Service stripes for the Blue or White Mess/Evening Mess uniform jacket comes in Large and Small sizes designed to match the size of the insignia worn on the jacket, i.e., Large stripes must be worn with Large rank insignia. Use the two selector boxes to the right to select the appropriate size and the color of fabric backing of the stripes.
A service stripe is awarded to members of the Active Army, Army National Guard, and U.S. Army Reserve for three years of honorable, active Federal service. The three years of service need not be continuous and can have been accrued not only in the Army, but also the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard. While there is technically no limit to the number of service stripes that may be worn, they may not cover the chevrons.
For Solders who have already earned nine service stripes and are on the way to their tenth, the Army has made a special provision regarding length of required service: the tenth stripe is authorized for wear after twenty-nine-a-half years rather than thirty.
Details on the placement of services stripes on both the ASU/Dress and Mess/Evening Mess uniforms is found in Section 19-27 of DA 670-1. Regulations regarding authorization are found in Section 19-27 of AR 670-1. Note that service stripes are worn only on the left sleeve of the Army Service/Dress uniform, but on both sleeves of Mess/Evening Mess uniform jackets.