Posted on Jun 2, 2017
To the Navy members.... What is your opinion of Red vs. Gold Service Stripes?
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I am researching the history of Service Stripes for all services, but am curious about the Navy's version. I understand the regulation, but I am more curious about the general feelings toward those who wear the Red Service Stripes after 12 years, knowing something has kept them from going Gold. How do your feel about this person if you were...
a senior?
a peer?
a subordinate?
a senior?
a peer?
a subordinate?
CPO
Enlisted
Uniforms
Dress Uniform
Sailors
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 148
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As a Navy veteran, I feel that the zero-defects mentality of the early-90s when I served, was to the detriment of a healthy branch. Besides, WTF is up with the whole "scarlet letter" thing?
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MCPO Roger Collins
Not getting your point. We all start with red stripes. If you keep your nose clean for four years, you get gold. If you have formal disciplinary action after four you are back to red and the four year clock begins tickling again. I was charged and was convicted two years after enlisting, four years later, I was on my way to gold.
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SFC Marcus Belt
PO1 Andrew Gardiner - I checked: believe it or not, I've served in the USN (1990-1994) than MCPO Collins. Honest mistake and really, no biggie.
I disagree with the policy, but it's not that big a deal, really.
I disagree with the policy, but it's not that big a deal, really.
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LCDR Larry Cooper
As a retired O4 who started as an E1, I never really thought about red or gold service stripes. Everyone makes mistakes.
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I was,always more comfortable around red stripes. I figured they had proven their fallibility at some point and might be a,little less touchy. They always spoke in a more understandable dialect. Often invoking images which gold stripes weren't inclined to present to the public. Still a little harsh however, perhaps they understood the same thing and didn't mind not being held to the same standard of purity. I would rather drink with them.
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MCPO Roger Collins
Had you known me my first 6 years in the Navy, before my wife domesticated me, you would see the fly in your ointment.
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I was a real half-asser my first 10+ years in, but somehow my dream came true and I got to work with SEALs, after that I was a 4-0 sailor all the way. My earlier evals were so bad I was "counseled" about my performance. But Once I finally got my dreams to come true. I was Command Advanced, Made Chief my first time up. Somehow I made the gold stripes. I knew some guys that were a HELLUVA lot better then me that should have never got in trouble. I guess it depends on the Command and the people in charge that defines a mans fate.
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MCPO Roger Collins
Some people take longer to learn from experience. I was pretty wild my first enlistment, but luck and a couple good COs saved my butt. As you can see, it can be overcome.
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MSG David Rogers III You might find this helpful. PO1 John Crafton
https://www.navytimes.com/articles/misconduct-nearly-ended-his-career-how-tough-lessons-shaped-the-new-mcpon
https://www.navytimes.com/articles/misconduct-nearly-ended-his-career-how-tough-lessons-shaped-the-new-mcpon
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MSG David Rogers III
Perfect! This is exactly what I'm looking for. Good reference of such a high-profile case. And in the end.... he earned the Gold Stripes back, and I'm happy for him. A great example of owning up to past mistakes, and persevering.
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PO3 Steven Sherrill
PO1 John Crafton - I agree. I did find it interesting that in an almost 30 year career, they base the MCPON decision on just the last five years, probably a good thing. If they look at the first five, that is when most are young and stupid, and make the mistakes of someone who is young and stupid.
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PO2 Skip Kirkwood
And I have more respect for this MCPON than I did for the last three put together. He is a legitimate guy and a credit to the goat locker.
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Obtaining the priveledge to be able to wear gold in place of red is an honor. It's not that an individual got away with anything, it just shows that person had a conscience and they were taught the difference between right and wrong
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I retired after 22 years. I did not get to put on gold stripes until after 20 years I wasn't until I got me 3rd consecutive good conduct award that I was told I could now put on gold stripes. Until then they were all red. Knowing a few people that had gold and how those gold stripes looked on the dress blues made me change my way of thinking. To Stay Out of trouble and get me my gold stripes. My son spent time in the Marine Corps. And told me that you get a stripe after 3 years now. Boy things have changed. Don't seem fair or worth the effort now
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LCDR (Join to see)
The number of stripes have changed, but the requirements for gold remain. In that respect, it still seems fair.
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I personally think that senior enlisted with red stripes have grit and determination. They did not let a mistake in the past allow hem to lose focus on their future success. They overcame speed bumps in their career and I respect the hell out of that.
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In 1974 the Coast Guard switched from Navy Crackerjacks to Bender Blues that looked like Air Force service dress with Navy rating badges. We wore Air Force ties, wooly pully sweaters, Ike jackets, and raincoats. We also wore Navy blue work jackets, black work jackets, dungarees and or utilities overlapping until we got our own blue work uniforms. Good conduct chevrons and hash marks didn't survive the change. Chiefs lost khakis but got gold chevrons and hash marks. Rates E-4 through E-6 wear red on their left sleeve.
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