What does an O-4 wear on their dress blue jacket sleeves?

• A. Two half-inch gold stripes with a 1/4 inch bar between them and no star
• B. Two half-inch gold stripes with a 1/4 inch bar between them and one gold star above all
• C. Three half-inch gold stripes with a star above
• D. Two half-inch gold stripes with a 1/4 inch bar between them and a star above

Answer: (B)

Navy officer rank on dress blue cuffs is shown by stripes, the spacing between them, and the star placement. The two half-inch gold stripes with a narrow bar between them identify the Lieutenant Commander pay grade (O-4), and the gold star above the stripes marks it as a commissioned officer rank above the lower Lieutenant level. The thin bar between the two stripes is a distinguishing feature that separates Lieutenant Commander from other two-stripe ranks, while the star above confirms officer status at this level.

In contrast, three stripes with a star above denote a higher rank (Commander, O-5), and two stripes without the bar or without a star correspond to different, lower ranks. The combination of two stripes, a 1/4 inch bar between them, and a star above is specific to Lieutenant Commander.