{"id":28082,"date":"2019-03-26T02:59:27","date_gmt":"2019-03-26T02:59:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/03\/26\/new-rules-for-gold-crows\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:17:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:17:28","slug":"new-rules-for-gold-crows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/03\/26\/new-rules-for-gold-crows\/","title":{"rendered":"New rules for gold crows"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On June 1, wearing gold rating insignia on your dress uniforms will no longer signify a dozen consecutive years of good conduct \u2014 or at least not getting caught.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s because the Navy has authorized the wearing of gold rating crows and service stripes for any sailor with more than 12 years of cumulative service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, sailors with up to a dozen years in uniform wear red rank insignia. But once a sailor passes the 12-year mark and also has three consecutive good conduct awards<\/a>, he or she rates distinctive gold crows and service stripes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the current system, a sailor who slips up and gets punished at captain\u2019s mast or court-martial proceedings would see the counter start over. If he or she leaves the service for more than 90 days? Start over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of that changed on March 25 when Vice Adm. Bob Burke<\/a>, the Navy\u2019s top personnel officer, signed Naval Administrative Message 075\/19<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe requirement for enlisted Sailors to obtain 12 years of service along with continuous good conduct and minimum performance evaluation to qualify for wear of gold rating badges and service stripes is rescinded,\u201d Burke wrote in the directive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll enlisted Sailors with 12 cumulative years of active naval or active reserve service are authorized to wear gold rating badges, and gold service stripes in lieu of red rating badges and stripes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t