Service Stripes vs Overseas Service Bars
Quick Answer
Service stripes (left sleeve) represent years of honorable service — 1 stripe per 3 years. Overseas service bars (right sleeve) represent time deployed to eligible areas — 1 bar per 6 months.
| Feature | Service Stripes | Overseas Service Bars |
|---|---|---|
| Based on | Years of honorable service | Months deployed to eligible areas |
| Rate | 1 per 3 years | 1 per 6 months |
| Sleeve | Left | Right |
| Uniform | ASU & AGSU | ASU & AGSU |
| Maximum | No max (10th after 29.5 yrs) | No maximum |
| Eligible service | Active Federal + Reserve creditable | Designated areas only (16+ operations) |
| Continuous? | No — periods combine | No — periods combine |
| Reference | AR 670-1, Para 21-28 | AR 670-1, Para 21-29 |
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Disclaimer: AR670.com is an unofficial resource. This comparison is for informational purposes only. Always verify with official Army publications. Unit and command policy may be more restrictive.