The use of service stripes to reflect a Soldier’s length of service in the U.S. Army began with George Washington’s 1782 order that Enlisted men who had accrued three years of service that displayed “bravery, fidelity, and good conduct” should wear an angular piece of white cloth on the left sleeves of their uniforms. Today’s Army service stripes carry the same time-in-service requirement of three years per stripe, but now that service—which must be honorable—can also include time spent in the Active or Reserve components of any of the five branches of the Armed Forces of the United States.
This set of four service stripes, indicating twelve to fourteen years of qualifying service, is authorized for wear on the Blue or White Mess/Evening Mess uniform jacket worn by Enlisted Soldiers in the Active Army, Army National Guard, or Army Reserve. The set is oriented so the stripes are at a 30-degree angle and run from seam to seam; the lowest portion of the bottom stripe is inserted in to the front seam either 1/4-inch from the cuff braid (Blue jacket) or 3 inches from the sleeve’s bottom (White jacket).
We offer the four-stripe set in two Sizes and with two types of Fabric backing:
Large/Small: Stripe size must correspond to the size of the rank insignia sewn onto the jacket sleeve—Large stripes with Large insignia, Small stripes with Small insignia.
Blue/White Fabric: Choose the colored backing that matches the color of the Mess/Evening Mess jacket on which the stripes are to be attached.