SS 4 Year Long Service Award for Jochen Peiper

[Stu 21]

I need some help with this decoration. In the official award criteria it is stated that this award was only given to men and Nco's and that Officers were awarded the 8 year award and above. However in Jochen Peiper's military file a document dated 20.09.1942 clearly states that he had been awarded the "4 jahrige Dienstauszeichungung" No documents ever mention the 8 year award. He joined the SS in October 1933 and became SS Mann in January 1934.He then was promoted to SS Sturmmann and then SS Rottenfuhrer before becoming SS Fuhrer Anwarter in January 1935. He became SS Unterstumfuhrer in April 1936. He did therefore serve as SS Mann and Nco before becoming an Officer but not for 4 years. Even taking into consideration his time in Fuhrerschule Braunschweig he only had 2 1/2 years service before being promoted to SS Untersturmfuhrer. Has anyone else seen Officers with this award or can throw any light on the subject?