Service stripe A service stripe , commonly called a hash mark , is a decoration of the United States military which is presented to enlisted members of the U . S . military to denote length of service . Criteria . The United States Army awards each stripe for three years service , while the United States Navy , United States Marine Corps , and United States Coast Guard award each stripe for four years of duty . In contrast to the U . S . Army , U . S . Navy or U . S . Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal , a service stripe is presented to 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 receive a service stripe for three years service , whereas in the same situation , the Good Conduct Medal would be denied . History . 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 . In the American Civil War , sleeve stripes denoted a successful completion of a standard enlistment . Earlier they had been used in Napoleon Bonaparte ' s army , with a chevron awarded for each seven years of enlistment . Wear and usage . Sleeve stripes are worn only by enlisted personnel . U . S . Navy sailors and U . S . Army soldiers wear their stripes on the bottom cuff of the left sleeve , whereas Marines wear them at the bottom cuff of both sleeves . Soldiers wear them on the left sleeve and Overseas Service Bar s on the right one . Service stripes are only worn on formal uniforms , and are not seen on the more common day - to - day working uniforms . United States Navy , United States Marine Corps , and United States Coast Guard . The U . S . Navy also issues gold service stripes to 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 . < br > In cases where a disciplinary infraction has occurred , the service member is not denied a service stripe but simply is issued the standard red stripe design . The Coast Guard issues 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 cadet s 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 issue service stripes . The Air Force Longevity Service Award is issued in lieu . Historically , persons who were in the Army Air Forces and then became part of the Air Force when it was separated in 1947 could continue to wear their service stripes . Law enforcement usage . 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 .