The sleeve insignia for the four active Flag Officer ranks in the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard—two Rear Admiral grades (lower and upper halfs), Vice Admiral, and Admiral—all have a single, 2-inch stripe made of gold lacing, which instantly sets them apart from both Senior and Junior Officers (their widest stripes are a half-inch). At the lowest end of the spectrum is Rear Admiral (lower half), which had previously been designated as Commodore; it is indicated by a 2-inch stripe alone. A ½-inch stripe is added with each step up the Flag Officer ranks, so a Rear Admiral (upper half) would wear a single ½-inch stripe in addition to the 2-inch stripe.
In the closing years of World War II, several Fleet Admirals were named and given sleeve rank insignia of one 2-inch stripe and four ½-inch stripes above it. Since the passing of Chester Nimitz in 1966, there have been no Fleet Admirals in the Navy, a situation unlikely to change unless a conflict of the same scale as that war should break out. And even more rarely seen is the sleeve insignia for an Admiral of the Navy; the only Navy Officer to be appointed to this position was Admiral George Dewey following his victory at Manila Bay in 1898. The sleeve insignia for Fleet Admiral consists of two 2-inch stripes and a single ½-inch stripe.
This 2-inch wide strip of gold lacing comes in a 30-inch roll, more than enough for two sleeves of the various uniforms for which gold lacing is prescribed for sleeve insignia. If you are purchasing this lacing for wear on a uniform you are purchasing from us here at The Salute Uniforms, do remember to also order an appropriate amount of half-inch gold lacing (if the rank is O-8 to O-10); alternatively, you can simply order the lacing kit for your grade and be sure to receive all the lacing you’ll need (and in both 2-inch and ½-inch if necessary).
Related ItemsU.S. Navy Line Officer Star DeviceU.S. Coast Guard Shield Device