How can someone retire as an E5 or E6?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 11:20:09 -0400

I've seen several people here with the "R" by their name and their rank is E5 or E6. I'm not a rank snob but I wonder how it is possible to stay in for 20 years and never make it beyond E6? I made E5 in the USAF in under 4 years.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2019 11:49 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 11:49:36 -0400

If not medically retired, perhaps Guard or Reserves?

Response by SGT Morrison (Mike) Hogwood made Jun 10 at 2019 11:50 AM

SGT Morrison (Mike) Hogwood — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 11:50:56 -0400

I'll tell you about my experience in in Army,I came in when sgt promotable could stay for 20 years,then the Army changed that and had a cut off of when you came in,i missed the grandfather clause and forced to retire at 15 years and was penalized an additional 10 percent on my retirement because i was forced to retire,nice system after you have sweated and busted your bleep like everyone else,uncle sugar does what he want's to do,but how funny the following month's promotion points came out and everyone in my MOS who remained got promoted,it was a failed promotion system,that changed 2 or 3 times,sorry this may not be what you want to hear,but thats how alot GOOD NCO'S $H!t canned.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2019 11:51 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 11:51:10 -0400

Could be medical. Could be they could never make points. Years ago, there was a policy that SGTs Promotable could retire at 20 and I personally knew someone that retired as a SGT(P) because her MOS points were constantly at 798 for 5 years running at least.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2019 11:58 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 11:58:26 -0400

The E5s are usually medical retirements. For the Army you can stay in till 20 as an E6 and there are some MOSs that combine and bottleneck at E7. Pre 9/11 and drawdown years it was even harder.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Jun 10 at 2019 12:15 PM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 12:15:39 -0400

Some of my troops made it to the "protected zone" of 17 years and were allowed to continue and retiree. Then there was an opportunity for some people to early retire at reduced retired pay in the 1990s.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jun 10 at 2019 12:37 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 12:37:06 -0400

So many possibilities! Up-or-Out hasn't always been what it is now. In the Air Force not-so-long-ago one could retire as an E-6 at 20--may be the same today. Then there's medical retirement. There are career field limitations that might keep a person from getting beyond E-6 in 20 years. A very small career field with few openings for advancement could greatly limit opportunity.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2019 12:46 PM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 12:46:39 -0400

E6 can retire at 20 years. E5 most likely like everyone else has said medically retired.

Response by SGT(P) Crystal Marie France made Jun 10 at 2019 1:02 PM

SGT(P) Crystal Marie France — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 13:02:14 -0400

Medical Retirement is how I retired. Beleive me it was not by choice.

Response by CPL Sheila Lewis made Jun 10 at 2019 1:04 PM

CPL Sheila Lewis — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 13:04:36 -0400

Honestly, sometimes a Soldier gets screwed over.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2019 2:39 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 14:39:45 -0400

Slow promoting MOS, broken time etc. not that unusual. Not very common for 20 years continuous.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Jun 10 at 2019 2:45 PM

SSG Brian G. — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 14:45:26 -0400

Variety of factors. There is medical retirement. There is also the possibility that a given member could have been among those offered early retirement at 15 years. There is also the fact that some just don't want to go higher. Duty station I had in Germany we had an E-5 by the name of Bell and had been in for 18 years. Of course this was back in the late 80's early 90's. Also There is the whole deal of being prior service and coming over to another branch of the military. There is also the cases, back before policy change, where a SM got busted down and made it back but only to a certain degree.

There is a lot that can and does happen. Also, have to look at when the person was in. Not all of those you see with R next to their name are modern day. Some have been out for a few decades.

Response by SFC Randall Atchison made Jun 10 at 2019 3:16 PM

SFC Randall Atchison — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 15:16:35 -0400

To ask that question in the first place makes you a rank snob! There were several MOS’s in the Army that were so over strength getting promoted was a fantasy!

Response by 1SG Randy Ford made Jun 10 at 2019 3:23 PM

1SG Randy Ford — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 15:23:36 -0400

If you are in the Army National Guard or Reserve your whole military career it is possible. Sometimes in Combat Arms Units moving up beyond E5 or E6 can be very hard, as people promote into the E7 or E8 positions and never leave till mandatory separation. so it is possible to only make E5 or E6 before your 20yrs.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2019 3:29 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 15:29:59 -0400

It's possible some of them were medically retired for injuries sustained in the line of duty.

Response by MSG Gary Eckert made Jun 10 at 2019 3:43 PM

MSG Gary Eckert — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 15:43:33 -0400

As others have said some of it is driven by Medical Retirements. During the draw down in the 1980's 15 year retirement was offered in selected overstrength MOSs, since those MOSs were overstrength they had slower promotion rates meaning the retirees were lower in grade than their peers in other MOSs. At least in the Army, retention control points have varied over the years. For 2015 the last year I could find, the most popular retirement pay grade is E-7 with E-6 being the next most popular. In the Navy the pay grades were reversed with E-6 being the most popular and E-7 being the second most popular. This difference in the Navy is probably tied directly to the promotion tests. The Air Force shows almost twice as many E-7s retired as E-6s which most likely means they promote a higher percentage to E-7 than their sister services.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Jun 10 at 2019 4:01 PM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 16:01:44 -0400

Unless it's changed, a SGT(P) can stay in 20 years. Seen it happen once before the GWOT started. There was a reason he was only a SGT(P) and I'm glad he wasn't put in my PLT while I was a PSG. Also, SSGs have always been able to do at least 20. If I remember correctly, during the worst parts of GWOT they're RCP was up to 24 yrs.

Before GWOT, SSG retirees were pretty common. Before I retired in '13, it seemed like SFC turned into the new SSG for retirement. It seemed that it wasn't as 'special' to be selected into the Senior NCO Corps. Many SNCOs had the same feelings.

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made Jun 10 at 2019 4:33 PM

SSG Robert Perrotto — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 16:33:56 -0400

When your body breaks before your will to serve expires. Came back from my last deployment with severe lower back pain, x-ray showed 3 cracked vertebrae, MRI showed the cracked vertebrae along with 2 nerve sheath tumors. My options were cortisone shots to mask the pain of the cracked vertebrae along with chemo to shrink the tumors, or surgery to fuse the vertebrae and remove the tumors - both options would result in a med board and separation (running situps and body armor would be off the table - with body armor putting me in a non deployable status) after going through the IDES process the army disability rating exceeded the percentage required to retire. To be fair, I did exceed 15 years. Another thing that should be pointed out - I do not recieve cuncurrent pay, that is to say, I do not draw a retirement check from the Army, along with disability from VA. What I do recieve is 100% from VA, and 80% Combat related servicemens compensation, along with the rest of a longevity retiree's benefits (Tricare, post privileges etc etc)

Response by COL David Turk made Jun 10 at 2019 5:10 PM

COL David Turk — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 17:10:20 -0400

I can give one real life example.
When I joined my first unit in Germany (1977) after Engineer Officer basic, I immediately met our very personable and knowledgeable unit clerk, an E-6. Seems this E-6 had been enlisted, went to OCS, went to Vietnam (a couple of tours), where he ended up with a small plate in his head. Then the major RIF in the mid seventies, and he was given the choice, get out or stay in by reverting back to an E-6 (this was a fairly common option after RIFs). So he chose to stay in to get his twenty. He did a great clerk job when on duty, but he basically didn’t give a f**k about much else (resentment was the key operative there). Would often get drunk off hours, and one time it was enough to earn an article 15 and reduction in grade to E-5. So he retired as an E-5, but his retirement pay was as a Captain over 10 years (so we were told). I felt for him because he had given a lot to the Army prior to the RIF (had a lot of awards). But sometimes in life, you get screwed. And you have to get over it and move on. Again, speaking from personal experience, both in the military and in civilian life.

Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made Jun 10 at 2019 5:23 PM

MSG Frank Kapaun — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 17:23:34 -0400

My dad retired from the USAF in 1964 as an E5.

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made Jun 10 at 2019 5:30 PM

SSG Robert Perrotto — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 17:30:08 -0400

Well, seems someone has some sand in their nether region - votes down my comment then disables my ability to respond to his parting idiocy - Thank you for your service 1SG Furr. Your bravery in the face of internet words is truly something to be emulated. BTW - everything in my profile is verified by my 214 and ERB

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2019 5:48 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 17:48:04 -0400

With all due respect sir, you are coming across as a "rank snob" Keep in mind how the enlisted promotion system works and the changes we had to endure with that system over the years. Up until 1999, an enlisted member could stay until 20 years as a SSgt. When I made SSgt in 1993, the average TIS for my AFSC was ~7.5 years. I was at 8.5. I made TSgt in 2001 and wasn't even eligible to test for MSgt until 2004. I tested and missed by 26 points and, as I was already preparing to retire, I didn't study.

Overall, I would say I had a successful career, just not stellar. Managed to survive a couple of Article 15 's and fought my weight for a number of years. But I made it to retirement. So, judge us harshly if you must, but remember, whether we were medically retired or completed sufficient service to retire, those of use who retired as E5/6 served honorably,

Response by SGT(P) Crystal Marie France made Jun 10 at 2019 6:01 PM

SGT(P) Crystal Marie France — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 18:01:31 -0400

Also, every MOS is different, just because you ranked up quickly doesn't mean this is possible with every other MOS in the Army.

Response by PO1 Rick Serviss made Jun 10 at 2019 6:27 PM

PO1 Rick Serviss — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 18:27:41 -0400

As long as the Government has classified me as Retired, the people that don't like it can kiss my ass. I owe them no explanation. I put in my 20 years!

Response by TSgt George Rodriguez made Jun 10 at 2019 9:55 PM

TSgt George Rodriguez — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 21:55:49 -0400

I retired as an E6 Tech sgt with 20 years. When you work with females as in a medical field and you have nurses who are single and have the macho effect along with their favorite boy toy and they want you out of the way for him to take your job, your backed by the hospital commander who tell them to leave you alone they get even with decreasing your evaluation. So you take your 20 and retire as I did back in 86. Politics does play a roll in the military.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2019 10:00 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 22:00:10 -0400

That can be possible, and fairly common in the Reserve /NG conpnents, especially for low density MOSs

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2019 11:24 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 23:24:08 -0400

Well sir, I have been in for over 20 years, mostly in the guard. I have seen several E4, E5, and E6 Soldiers with 20 years in (in the National Guard). Most of them were either flagged for some reason and unable to promote (but still Soldiers that their Commanders kept around for whatever reason), or they legitimately had no slots of higher grade for their particular MOS and the Soldier was unwilling/unable to move to another unit. Happens quite often in the guard actually. But I will say that the retention boards in the guard are getting more strict it seems these days so there seems to be much less of that as time goes on.

In fact, When I first joined in the 90's (guard first before going active), I met an E4 and an E6 that had both joined at the end of Vietnam, and then stayed in the guard almost the entire time (I think one of them had a small break in service though).

Response by SFC William Farrell made Jun 10 at 2019 11:46 PM

SFC William Farrell — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 23:46:42 -0400

It's common in the Navy LTC Private RallyPoint Member. I worked for Navy a s a civilian for years and Ive seen many retire as an E6. Much has to do with rates and tests. Ive also seen many make E9 in 20 years.

Response by SPC David Glines made Jun 11 at 2019 12:12 AM

SPC David Glines — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 00:12:40 -0400

Medical Retirement

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Jun 11 at 2019 12:56 AM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 00:56:26 -0400

I'm curious what your AFSC was that you could have made E5 in under 4 years. Unless TIG/TIS rules have changed from when I enlisted a long damn time ago, you can't even pin E4 until 36 months TIS (30 if BTZ) plus six months TIG before you are eligible for SSgt. Add to that, waiting at least six months to test and most likely another year to actually pin the rank (due to waiting on your line number to increment during the month....

Add to that, as a 205x0 (1N5X1), the first two years I tested it was mathematically impossible to be promoted (needed 118 on SKT/PFE first year, 108 on SKT/PFE second year) in my AFSC. Theoretically I could have made it on the third attempt if I had scored 96+ on each. Cut off scores were just that high back then (AF average to E5 in the early/mid 90's was 7.5 years, 8.5 for my AFSC). Similar scores were needed when I was testing for TSgt. We lost a large number of talented Airmen simply because they hit HYT before they could break the cut off barrier. By the time I retired in 2010, you could make SSgt by just showing up to work on time 3 days out of 8.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2019 8:55 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 08:55:29 -0400

When I first joined in 2002, I saw a lot of SSGs retire. This includes my first squad leader at Fort Hood in 2004. My father in law was a SGT for 11 years before he put in his warrant packet. Pre-war Army and early war Army seemed to be like this. I remember I was an E4 for 5 years because my points were at 798. I just kept doing correspondence classes and working on my PT and weapons qual. I think I got my points up to like 740 and one month, out of the blue, the cutoff was 730. Not as common now but certainly back then it was.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2019 10:08 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 10:08:52 -0400

I have a friend who was in the Air Force and got 'medically' retired as I think either a SSgt or TSgt. I can't remember which. But he had cancer I believe. It probably should have been caught sooner than it was but luckily when it was at Walter Reed.

I know a guy from my first unit retired as a SSG. That was in like 2008 or 2009 though. Not medical either. I can't remember what his MOS was.

Response by SPC Robert Bobo made Jun 11 at 2019 10:12 AM

SPC Robert Bobo — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 10:12:18 -0400

I employed a 20 year E6 retired, his dd214 was accurate and his military specialty was managing events as well as military clubs on base in Europe, he said he had a "blast" for 20 years, he turned out to be a very good 2nd level supervisor, I had never come across a 20 year E6 , most 20 year people were E7 to E9

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Jun 11 at 2019 11:48 AM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 11:48:08 -0400

Different jobs have different rank structures. In mine, SFC was (relatively) easy, MSG was nigh on impossible (less than 1% of eligibles promoted 2 years in a row, never more than 3%. Ever. 1.9% was a good year for us.) In other jobs, SSG points stay at 798 for YEARS, making a barrier for MANY folks. I went to AIT with a guy (we were both reclass) who had 795 points - because he was not an infantryman in an infantry unit, and the CSM refused to allow any non-infantry to get higher than a 195 (out of 200). He maxxed EVERYTHING he could - he just had an asshole CSM looked down on non-infantry. He had to reclass to promote, after spending 3 years waiting for points.

If reclass wasn't an option, he would have been out at 12 as a SGT. Not because he was bad, but because his CSM was.

Most Army jobs bottleneck, it is just a question of what rank it happens at. If the bottleneck happens between SSG and SFC.... well. welcome to retired SSG.

In those jobs, where that bottleneck occurs, in my experience, whether or not you make tje grade is honestly only about 50% what you do. The other half is what your bosses do. If your bosses don't write well, your excellence cannot be properly conveyed, and making it out of the bottleneck becomes impossible.

Response by SGT Gary Springer made Jun 11 at 2019 12:25 PM

SGT Gary Springer — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 12:25:18 -0400

I retired in before they rolled back the timeline for E5 and E6 retirement. But as far as your opinion on the retirement of lower enlisted I find it a very good question but what does it matter what rank you are all military ranks deserve the same consideration and respect. From the lowest PVT to the Highest General. You serve your country for your own reasons but, retirement is earned and not given.

Response by TSgt Anthony Kenkel made Jun 11 at 2019 2:15 PM

TSgt Anthony Kenkel — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 14:15:25 -0400

Uhhhh, because one was allowed to retire at E-5 and E-6 when I was in. I didn’t want E-7.

Response by TSgt Anthony Kenkel made Jun 11 at 2019 2:22 PM

TSgt Anthony Kenkel — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 14:22:13 -0400

I was E-6 and happily retired because one could back then(2003), didn’t want to be an E-7

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2019 4:13 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 16:13:44 -0400

LTC Private RallyPoint Member - I've seen your state several times on this thread "E4 is automatic at 24 months". Is this an Army thing? Is it true for all branches of all services? Was it true over our history?

Took me 3 years to make E4. That was at my 4-1/2 year mark and being passed over 6 times. I had to fight for my rank, get the records corrected to reflect all of my points and to get my Company CO's support as well. Making E5 took just over 6 years and I did not pin those on until my 7th year. (I attached my profile page view of my promotions.)

USMC, circa 1980s-1990s. You were promoted within your overall MOS. If the DoD said 10% can be promoted, each MOS got to promote 10%. Think what happens when you are in a glutted MOS like Communications. It was a slow promote MOS by its very nature. And all but my last 2 years was during the Cold War.

I show up to USMC Birthday Balls still. I enter the room with my SSgt stripes and 3 service stripes (4 years apiece). I mingle with SSgts who have 1 service stripe! (4 - 7.99 years) Should I be upset? Envious? Pissed? Grateful? I've felt, even but briefly, all of those emotions. But then, my experience was in a different environment and time. War tends to create a fast promote atmosphere.

Last note: R also denotes Reserves. USMCR = reserves. USMC(R) = retired.

Response by SSG Jose M. Hernandezsanchez made Jun 12 at 2019 10:30 AM

SSG Jose M. Hernandezsanchez — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 10:30:10 -0400

Well Sir,
I won't make any excuses, but I come from a very competitive career field where we don't have a lot E-8s and E-9s. Competitive in a sense when you really had/have to have your stuff tight...school, leadership positions, duty assignments, etc...pretty much no discrepancies. I don't know how many Sergeant Majors are there in my former career field now, probably 4, maybe 5. I know a lot of service members and friends that retired as SSGs that had their stuff tight, new their job inside out, did everything they could do to get promoted, and never got picked up to a higher rank. Some of those individuals got offered jobs outside the military because they owned security clearances, like myself.
To make E-7 or SFC in my career field is almost like making Sergeant Major because it is that small. With that said, if you get in serious trouble like me, and I'm not taking about small stuff, I'm talking about to the point of receiving letter of reprimand from a three-star General, yeah Sir, you let me know how the rest of your career is going to go after that in your records. Another thing is/was the promotion systems which was almost impossible to make E-5 or E-6 because they were up on 798 out of 800 most of the year. I mean, I can go on and on...individuals like going back to the promotion boards to raise their points because they couldn't make it year after year. I think the lowest I've ever saw the points going low was to 785...I know because that's how many points I had when I got picked up for SSG.
Last but not least, yes I could've stayed a couple more years, but I chose not to. My family had enough of me been gone overseas. As much I like the Army and the job, I just had enough, my mind and body had enough.
People get out or retire without reaching the personal goals they set for themselves for different reasons Sir. Just remember that when your time comes, with due all respect.

Response by PO1 Gery Bastiani made Jun 12 at 2019 1:00 PM

PO1 Gery Bastiani — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 13:00:46 -0400

well u made PO1/E6 in five years in the Navy Seabees where E7 and above is tight. For advancement we in the Navy take an exam E1-E6 the tests are given twice a year E7 is given once a year in January then in May you spend in a package with other achievements that aren't covered in the exam. then in June your record goes to a review board and from there they pick who gets advance. then it depends on how many openings there are for your rate, so for my last 8 years on average they would promote from 4 to 8 E7's. and in the Seabees which at that time there were only 9,000 on active duty so it made it kind of tight. Don't know how it is in the AF for advancement but in the Navy it just makes a little bit harder but this way they get the best to be able to be called CHIEF. like my Dad

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made Jun 12 at 2019 1:53 PM

SSG Robert Perrotto — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 13:53:27 -0400

MSgt Kurt S. - I have a blue ID card, Orders, and DD214 that states "Retired". I can no longer post on that specific thread.

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made Jun 12 at 2019 2:11 PM

SSG Robert Perrotto — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 14:11:28 -0400

MSgt Kurt S. responding to your question

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2019 5:10 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 17:10:34 -0400

Happens all the time in the National Guard. Especially in low density MOSs. if there's 1 E-8 slot in the state, 4 x E-7, 6 x E-6, 10 x E-5; You can expect people who don't want to reclassify to stay LONG stretches at E-5 or E-6 ... Think public affairs, band, plumber.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 30 at 2019 4:18 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 16:18:06 -0400

They could be Guard, where there aren’t TiG limits on staying in.

Response by SSG Gordon Holmes made Aug 30 at 2019 4:27 PM

SSG Gordon Holmes — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 16:27:36 -0400

I am not retired. But I have over 20 years of service. I had several breaks in service. My 20 years extends from 1973 through 2011. My last enlistment in 2005 didn't have an E-6 slot for me so I took an E-5 slot in the CAANG. I was injured in 2007 and put in inactive status. So that is why I never made it beyond E-6.

Response by SSG Lloyd Becker BSBA-HCM, MBA made May 2 at 2020 3:43 PM

SSG Lloyd Becker BSBA-HCM, MBA — Sat, 02 May 2020 15:43:04 -0400

I retired as an E6 in 1988. The Army had a program for E5s with 10 years of service can retire. It was a limited program and the E5 was advised to take it. And he did. That program existed for about a year.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2020 4:03 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 16:03:31 -0500

LTC Private RallyPoint Member - Some people are medically retired. I know someone I went to school with (a year younger) who got medically retired from the AF as SSgt. He developed cancer I believe...he's still alive and doing all right. He would have done 20 if he'd not gotten cancer though. Most likely from burn pits.

The majority of E5s and E6s with "R" probably were medically retired. However, I did see some SSGs who retired at 20 when I first came in.

You also have to realize that the promotion system has changed over the years. There was a time when people weren't being promoted into NCO ranks as fast I have seen it in the last 16 years. Also I know the AF, from my experience in 2 joint units, they didn't promote very fast. My last joint unit this TSgt I worked with I think she's in a year more than me or about as long as me, she got passed over for MSgt like two years in a row I was in that unit. (Thankfully).

Everyone's situation is different. You would just have to ask the person about it and see if they want to talk about it.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2020 3:32 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 15:32:05 -0500

Seems to me a real LTC would know about folks being medically retired. They would also know how long an E-6 could remain in the service.