Are there different kinds of service stripes for the Army Service Uniform?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 15:07:29 -0500

I'm preparing my Army Service Uniform for my wedding later this year and have noticed a difference in service striped in various pictures- the regular, two inch service stripes, and the large, ceremonial service/overseas stripes. What does the reg say? I couldn't seem to pinpoint anything in 670-1...
(see photos for examples)

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Jan 16 at 2016 3:11 PM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 15:11:29 -0500

The larger stripes (in the center of the picture) are on the old dress blue uniform and are now only worn on the mess dress.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2016 3:18 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 15:18:15 -0500

Back when we had the Green Class A, there was the Dress Blues with the larger service stripes. The wear date had since passed and now the current ASU with 2-inch stripes is what you need to wear. Now, if you have the money and want to look extra fancy, you can put out for the Dress Mess. Personally, unless you expect to attend many formal military affairs in you career, stick with the ASUs

Response by SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT made Jan 16 at 2016 3:31 PM

SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 15:31:03 -0500

When I retired in 2003 my dress blue jacket has the large service stripes on both sleeves, the class A jacket had the service on the left and combat on the right

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2016 9:50 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 09:50:40 -0500

Sorry this is bugging me... Your question is valid and this is not directed towards your question, my OCD kicked in with the pictures, when wearing a Bo tie for a formal event such as a wedding, dinning in or out, no headgear is worn and no DUI (distinctive unit insignias) on the lapels which the SSG is clearly wearing. Not sure if others share the same thought but I know this was ingrained in my brain since day one as well as being supported by AR and DA-PAM 670-1. Also the SFC with the belt and sword, I haven't found it yet in the reg but I'm almost positive that if you are the groom, you do not carry this item while wearing the mess uniform unless actually performing equivalent of a security detail, arch with swords, etc in which case he should be wearing headgear and a regular tie. I have never seen it this way therefore it looks weird to me.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Jan 19 at 2016 1:07 AM

SFC Joseph Weber — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 01:07:00 -0500

Shouldn't you follow the uniform regs that were in force when you got out?

Response by 1SG Chris Wunsch made Jan 19 at 2016 7:26 AM

1SG Chris Wunsch — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 07:26:05 -0500

The photo you posted is the old dress blues.
Do you not have a team or squad leader?
I think this is representative of the sad state of affairs of the Army when soldiers turn to social media for a uniform question. Get into the regs and talk with your leadership.

Response by CW5 Donna Smith made Jan 19 at 2016 8:31 AM

CW5 Donna Smith — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 08:31:33 -0500

Dress blues have the large service stripes and Class A's have the smaller service stripes.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jan 19 at 2016 8:39 AM

LTC Paul Labrador — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 08:39:51 -0500

What you have on the top picture are service stripes that were for years for enlistment, not for overseas service. As others stated, they were phased out for the ASU when they combines the Class A and the Dress Blue, and sleeve stripes now follow the Class A convention (ie standard sized stripes). As SGM Steve Wettstein stated, the large ceremonial stripes are now only worn with the Mess uniform.

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Jan 19 at 2016 11:17 AM

1SG Michael Blount — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 11:17:19 -0500

SGT Private RallyPoint Member - the wide stripes you refer to are worn with the OLD "Dress Blue" jacket. The shorter, overseas and service stripes are worn with the NEW ASU.

Response by PO2 Robert Cuminale made Jan 19 at 2016 12:14 PM

PO2 Robert Cuminale — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 12:14:00 -0500

You'l never see a question like this from Naval personnel. we've always kept the uniform very simple although I do see a few new things that were not permitted 40+ years ago.

Response by SGT Jay Ehrenfeld made Jan 19 at 2016 12:30 PM

SGT Jay Ehrenfeld — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 12:30:46 -0500

the Stripes meaning two different things and there is no over seas strips it combat stripes. According the reg. that larger stripes is on Dress Blues all other stripes is for Class A (green)

Response by SPC Joseph Freeman made Jan 19 at 2016 10:01 PM

SPC Joseph Freeman — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 22:01:53 -0500

There are two size service stripes. One for males and one for females. The larger one is for males. One for every three years you are in. It goes on your right sleeve. Then there's a smaller one that goes on your left sleeve and answer every 6 months you've been deployed not overseas but deployed.

Response by 1SG Jarius Hansen made Jan 20 at 2016 10:20 PM

1SG Jarius Hansen — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 22:20:03 -0500

Cancel previous response. SGM Wettstein is correct, after reviewing current changes. Follow his remarks.

Response by SFC Ernest Thurston made Jan 21 at 2016 3:36 AM

SFC Ernest Thurston — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 03:36:04 -0500

The uniform in the middle is the Dress Blues. The stripes are hash marks for years of service. Blues have them on both sleeves. The other one with the Drill Sgt hat is Dress Greens years of service hash marks are on the left sleeve and gold bars for combat service are on the right sleeve. I also agree that if you wear the D/Sgt hat you should wear the regular tie or take the hat off. At one time the regs said that D/Sgts should only wear the round brown when actually performing the D/S duty. That didn't last long.

Response by MSG John Wirts made Feb 2 at 2016 2:46 AM

MSG John Wirts — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 02:46:04 -0500

To my knowledge, the old style service stripes dating back to the Civil War were authorized on the Dress Blues. When the Army adopted the Blue ASU they switched to the standard service stripe, and the overseas bars on the right sleeve. I retired in 2005 before the switch to the ASU, so I can make up a uniform according to the regulations when I retired. or I can check out the current reg and set up my uniform to the current uniform regulation.

Response by MSG John Duchesneau made Oct 29 at 2019 12:34 AM

MSG John Duchesneau — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 00:34:54 -0400

Strictly speaking - the 1/2 inch wide stripes were worn on the "old" Army Blue Uniform (commonly called "dress blues"). When the Army Service Uniform was introduced a few years ago they changed the stripes to 1/4 inch wide by 2" long diagonal stripes on the left sleeve to have a "cleaner" look and also to make room for Overseas Service Bars on the right sleeve. I don't know the wear out date for the dress blues but it probably will be soon if it hasn't passed already.

Response by CSM John Mead made May 13 at 2020 6:15 PM

CSM John Mead — Wed, 13 May 2020 18:15:28 -0400

The photo shows the period when the Army was transitioning to the ASU, or service uniform. The Drill Sergeant on the right is wearing the old Class A uniform, also known as Greens. The NCO on the right is wearing the Dress Blues, hence the wide service stripes, which are worn on both sleeves. The ASU, has only the scaled down service and oversea stripes, much like the older Class A uniform.

Response by MSG Felipe De Leon Brown made Jul 23 at 2020 11:14 PM

MSG Felipe De Leon Brown — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 23:14:55 -0400

I have two sets of Blues. One is the old dress blues which had very service stripes on both sleeves. When us old NOCs with more than 12 years got together, all the stripes reminded many of a herd of zebras. I recently purchased the current ASU and I can now display my overseas bars on the right sleeve and the eight service stripes on the left.

Response by SGT Christopher Carona made Apr 5 at 2021 1:02 AM

SGT Christopher Carona — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 01:02:14 -0400

If you are going to wear your ASU I would go with the reg army svc/ overseas stripes. If you have Dress Blues you go with the tradicational ceremonial service stripes that indicate your years of service.
SGT C.