Interesting....I wonder if they changed policy during that time. Heck I think the military changed even from early 80’s to the late 80’s and not in a totally good way. They have been messing with the military since the beginning of time.
The OIC of the shore patrol and the senior non com had a side arm and most of the time road around in a van supplied by the DAO office. The enlisted didn’t carry sidearms, but maybe they did I can’t remember. Maybe night clubs?. This was in South America/Africa port calls. In “civilized” countries I don’t remember even having a shore patrol.