Page 46
                                                         Exhibit 10(iii)A(22)(a)


                                     FORM OF
                ASPIRATION ACHIEVEMENT INCENTIVE AWARD AGREEMENT
                             FOR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
               --------------------------------------------------




                  THIS  AGREEMENT,  made as of the ____ day of  September,  1996
(the "Grant  Date"),  between  NATIONAL  SERVICE  INDUSTRIES,  INC.,  a Delaware
corporation   ("NSI")   and   ____________________________________________,    a
Subsidiary      of      NSI      (together,       the      "Company"),       and
__________________________________________________ (the "Grantee").

                  WHEREAS, NSI has adopted the National Service Industries, Inc.
Long-Term Achievement Incentive Plan (the "Plan") in order to provide additional
incentives to certain  officers and key  employees of NSI and its  Subsidiaries;
and

                  WHEREAS,  the Committee  responsible for administration of the
Plan has determined to grant to the Grantee an Aspiration  Achievement Incentive
Award as provided herein.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                  1.       Grant of Aspiration Award.

     1.1 The  Company  hereby  grants to the Grantee an  Aspiration  Achievement
Incentive  Award (the  "Award"),  which has a value  determined  as  provided in
Section 2 below based upon the performance of NSI during the  Performance  Cycle
from  September 1, 1996 to August 31, 1999.  As provided in the Plan,  Grantee's
right to payment of this Award is dependent upon Grantee's continued  employment
in  Grantee's  current  position  with  the  Company,  or  in  a  position  with
responsibilities  of  substantially  similar  value to the  Company  during  the
Performance Cycle. Under certain  circumstances as described below,  Grantee may
be  entitled  to receive  payment  for some  portion  of the Award if  Grantee's
employment terminates prior to the end of the Performance Cycle.

     1.2 The  Grantee  hereby  acknowledges  receipt  of a copy of the  Plan and
agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions thereof. This Agreement shall
be construed in accordance with, and subject to, the provisions of the Plan (the
provisions  of which  are  hereby  incorporated  by  reference)  and,  except as
otherwise  expressly  set  forth  herein,  the  capitalized  terms  used in this
Agreement shall have the same definitions as set forth in the Plan.

                  2.      Performance Measure and Performance Levels

                  The Committee has  established  the  performance  measure (the
"Performance Measure"), and award and performance levels set forth in Appendix A
attached  hereto.  The chart in Appendix A specifies  a  Commitment  performance

                                                                         Page 47
                                                         Exhibit 10(iii)A(22)(a)


level,  at  which  the  Commitment  Level  Award  will be  paid;  an  Aspiration
performance level, at or above which an Aspiration Level Award will be paid; and
a threshold  performance  level, at which a minimum incentive award will be paid
and below which no award will be paid. For each level of performance at or above
the  threshold  performance  level  through the  Aspiration  performance  level,
Grantee  will  receive  an award  determined  in  accordance  with the chart and
formulae set forth in Appendix A. The terms used in determining  the Performance
Measure are defined in Appendix B.

                  3.      Determination of Aspiration Award.

     3.1  Determination  Notice.  Subject to Section  3.2, as soon as  practical
following the last day of the Performance  Cycle, the Committee will determine,
in accordancewith Section 7(c) of the Plan, the performance  level of NSI with
respect to the Performance  Measure for the Performance Cycle. The Committee may
in determining the  performance  level with  respect to the  Performance
Measure adjust NSI's financial  results  for the  Performance  Cycle to exclude
the effect of unusual charges or income  items  which are  distortive  of
financial  results  for the Performance Cycle; provided, that, in determining
financial results, items whose exclusion from  consideration  will increase the
Grantee's Award shall only have their effects excluded if they constitute
"extraordinary items" under generally accepted  accounting  principles  and all
such  items  shall be  excluded.  The Committee  shall  also  adjust  the
performance  calculations  to  exclude  the unanticipated  effect on financial
results of changes in the Code, or other tax laws, and the regulations
thereunder.  The Committee may decrease the amount of the Award  otherwise
payable  to  Grantee  if,  in the  Committee's  view,  the financial
performance  of NSI  during  the  Performance  Cycle  justifies  such
adjustment,  regardless of the extent to which the Performance  Measure has been
achieved.

         The Company will notify the Grantee (or the executors or administrators
of the Grantee's  estate, if applicable) of the Committee's  determination  (the
"Determination  Notice"). The Determination Notice shall specify the performance
level of NSI with respect to the Performance  Measure for the Performance  Cycle
and the amount of Award (if any) Grantee will be entitled to receive. The amount
Grantee is entitled  to receive  will be paid  one-half in cash and  one-half in
Shares,  with the Shares  being valued at their Fair Market Value as of the last
day of the Performance Cycle.

     3.2  Significant  Corporate  Events.  If, during a Performance  Cycle,  NSI
consummates  an  acquisition  or  disposition  that involves  assets whose value
equals or exceeds 30% of the total value of NSI's assets,  the  following  rules
shall apply:

                  (a) If the transaction is consummated during the first year of
the Performance Cycle, the Performance Cycle and the Grantee's outstanding Award
will be terminated with no payout and a new Performance Cycle will be started.

                  (b) If the transaction is consummated  after the first year of
the Performance  Cycle, the Performance Cycle will end and the outstanding Award
will be  determined  and paid at NSI's  actual  performance  level to such  date
(using, for such purpose, prorated performance levels of the Performance Measure

Page 48
                                                         Exhibit 10(iii)A(22)(a)


to reflect the portion of the Performance  Cycle that had elapsed as of the date
of consummation of the acquisition or disposition). Payment of the Award will be
made as soon as practical after it is determined.  A new Performance  Cycle will
be started to cover the period remaining in the initial Performance Cycle or, if
that result is not practical,  the Committee will make an appropriate adjustment
to reflect the premature termination of the initial Performance Cycle.

         If, during a Performance  Cycle,  NSI  consummates  an  acquisition  or
disposition that involves assets whose value is less than 30% of the total value
of NSI's  assets,  the  effects  of such  acquisition  or  disposition  shall be
disregarded in determining NSI's financial results and performance level for the
Performance Cycle.

Any  actions  under  this  Section  3.2  shall be taken in  accordance  with the
requirements of Code Section 162(m) and the regulations thereunder.

                  4.       Termination of Employment

     4.1 In General.  Except as provided in Sections 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 below,  in
the event that a Grantee's employment terminates during a Performance Cycle, all
unearned Aspiration Awards shall be immediately forfeited by the Grantee.

     4.2 Termination of Employment Due to Death, Disability,  or Retirement.  In
the  event  the  employment  of a Grantee  is  terminated  by reason of death or
Disability  during a  Performance  Cycle,  the  Grantee  shall be  entitled to a
prorated payout with respect to the unearned Award. The prorated payout shall be
determined by the  Committee  based upon the length of time that the Grantee was
actively  employed during the  Performance  Cycle relative to the full length of
the Performance Cycle; provided that payment shall only be made to the extent at
the end of the Performance Cycle the Award would have been earned based upon the
performance  level achieved for the Performance  Cycle;  and provided,  further,
that the  performance  level used to determine the prorated  award cannot exceed
200% of the Commitment performance level.

     In the event of Grantee's  Retirement  (on or after age 65), the full Award
shall  continue to be eligible for payout at the end of the  Performance  Cycle,
just as if Grantee had remained  employed for the  remainder of the  Performance
Cycle  (including if the Grantee dies after Retirement but before the end of the
Performance  Cycle).  At the end of the Performance  Cycle,  the Committee shall
make its determination in the same manner as provided in Section 3.

     Payment  of earned  Awards to Grantee  in the event of  termination  due to
death,  Disability,  or Retirement shall be made at the same time payments would
be  made  to  Grantee  if  Grantee  did  not  terminate  employment  during  the
Performance Cycle.

     4.3 Change In Control. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary,  if a Change in Control occurs during the Performance  Cycle, then the

                                                                         Page 49
                                                         Exhibit 10(iii)A(22)(a)


Grantee's Award shall be determined for the  Performance  Cycle then in progress
as  though  the  Performance  Cycle  had  ended as of the date of the  Change in
Control and the outstanding  Award will be paid at the Commitment Level Award or
the actual  performance  level to such date (using,  for such purpose,  prorated
performance  levels of the  Performance  Measure to reflect  the  portion of the
Performance  Cycle that had  elapsed  as of the date of the Change in  Control),
whichever provides the greater payment.  The Award determined in accordance with
the  preceding  sentence  shall be fully vested and payable  immediately  to the
Grantee.  The  Committee  shall  determine  the  amount of the Award  under this
Section 5.3, subject to the terms of this section and no downward  adjustment of
the Award shall be permitted. The Award will be paid in full in cash, unless the
Grantee  elects to receive  one-half  of the Award in Shares.  For  purposes  of
determining the number of Shares to be paid to a Grantee under this Section 4.3,
the Fair  Market  Value of a Share  shall be  determined  by taking the  average
closing  price per share for the last  twenty  (20)  trading  days  prior to the
commencement of the offer, transaction or other event which resulted in a Change
in Control.

     4.4  Termination  Without  Cause.  In the  event  Grantee's  employment  is
terminated  by the  Company  without  Cause  more  than one (1) year  after  the
commencement  of the  Performance  Cycle and prior to the end of the Performance
Cycle,  the Grantee  shall be  entitled to a prorated  payout of the Award based
upon the  length of time that the  Grantee  was  actively  employed  during  the
Performance  Cycle  relative  to  the  full  length  of the  Performance  Cycle;
provided,  that  payment  shall  only be made  to the  extent  at the end of the
Performance  Cycle the Award would have been earned  based upon the  performance
level  achieved for the  Performance  Cycle;  and  provided,  further,  that the
performance level used to determine the prorated award cannot exceed 200% of the
Commitment  performance level. Payment shall be made to Grantee at the same time
as if Grantee had not terminated employment during the Performance Cycle.

                  5.       No Right to Continued Employment.

                  Nothing in this  Agreement or the Plan shall be interpreted to
confer upon the Grantee any rights with respect to  continuance of employment by
the Company,  nor shall this Agreement or the Plan interfere in any way with the
right of the Company to terminate the Grantee's employment at any time.

                  6.       Nonassignment.

                  The  Grantee  shall  not have the right to  assign,  alienate,
pledge, transfer or encumber any amounts due Grantee hereunder,  and any attempt
to assign, alienate,  pledge, transfer, or encumber Grantee's rights or benefits
shall be null and void and not recognized by the Plan or the Company.




Page 50
                                                         Exhibit 10(iii)A(22)(a)



                  7.       Modification of Agreement.

     This Agreement may be modified,  amended,  suspended or terminated, and any
terms or conditions may be waived, but only by a written instrument  executed by
the parties hereto.

                  8.       Severability; Governing Law.

     Should any  provision  of this  Agreement  be held by a court of  competent
jurisdiction  to be  unenforceable  or invalid  for any  reason,  the  remaining
provisions  of this  Agreement  shall not be affected by such  holding and shall
continue in full force in accordance with their terms.

     The  validity,   interpretation,   construction  and  performance  of  this
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware  without giving
effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.

                  9.       Successors in Interest.

     This  Agreement  shall  inure to the  benefit  of and be  binding  upon any
successor  to the  Company.  All  obligations  imposed  upon the Grantee and all
rights  granted to the Company  under this  Agreement  shall be binding upon the
Grantee's heirs, executors, and administrators.

                  10.      Resolution of Disputes.

     Any dispute or disagreement which may arise under, or as a result of, or in
any way relate to,  the  interpretation,  construction  or  application  of this
Agreement shall be determined by the Committee. Any determination made hereunder
shall be final,  binding and  conclusive  on the Grantee and the Company for all
purposes.


                  11.      Withholding of Taxes.

     The Company  shall have the right to deduct from any amount  payable  under
this Agreement, an amount equal to the federal, state and local income taxes and
other amounts as may be required by law to be withheld (the "Withholding Taxes")
with  respect  to any  such  amount.  In  satisfaction  of all  or  part  of the
Withholding Taxes, the Grantee may make a written election (the "Tax Election"),
which may be  accepted or rejected in the  discretion  of the  Company,  to have
withheld a portion of the Shares  issuable  to him or her  pursuant to an Award,
having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the Withholding Taxes.




                                                                         Page 51
                                                         Exhibit 10(iii)A(22)(a)



                  12.      Shareholder Approval.

The  effectiveness  of this  Agreement  and of the grant of the  Award  pursuant
hereto is  subject to the  approval  of the Plan by the  stockholders  of NSI in
accordance with the terms of the Plan.


                        NATIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES, INC.


                        By:
                        JAMES S. BALLOUN
                        Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer


                        _________________________________________, Subsidiary


                        By:
                        JAMES S. BALLOUN
                        Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer



                        Name of Grantee:  ___________________________________




Page 52
                                                         EXHIBIT 10(iii)A(22)(a)


                             Your Award Opportunity


Name:                    James S. Balloun
Position:                Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer and
                         Director
Division:                NSI
Perfomance period:       1997-1999
Award at Commitment:     $480,000


                                                                                     

                                                                          Achievement Level
                                                         Threshold           Commitment       Aspiration
FY97-99 Cumulative Economic Profit ($000)                $ 38,700            $ 65,500         $ 135,000
Payout * ($000)                                          $    120            $    480         $   2,400


YOUR POTENTIAL PAYOUT

The following graph depicts the potential incentive award that would be paid out
at different levels of NSI cumulative  economic profit,  including:  a Threshold
performance level; a Commitment performance level; and an Aspiration performance
level.





NSI Cumulative Economic Profit                     Payout*
($ 000s)                                           ($ 000s)
                                             

Threshold    $ 38,700                               $  120

Commitment   $ 65,500                               $  480

Aspiration   $135,000                               $2,400


*  Amounts between performance benchmarks will be interpolated.

                                                                         Page 53
                                                         Exhibit 10(iii)A(22)(a)




                     ASPIRATION ACHIEVEMENT INCENTIVE AWARD

                                       FOR

                         1997 - 1999 PERFORMANCE PERIOD


                                       NSI




Formula:  Payout as a Percent of Commitment Award = a  x  EP  +  b


Below Commitment Level EP:

     a = 0.02799

     b = -0.83302


Above Commitment Level EP:

     a = 0.05755

     b = -2.76978


Notes:

     1.   EP = Cumulative Economic Profit for performance period,  which will be
          expressed in millions, rounded to one decimal place.

     2.   Values for "a" and "b" will be rounded to five decimal places.

     3.   Payout percentages will be rounded to a tenth of a percent.

     4.   No award is payable below the Threshold Level EP,  notwithstanding the
          formula set forth above.

     5.   The  maximum  award  payable is 500% of the  Commitment  Level  award,
          notwithstanding the formula set forth above.



Page 54
                                                         EXHIBIT 10(iii)A(22)(a)


                             Your Award Opportunity


Name:                    Brock A. Hattox
Position:                Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Division:                NSI
Perfomance period:       1997-1999
Award at Commitment:     $224,000


                                                                                     

                                                                          Achievement Level
                                                         Threshold           Commitment       Aspiration
FY97-99 Cumulative Economic Profit ($000)                $ 38,700            $ 65,500         $ 135,000
Payout * ($000)                                          $     56            $    224         $   1,120


YOUR POTENTIAL PAYOUT

The following graph depicts the potential incentive award that would be paid out
at different levels of NSI cumulative  economic profit,  including:  a Threshold
performance level; a Commitment performance level; and an Aspiration performance
level.





NSI Cumulative Economic Profit                     Payout*
($ 000s)                                           ($ 000s)
                                             

Threshold    $ 38,700                               $   56

Commitment   $ 65,500                               $  224

Aspiration   $135,000                               $1,120

*  Amounts between performance benchmarks will be interpolated.



                                                                         Page 55
                                                         Exhibit 10(iii)A(22)(a)




                     ASPIRATION ACHIEVEMENT INCENTIVE AWARD

                                       FOR

                         1997 - 1999 PERFORMANCE PERIOD


                                       NSI




Formula:  Payout as a Percent of Commitment Award = a  x  EP  +  b


Below Commitment Level EP:

     a = 0.02799

     b = -0.83302


Above Commitment Level EP:

     a = 0.05755

     b = -2.76978


Notes:

     1.   EP = Cumulative Economic Profit for performance period,  which will be
          expressed in millions, rounded to one decimal place.

     2.   Values for "a" and "b" will be rounded to five decimal places.

     3.   Payout percentages will be rounded to a tenth of a percent.

     4.   No award is payable below the Threshold Level EP,  notwithstanding the
          formula set forth above.

     5.   The  maximum  award  payable is 500% of the  Commitment  Level  award,
          notwithstanding the formula set forth above.





Page 56
                                                         EXHIBIT 10(iii)A(22)(a)


                             Your Award Opportunity


Name:                    David Levy
Position:                Executive Vice President, Administration and Counsel
                         and Director
Division:                NSI
Perfomance period:       1997-1999
Award at Commitment:     $214,000


                                                                                     

                                                                          Achievement Level
                                                         Threshold           Commitment       Aspiration
FY97-99 Cumulative Economic Profit ($000)                $ 38,700            $ 65,500         $ 135,000
Payout * ($000)                                          $     54            $    214         $   1,070


YOUR POTENTIAL PAYOUT

The following graph depicts the potential incentive award that would be paid out
at different levels of NSI cumulative  economic profit,  including:  a Threshold
performance level; a Commitment performance level; and an Aspiration performance
level.





NSI Cumulative Economic Profit                     Payout*
($ 000s)                                           ($ 000s)
                                             

Threshold    $ 38,700                               $   54

Commitment   $ 65,500                               $  214

Aspiration   $135,000                               $1,070

*  Amounts between performance benchmarks will be interpolated.



                                                                         Page 57
                                                         Exhibit 10(iii)A(22)(a)




                     ASPIRATION ACHIEVEMENT INCENTIVE AWARD

                                       FOR

                         1997 - 1999 PERFORMANCE PERIOD


                                       NSI




Formula:  Payout as a Percent of Commitment Award = a  x  EP  +  b


Below Commitment Level EP:

     a = 0.02799

     b = -0.83302


Above Commitment Level EP:

     a = 0.05755

     b = -2.76978


Notes:

     1.   EP = Cumulative Economic Profit for performance period,  which will be
          expressed in millions, rounded to one decimal place.

     2.   Values for "a" and "b" will be rounded to five decimal places.

     3.   Payout percentages will be rounded to a tenth of a percent.

     4.   No award is payable below the Threshold Level EP,  notwithstanding the
          formula set forth above.

     5.   The  maximum  award  payable is 500% of the  Commitment  Level  award,
          notwithstanding the formula set forth above.


Page 58
                                                         EXHIBIT 10(iii)A(22)(a)


                             Your Award Opportunity


Name:                    Stewart A. Searle III
Position:                Senior Vice President, Planning and Development
Division:                NSI
Perfomance period:       1997-1999
Award at Commitment:     $128,000


                                                                                     

                                                                          Achievement Level
                                                         Threshold           Commitment       Aspiration
FY97-99 Cumulative Economic Profit ($000)                $ 38,700            $ 65,500         $ 135,000
Payout * ($000)                                          $     32            $    128         $     640


YOUR POTENTIAL PAYOUT

The following graph depicts the potential incentive award that would be paid out
at different levels of NSI cumulative  economic profit,  including:  a Threshold
performance level; a Commitment performance level; and an Aspiration performance
level.





NSI Cumulative Economic Profit                     Payout*
($ 000s)                                           ($ 000s)
                                             

Threshold    $ 38,700                               $  32

Commitment   $ 65,500                               $ 128

Aspiration   $135,000                               $ 640

*  Amounts between performance benchmarks will be interpolated.



                                                                         Page 59
                                                         Exhibit 10(iii)A(22)(a)




                     ASPIRATION ACHIEVEMENT INCENTIVE AWARD

                                       FOR

                         1997 - 1999 PERFORMANCE PERIOD


                                       NSI




Formula:  Payout as a Percent of Commitment Award = a  x  EP  +  b


Below Commitment Level EP:

     a = 0.02799

     b = -0.83302


Above Commitment Level EP:

     a = 0.05755

     b = -2.76978


Notes:

     1.   EP = Cumulative Economic Profit for performance period,  which will be
          expressed in millions, rounded to one decimal place.

     2.   Values for "a" and "b" will be rounded to five decimal places.

     3.   Payout percentages will be rounded to a tenth of a percent.

     4.   No award is payable below the Threshold Level EP,  notwithstanding the
          formula set forth above.

     5.   The  maximum  award  payable is 500% of the  Commitment  Level  award,
          notwithstanding the formula set forth above.


Page 60
                                                         Exhibit 10(iii)A(22)(a)



                                   APPENDIX B

                             ASPIRATION ACHIEVEMENT
                                 INCENTIVE AWARD
                               PERFORMANCE MEASURE


                                                       

PERFORMANCE MEASURE                                       DEFINITION


Economic Profit                                           Sum of the annual economic profits for the performance
                                                          cycle.  Annual economic profit shall be determined as
                                                          follows:  Adjusted After-Tax Profits (AATP) minus
                                                          [Average Invested Capital times the Weighted Average
                                                          Cost of Capital (WACC)]


RELATED TERMS                                             DEFINITION


Average Invested Capital                                  Average of the average beginning and ending Invested
                                                          Capital balances each month.

Adjusted After-Tax Profit (AATP)                          Adjusted Pre-Tax Profit minus Book Income Taxes.

Adjusted Pre-Tax Profit (APTP)                            Income before provision for income taxes plus interest
                                                          expense plus implied interest on capitalized operating
                                                          leases.

Book Income Taxes                                         Reported tax rate (determined by dividing
                                                          the provision for income taxes by the
                                                          income before the provision for income
                                                          taxes, as reported in NSI's annual financial
                                                          statements) applied to APTP.

Invested Capital                                          [Total assets plus capitalized operating leases, less
                                                          short and long-term investment in tax benefits] less
                                                          [non-interest bearing liabilities except for self
                                                          insurance reserves and deferred tax credits relating to
                                                          the safe harbor lease].

Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC)                   Ten percent (10%) will be the WACC for the Performance
                                                          Cycle ending August 31.