The Navy awards one service stripe for each four years of service, either on active duty or in a reserve service in an active status, in any of the Armed Forces of the United States. This is in contrast to the Army, which issue service stripes for three years of service; the Air Force issues its Longevity Award ribbon for four years of service, with an oak leaf cluster added to it for each additional four years of service.
Sailors whose most recent twelve years (cumulative) of service meet the requirements for the award of the Navy’s Good Conduct or Naval Reserve Meritorious Service awards are issued gold-colored service stripes that are worn on Dress Blue / White uniforms and Dinner Dress Blue / White jackets. Unlike the standard service stripes, gold stripes can only be earned for service in the Navy, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps, or Marine Corps Reserve, and they revert back to the standard stripes if the Sailor fails to meet the Good Conduct standards of the two aforementioned medals.
Sailors who have earned gold service stripes and request transfer to the Fleet Reserve may wear the stripes while on Fleet Reserve duty. Fleet Reserve personnel returning to active duty, however, will not be able to count the time spent in Fleet Reserve toward the time required for additional service stripes.