How does an E6 have 6 service stripes?

I will say that he got out and stayed out for a period of time and came back at a reduced rank . I also noticed that he has combat bars on the other arm that indicate he spent a long time in combat. I salute the SSG.

This is just a young Soldier with an inquiring mind that wants to know. I don't think it's stupid question. The basis of his question is what can he do to avoid being stagnant at SSG. Provide the Soldier with some direction to pure career progression. I certainly think his intentions isn't to point out his 18+ years as a SSG but what routes could he take to progress further than SSG. Of course there are explanations as to why some would serve at a certain rank for quite some time but what are the dos and don'ts is what the question is.

We can speculate all day. He may have done time in the Reserves or Guard before going on Active Duty (or vice versa). He may have been in a MOS where cutoffs were maxed out for years because E7s didn't want to become E8s (this held true for my old MOS, you became our sister MOS once you became an E8, and most E7s didn't want to do food inspection over animal care work). He could be medically retired and wore his uniform for whatever this occasion is.

The bad thing about the picture is you don't get an opportunity to ask this NCO his story. I err on the side of caution, because if he was substandard, we wouldn't have this picture to talk about because he'd been out.

He could be like me and have prior service. I've only been in the navy for 9 years but I have gold hash marks for 15 years because I did 6 in the Air Force made e5 and then started over as an e3 in the navy. Not everything is cookie cutter when it comes to military. Everyone has an individual story some good some bad

When I retired with 20 years active duty service; with the rank of SSG, I was wearing 8 service stripes. The only one in my Battalion with more service stripes was our CSM. I had served 6 years in the Army Reserves before enlisting in the Active Duty Army. Time earned for Services Stripes are inclusive not continuous; Army Reservist can earn time toward service stripe provided the individual earns a minimum of 50 retirement points per year. I had earned two service stripes before I had enlisted in the Regular Active Duty Army. Combined I served 25 years, six in the Army Reserves and 19 in the Active Army retiring with 20 years active duty time.
Ray Minze, SSG USARet

The SSGT with 18 yrs of service may have been in the Army Reserves or National Guard for several years ... I was in the USMCR for 5years and had 5 years in grade as a SGT & was not on the promotion list for Staff Sergeant in my last few months.

Stay in your lane PFC, A lot of NCO's only make E6 and that aint a bad thing. Depends on MOS and available slots...Try spending more than a year in the Army before you ask a dumb question.

This Soldier could have also been an officer and got passed over twice and needed military membership for his civilian employment with the military. I know a lieutenant colonel who became a staff sergeant.

I just so happen to be a SSG with 18 years. Never lost rank. No article 15's and I just so happen to be one of the tops in my field. I personally wrote our battalions SOP for my MOS. I just so happened to fall in a field where there is no upward mobility. Not a big deal. I did not join the Army to get rich. I joined to do my job and do it the best I can. I feel as if I have achieved this goal so far.

I retired from the reserve as a E5. Clean record to the end. Closed MOS. It was my decision to stay in my MOS or rate as the Navy calls it. Simple question, simple answer.