How does an E6 have 6 service stripes?

So many reasons that are legit. Now in the Navy it is for 4 years. But when you hit 12 years or your 3rd stripe, if you have never been busted they are gold. If you have been busted they are red. So you can tell who was a good sailor. But I was in a rating where only 1 E-6 was promoted to E-7 every year. There were a lot of E-6s over 12 years and beyond. Then again I had promised my goat locker that I would never be part of their canoe club. :)

First of all, stop thinking in terms of time equal stripes and rank. I served in 3 different services, broken time and an MOS that was FROZEN for 8 years. Believe it or not, rank back in the day of peace time was hard to get and people weren't just leaving, this was a career. Circumstances and competition were great. Things happen, oohrah to everyone that works hard and continues to with no rank insight until possibly changing Mos or getting an opportunity to advance because of retirement from someone. I waited years to advance but was happy to help others because I knew someday would be my chance aND I watched good leaders and bad leaders and took that and applied it to become what I hope was a good snco. Rank doesn't make you a good leader, dedication to your job and fellow service members and making sure they are trained and taken care of makes you a good leader.

Some of our old school leadership opted to drop out of high school to join the military prior to it being mandatory that you had to have graduated high school in order to enlist. Because of that, they come to a road block in promotion today. (Very few will opt into getting their GED's and picking up rank whereas others will just finish their contract and integrate back into civilian life. In addition, some NCO's just rather be in the field than at a desk.

What's even worse is YOU are a human resource specialist (42A) ....you should know better!

My 1st NCOIC was an E5 with 17 years in. As far as I knew, he never had any Article 15s, and did not have a break in service. An E6 with 6 service stripes isnt a big deal. People forget that some MOSs take for ever to promote. Depending on points. And also (ive been out a while so im a little rusty) but I believe you have to wait until you are on the E7 list before getting promoted to it? (i could be wrong on the last part)

<I>Can also vouch for this NCO he squared my ass away that's for sure</I>
Saw this quote below and it's the only one that matters.

Let me help you out, high speed.
When I came into the military as a 74B (not chemo, back in the early 90's, it was computer operator), points were very low because everyone hadn't discovered the computer MOS yet. I was like you and I told myself I would never be an E-6 with 20 years. To make a long story short, I made E-6 in my first six years. Then I understood. No one knows how those on those boards are thinking when they look at a soldier's record. I even met some E5's that had 15 years because they were in over-strength MOS's. Some soldiers done have the college to give you 100 points at the board. Some are too busy doing their jobs to be worried about promotion. Or maybe he is just floating through time waiting until retirement. But you cant just automatically assume he's a dirtbag. Not everyone can plan out their careers to a dime. Be careful how you talk about other NCO's, things can be misunderstood, like your post here. Lord knows there's enough genuine, in your face douchebags in the army who you will run into. You will know them from the fruits of their labor..

Depends on what MOS he has. I spent 11 years in the Army made it to E6, I was 11B which promotes pretty fast. Then due to a family emergency I had to get out on a hardship discharge. I enlisted in the Air National Guard a few years later, got back on active duty (AGR) and never got above E6, my AFSC was slow on promotions and sometimes, that is just how it is. I wasn't a slacker, had tones of awards and decorations. I completed every NCO school and training ahead of everyone else. I did everything I was asked to do, deployed, answered every call, but couldn't make E7. Sometimes that's just how it goes. NO regrets and happy to haved served my country.

Maybe the SSG is a reservist or had a break in service. There could be many other reasons to answer your question.

Most likely likes staying where he is at, or he is in a slow promotion MOS.

Most of the NCOs I know have went down the scale for something or anything, whether it be big or small, but they work their way back up and are better leaders and men because of doing down a slot.