Service stripe

A service stripe, commonly called a hash mark, is an embroidered diagonal stripe of the United States military which is authorized for wear by enlisted members on the left sleeve of a uniform to denote length of service. Service stripes vary in color.

Criteria

An Army National Guard sergeant in 2012 with three service stripes.

The United States Army authorizes one stripe for each three year period of service, while the United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, and United States Coast Guard authorize one stripe for each four year period of duty.^[1]

In contrast to the Army, the Navy^[2] and Marine Corps^[3] Good Conduct Medals, a service stripe is authorized for wear by enlisted personnel upon completion of the specified term of service, regardless of the service member's disciplinary history. For example, a soldier with several non-judicial punishments and courts-martial would still be authorized a service stripe for three years service, although the Good Conduct Medal would be denied.

History

In 1777, the French ancien régime army had used Galons d'ancienneté, or "Seniority Braid" (cloth braid chevrons nicknamed brisures > "breaks") worn on the upper sleeves awarded for each seven years of enlistment.^[4] Soldiers who wore such emblems were called briscards ("breakers"). The practice was continued in Napoleon Bonaparte's army in which they were awarded for 10, 15, and 20 years of service. The French Army later moved them to the lower sleeves and the rank stripes to the upper sleeves. Service chevrons were worn on the lower left sleeve and Wound Stripes were worn on the lower right sleeve (influencing the American Wound Chevron device).

In the United States, the concept of a service stripe dates back to 1782 when, during the American Revolution, George Washington ordered that enlisted men who had served for three years "with bravery, fidelity and good conduct" should wear "a narrow piece of white cloth, of angular form" on the left sleeve of the uniform coat.^[4] In the U.S. Army, sleeve stripes denoted a successful completion of a standard enlistment. They were the same color as the enlisted rank stripes and were "half-chevrons" (angled strips of cloth). Service during the American Civil War was denoted by a red stripe bordered by the rank stripe color (called a "Blood Stripe"). The artillery corps, who wore red stripes on their uniforms, wore a white stripe bordered red instead.

Wear and use

Sleeve stripes are worn only by enlisted personnel. U.S. Army soldiers, U.S. Navy sailors, and U.S. Coast Guardsmen wear their stripes on the bottom cuff of the left sleeve,^[2] where Marines wear them at the bottom cuff of both sleeves.^[3] U.S. soldiers wear them on the left sleeve and Overseas Service Bars on the right one. Service stripes are only worn on formal uniforms, and are not seen on work uniforms.

United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard

U.S. Navy service stripe, red.

The U.S. Navy authorizes gold service stripes for those service members with over twelve cumulative years service. The service must be free of disciplinary action in the United States Navy, United States Navy Reserve, United States Marine Corps, or the United States Marine Corps Reserve in a pay status. Both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps authorizes service stripes to those service members for every four years of service.^[2]

In cases where a disciplinary infraction has occurred, the service member is not denied a service stripe but simply is authorized the standard red stripe design.

The Coast Guard authorizes gold and red service stripes, as well, but the distinction exists between junior enlisted personnel (E-1 to E-6 who wear red service stripes) and chief petty officers (E-7 to E-9 who wear gold service stripes).

United States Military Academy

These stripes are also used on the sleeves of the full dress uniform worn by cadets of the United States Military Academy at West Point, which denote the number of years a cadet has been at the academy. This is also done by cadets of other military colleges and prep schools.

United States Air Force

The United States Air Force is the only branch of service that does not authorize service stripes. The Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon is awarded instead. Historically, persons who were in the Army Air Forces and then became part of the Air Force when it was separated from the Army in 1947 could continue to wear their service stripes.

Law enforcement use

In many civilian law enforcement agencies in the United States, officers and sheriff's deputies will be awarded service stripes for wear on their long sleeved uniforms, usually on the lower left sleeve. One stripe may be worn for every three, four, or five years of service and differs from agency to agency.

References