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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 >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 1197
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that's SSG Cowell, 35M , I know him fairly well due to the multiple smoke sessions he gave me back at Goodfellow AFB, he's a good NCO lol but hell, for what its worth, he made e6 in like 4 years, so he was probably high speed back in the day. Let the man serve his time and retire
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PO3 James Bobiney
I served with guys like that. They were high speed as Hell in the beginning. Made E-6 in a short amount of time then just said screw this, I like where I'm at. It just depends on each individual. Nothing wrong with retiring a SSG, and his uniform looks impressive to me. He's done his time in Hell.
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Service strips represent 4 years service not 3 learn your shit pfc and. Being E-6 with 20 pulse years is common in the old military I don't know what decade your from don't care you don't question a Staff NCO
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PO2 Nathan Brookshire
Sorry for my misunderstand on army service strips in the Navy and Marine corps they represent 4 years Army it's 3 my mistake.
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SSG (Join to see)
Service stripes equal 3 years of service for each stripe in the Army. The navy may be different. Know your branch before talk down to a new soldier/sailor/airmen/marine.
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Pfc, he has more service stripes than you have rank stripes, know your place and shut your mouth.
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PFC Sean O'Hara you answered your own question. Now are you seeking knowledge or taking a shot at a senior NCO? That's the real question
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PFC O'Hara, may want to listen to that E-6. He has a shit ton on stripes on the other sleeve as well. FYI, some MOS have a very slow promotion rate due to really high rate of points needed for E-5 and E-6.
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I have to laugh about this. Most people coming in now a days make SGT in a couple years, with that most have no leadership experience and really don't know the job they are given all that well, but they sure like the thought if the rank.
But by all means, they might not be able to shoot straight or lead men, but they are smart and can max their pt test..lol
When I went through PLDC I will never forget what the instructor said. One simple lesson from all this, take care of your guys and never put yourself ahead if them.
I would always tell my squad leaders to lead by example. If there is work to be done they better be right there working with their guys and not sitting back bullshitting and watching. That would infuriate me.
But this young Pfc doesn't know any better from how slow rank used to be to get to.
Remember, it's the new army!!!
But by all means, they might not be able to shoot straight or lead men, but they are smart and can max their pt test..lol
When I went through PLDC I will never forget what the instructor said. One simple lesson from all this, take care of your guys and never put yourself ahead if them.
I would always tell my squad leaders to lead by example. If there is work to be done they better be right there working with their guys and not sitting back bullshitting and watching. That would infuriate me.
But this young Pfc doesn't know any better from how slow rank used to be to get to.
Remember, it's the new army!!!
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SSG Daniel Langevin
it's the sensitive Army/Military anymore, Awards and rank are handed out like candy to toddlers. LoL at "PLDC" when I joined the National Guards after serving on active duty, I was asked if I ever did "WLC" I said no. Had no clue what the hell Top was talking about as I was only in the unit for 3 month at this time and still learning their lingo haha. next thing I knew I was at FTIG and was processing in for NCO school WLC. I asked 1 of the training NCO's what WLC was' and after he told me I started laughing, he asked what was so funny, I told him I already had PLDC 1997. After checking into my record he said go head back to your unit. after explaining this to Top all he could say was "Didn't realize your Old Schooled" LMAO
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this is a normal 'thing' here PFC O'Hara, each stripe signifying 3 years, it is/was rather difficult to get to E-7 when I was in, and this soldier has 18 good years in service. Good question though, I didn't know about it when I started out either. It's hard to get E7, at least it was in 'my time...'
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Could be a prior commisioned officer who was reduced in rank but remained in service. Reduction could be a result of break in service, failure to meet education requirements for promotion etc...
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It's really not a mystery. He had 18+ years in service. I'm a SSG with 5 service stripes. It's really not that uncommon. Some of it depends on MOS, some of it depends on whether you're active, reserves, or guard. There are many NCOs who do 20+ years and retire as staff sergeants. There are any number of reasons why a soldier doesn't get promoted beyond that; sometimes it's a choice they make. The retired SSG asleep on the couch next to me right now wanted to keep his position he was in before he retired, for example. I probably won't make SFC for another couple of years at least, which will put me at 17 years of service. I couldn't get a slot for NCOES until next March, and then I have to get in the list. That's just the speed of government: hurry up and wait.
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Theres no shame in it I was a SSG for 13 years right at 19 years I was selected for SFC. And went on to retire at 23 Years in service. He might have been in a small career field.
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