How does an E6 have 6 service stripes?

I have 17 years in(9 AD, 8 NG). I am still a SGT(E5). My MOS is great, but there is no upward mobility at all, unless I kill off the 2 above me. Since they're also my friends, I think I'll just stay where I am at.

Well I can say it does happen, I had over 22yrs in the service when I retired and I was an E-6, during my carrer I had 0 article 15's it's just one of those things you can't explain. I never knew and will never know why I wasn't picked up for E-7 while I seen others around me getting promoted. I was in a support MOS so I understand it's more difficult because the Army needs less of us at E-7. But when you see someone who has been in trouble throughout their carrer get picked up while you don't can make it confusing for sure.

oh a PFC is asking this thats expains it lol this is a dumb question.... Be in a few years and i think you will be answering your own question...

There are plenty of ways it can happen most of which have nothing to do with anything negative on the part of thus NCO.
Could be in a slow promotion mos, my not have had points to get promoted, may not have had opportunity to complete ncoes requirements. The last kept me from picking up E-8 before retirement. To busy deploying to get in mandatory schools for promotion. Bottom line is it happens alot that someone would be a 6 at 18. There was a 8 year period where promotions where just about handed out but before that and now with downsizing it's going back to the way it was.

Prior service? Changed branches? Went from reserve to active? Not entirely unheard of. Just like the SFC or MSG/1SG I saw all over Graf with 4-5 service stripes, and no deployments.

I am wondering why a PFC is worried about what a SSG does? Checking up will get you lit up! You could have went to the AR and figured it out. But for instructional purposes, you should have asked him. Furthermore, you need to figure out how to avoid being THAT GUY!

Maybe he got out and came back in had to take a reduction in rank, could be anything. Question is why are you asking private. He's got his when you get your then you can talk.

Well before 9/11 and Iraq in 2003 "move up or move out" would have taken its toll and he would have been gone. However after 2003 the military was lucky to keep those who wished to stay without making rank as well as taking the deployments. I think this is the case as in my time if you were injured you were involuntarily separated (as I was) whereas today you can stay.

Could be National Guard or just in a hard to promote MOS. You make E6, you will be able to retire as an E6. What's so hard about this?

I retired after 25 years of service. 4 active and 21 ng. 2 deployments. I retired as an E5 Sgt. Many of my peers wanted me to get my E6, however the only opening for my MOS for an E6 was at battalion level. I believe I could do more at a line unit than a battalion. So every year when I had to do my review I checked the box that said no desire to travel. I was proud to see fellow soldiers that I trained move up in ranks and eventually out rank me. I enjoyed doing what I was doing. Wasn't doing it for the rank or money. Would have taken the SSG if it was offered at company level. Could have changed MOS but I enjoyed doing what I was doing.