Should the wear of service stripes be linked to whether or not a Soldier has received a Good Conduct Medal for that term of service?

LTC Paul Heinlein — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 17:50:15 -0400

Currently it is not. What are your thoughts. Should they be done away with all together? Should Officers wear service stripes (tracking that it is not in 670-1)? Should Officers wear service stripes to signify prior service?

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Sep 14 at 2014 6:25 PM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 18:25:09 -0400

I have honestly never seen a point to them.

They tell you about how long someone has been in. In general, you can surmise the same info from knowing their rank, and having been in more than a day yourself. There are notable exceptions, especially among the "professional" [docs/lawyers] branches, as well as those who went E to W/O. However, in just about all cases, I think what you care about is the person's rank/rate and position.

If I saw a PFC or SPC with 7 stripes, I would raise an eyebrow, but that's about it.

Just another flair of bling for the uniform. And I already have my 15 minimum. No, I don't want to be like Brian.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Sep 14 at 2014 6:50 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 18:50:21 -0400

AF doesn't have them, and I really don't want them. We have a ribbon for it.

Response by 1SG Mark Colomb made Sep 16 at 2014 8:23 AM

1SG Mark Colomb — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 08:23:29 -0400

No. I believe service stripes serve a purpose of showing how long a Soldier has been in. Rank is not an indicator, the number of GCMs is not an indicator (that SPC who received an Art 15 during his first term and did not get one).

What I think we have to do is look at the GCM and determine if it is really as necessary as when it was introduced in 1941. Does it still provide the incentive for keeping ones nose clean as it did back then?

Here is the original intent (from wikipedia):

"The Good Conduct Medal is awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency, and fidelity in active Federal Military service. It is awarded on a selective basis to each soldier who distinguishes himself/herself from among his/her fellow soldiers by their exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity throughout a specified period of continuous enlisted active Federal military service."

Being a little snarky, but in today's Army the GCM is nothing more than a demonstration of three years undetected criminal activity. Make it through without an Art 15 and you get one, not what I call "exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity".

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Sep 16 at 2014 9:48 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 09:48:43 -0400

I think if you were to link the two, then one or the other would be redundant. At least this way, a quick comparison of GCM's to service stripes gives you a good idea of who your blatant troublemakers are..

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2014 9:59 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 21:59:10 -0400

We still have them in the Navy. Everyone is scarlet to start. If you go 12 years with good conduct you switch to gold for service stripes and rating badge. Have a "bad year" after 12 and you go back to scarlet, and the clock starts over again. We have our fair share of Chiefs, Senior Chiefs and Master Chiefs walking around and retiring with scarlet.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Sep 19 at 2014 11:40 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 23:40:31 -0400

Interesting question? If you are going to tie the service stripes to good years, do you take it one step further and have your retirement years tied to 'good' years...something like the Reserve years?

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made May 23 at 2016 1:37 PM

CSM Richard StCyr — Mon, 23 May 2016 13:37:54 -0400

The Navy color codes them. This came up in conversation this morning, I saw a couple Navy Chiefs, one with red service stripes and one with Gold. My coworker who was a Sub guy told me the Chief with the red service stripes didn't get a good conduct medal during one or more periods of service while the guy with all Gold was good to go.

Response by MSG Ronnie Snider made May 24 at 2016 8:46 AM

MSG Ronnie Snider — Tue, 24 May 2016 08:46:14 -0400

Time is time. I think not.

Response by MSG David Rogers III made Mar 27 at 2017 1:28 PM

MSG David Rogers III — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 13:28:41 -0400

Interesting piece of history on the subject. The 1782 Badges of Distinction were really a cross between both the Good Conduct Medal (GCM) and Service Stripes. The were stripes sewn on the arm for three years of service, but you really did have to be "good". So the Badge of Distinction is really the ancestor of the GCM more so than Service Stripes.

-George Washington's General Orders of August 7, 1782:
Honorary Badges of distinction are to be conferred on the veteran Non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the army who have served more than three years with bravery, fidelity and good conduct; for this purpose a narrow piece of white cloath [sic] of an angular form is to be fixed to the left arm on the uniform Coat. Non commissioned officers and soldiers who have served with equal reputation more than six years are to be distinguished by two pieces of cloth set in parellel [sic] to each other in a simular [sic] form; should any who are not entitled to these honors have the insolence to assume the badges of them they shall be severely punished. On the other hand it is expected those gallant men who are thus designated will on all occasions be treated with particular confidence and consideration.