Service stripe

A service stripe, commonly called a hash mark, is a decoration of the United States military which is authorized for wear by enlisted members of the U.S. military to denote length of service.

Criteria

The United States Army authorizes each stripe for three years service, while the United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, and United States Coast Guard authorizes each stripe for four years of duty.

In contrast to the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine CorpsGood Conduct Medal, 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. Soldiers who wore such emblems were called briscards. 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).