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I'm just confused here. How does a SSG have 6 service stripes, that would mean he has been in for 18 plus years since each stripe represents 3 years of service. Any ideas?
Thank you,
PFC O'Hara
Thank you,
PFC O'Hara
Posted in these groups: 
SSG
SSG
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 1181
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It depends on the MOS in many cases. I was a 44B (Metalworker) from PVT-SGT and 44E (Machinist) from SSG-SFC. Many of my friends in my MOS retired as SSG. We had very few SFC positions. I had Drill SGT and Recruiter duties, which helped me get promoted to SFC. I was fortunate.
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1SG (Join to see)
SSG(P) James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" - Now it is eight... gonna be nine in a few more months.
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1LT William Clardy
Sorry, MAJ Byron Oyler, but I see 1SG (Join to see) as a baggy-uniformed youngun'.
So that would make him a young punk if we ever meet and he doesn't make me buy him a cold one.
So that would make him a young punk if we ever meet and he doesn't make me buy him a cold one.
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One thing I'll say to you Pfc Ohara FUCK YOU!! I'll scuff you up if you were in front of me! 18 yrs or 1800 years that NCO DONE MORE SHIT THAT DAY THEN YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HISTORY HAS!
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SGM (Join to see)
AT EASE SFC (Join to see) ! That is no way to address a Soldier who is asking a legitimate question. Your comment is very unprofessional, demonstrates poor leadership, and you should retract it now.
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There are just some MOS's that don't have that many SFC positions, Administration comes to mind
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I retired after 20yrs and 16 days as an E6. It is not uncommon. In my field, very competitive for E7. Even though in some units I was in and I was the senior SSG in the unit, I had the opportunity to be the "acting 1SG" when the 1SG and the PLT SGT was away from the company. I also had the honor of being a PLT SGT that was pick over 8 senior (E7) NCO's. Nothing wrong to be confused and ask a question. To all who want to prejudge me, I never had any Art 15's and only 3 bad counseling's in my 20yrs of service.
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SGM (Join to see)
Nobody should be judging you on your career. Equally good Soldiers travel different paths and have different outcomes, simply by virtue of where they have been, the jobs they have held, and the opportunities they have had. You served 20 honorable years, and your 20 years was just as honorable as anyone else's! Thank you for your service to our Army and our Nation!
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1LT William Clardy
Not really - overseas stripes come at 6-month intervals (unless it changed since I was in), so that impressive row on his right sleeve translates to 4 years spent in unfriendly neighborhoods, SSG Scott Burk.
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Great question PFC O'Hara! I've yet to see anyone put it bluntly that way! No offense to all other positive and informative answers, but there are a number of different ways a SSG can serve well past 20 years. Detrimental conduct should not be the first reason that comes to mind when a young Soldier raises such a question.
As stated in someone else's response, the most logical reason, in my opinion, is a break in service. We have absolutely no idea what this SSG's story is. He could even be retired for all we know. Again, good question there young Soldier. Stay inquisitive and never stop being eager to learn. Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions!
As stated in someone else's response, the most logical reason, in my opinion, is a break in service. We have absolutely no idea what this SSG's story is. He could even be retired for all we know. Again, good question there young Soldier. Stay inquisitive and never stop being eager to learn. Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions!
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PFC O'Hara - There are numerous reasons that an E-6 can have 18 years of service. Many of them aren't negative. Since I don't know this SSG's situation, I'll just tell you what happened to me and my husband.
I spent 5-1/2 years in the Army National Guard. I had been an E-4 for over two years. When I decided to go active duty, it was Army policy to reduce rank by one pay grade for reservists going on active duty. So, I became an E-3 again. I was promoted to E-4 about two years later. Then, I had a break in service. This was a personal decision that had nothing to do with the character of my service. I was honorably discharged. I reenlisted after my husband retired. I was still an E-4. Shortly thereafter, I was permanently injured while loading a truck. This happened one month before I was scheduled to go to PLDC (WLC). Instead, I was medically boarded and reassigned to med hold. It took another 15 months for my medical discharge to be approved. So, I was an E-4 with eight years of service.
My husband was an E-7 when he retired. He served three years in ADA before his own break in service. During that time, he went to college and earned his Bachelor of Arts. When he reenlisted, he re-classed and became a personnel clerk. Because he had a BA, he made E-7 by the time he had 11 years. That's where he stayed. Even though he had time on the trail as an E-6 drill sergeant and advanced NCO school, he was never promoted to E-8. This was primarily a result of his MOS. For any MOS, E-7 and above are DA-level promotions.
In the personnel field, E-8s and E-9s are few and far between. Each year that my husband was an E-7, he watched for the DA promotions list. Several years, there were 0% DA promotions for senior personnel NCOs, Army-wide. During the nine years that he was an E-7, the highest percentage of senior NCOs in his MOS who were promoted to E-8 and E-9 was 1%. This all happens because there is a bottleneck at the top. Existing E-8s and E-9s get into positions where they're comfortable and that's where they stay until they must retire. So, E-7s are forced to retire after 24 years because of the lack of promotion opportunities for them. When my husband retired, he was an E-7 with 22 years of service.
I spent 5-1/2 years in the Army National Guard. I had been an E-4 for over two years. When I decided to go active duty, it was Army policy to reduce rank by one pay grade for reservists going on active duty. So, I became an E-3 again. I was promoted to E-4 about two years later. Then, I had a break in service. This was a personal decision that had nothing to do with the character of my service. I was honorably discharged. I reenlisted after my husband retired. I was still an E-4. Shortly thereafter, I was permanently injured while loading a truck. This happened one month before I was scheduled to go to PLDC (WLC). Instead, I was medically boarded and reassigned to med hold. It took another 15 months for my medical discharge to be approved. So, I was an E-4 with eight years of service.
My husband was an E-7 when he retired. He served three years in ADA before his own break in service. During that time, he went to college and earned his Bachelor of Arts. When he reenlisted, he re-classed and became a personnel clerk. Because he had a BA, he made E-7 by the time he had 11 years. That's where he stayed. Even though he had time on the trail as an E-6 drill sergeant and advanced NCO school, he was never promoted to E-8. This was primarily a result of his MOS. For any MOS, E-7 and above are DA-level promotions.
In the personnel field, E-8s and E-9s are few and far between. Each year that my husband was an E-7, he watched for the DA promotions list. Several years, there were 0% DA promotions for senior personnel NCOs, Army-wide. During the nine years that he was an E-7, the highest percentage of senior NCOs in his MOS who were promoted to E-8 and E-9 was 1%. This all happens because there is a bottleneck at the top. Existing E-8s and E-9s get into positions where they're comfortable and that's where they stay until they must retire. So, E-7s are forced to retire after 24 years because of the lack of promotion opportunities for them. When my husband retired, he was an E-7 with 22 years of service.
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I seen a E6 retire at FT Campbell in Nov 1995. I didn't know him or if he ever got busted.
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