role in the war and concentrated government administration of the merchant marine in one agency. However, just as the transfer removed the merchant marine training role from the Coast Guard, the service assumed the role of licensing seamen and inspecting merchant vessels. Uniforms The United States Maritime Service wears uniforms that resemble the uniforms of officers in the United States Navy, but with different insignia. In place of the star worn naval line officers' shoulder boards, USMS line officers have a gold anchor and wreath, while other symbols indicated specialized occupations, as in the Navy. The symbols and occupations are as follows: Anchor – line officer Caduceus – medical field Three-bladed propeller – engineering department Single leaf – ship's supply department Four lightning bolts – radio operations Crescent moon – steward department, dealing with cooking and cleaning in the galley. Cross – Christian chaplain Two slabs with the Star of David overhead – Jewish chaplain Another difference is seen in the cap devices worn on the combination cover. For the Navy, the device depicts an eagle perched on top of a shield of stars and stripes with two crossed anchors behind it. For the Maritime Service, the device shows an eagle perched on a silver shield of different design bearing a gold anchor. The shield was also circled by a wreath of gold leaves. The USMS also wears a khaki uniform similar to the U.S. Navy's service khakis. The collar devices which denote rank are identical to the U.S. Navy ranks, however the U.S. Maritime Service wears their rank devices on the right collar and wears their collar device for their occupation on the left collar, similar to staff corps officers in the U.S. Navy. Another unique device that is seen worn with the uniform is a breast insignia worn over the front left pocket. This was formerly known as the Navy Reserve Merchant Marine Insignia, and earned by those officers who were also commissioned officers in the United States Naval Reserve. This insignia depicts an eagle behind a shield of stars and stripes with two crossed anchors behind it. At the bottom of the insignia, there is a scroll that