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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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Possibly also NG. Had a friend who retired after 20 as an E-5. He did nothing wrong, there were simply no E-6 slots available in out unit or a unit close enough to transfer to, so he was allowed to stay for 20, but could not reenlist past that.
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SGM Jeff Bullard
6 service stripes equal 18 years. There are plenty of good Soldiers that will retire as a Staff Sergeant.
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SGM Jeff Bullard
There will be thousands of SGT and below that will never see Staff Sergeant due to unforeseen situations. I would not cast judgement until you're there and of course retired. Only a small few will make it to 1SG, MSG, SGM and CSM. Doesn't change the fact they all served honorably and all should be proud they served their nation.
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You said it, 18 yrs. Once you become an E6, you're a lifer..but you have to finished NCOER shool or they send to a reduction board..
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Some of the soldiers I was stationed with had prior service in the military during the Vietnam Era when they left. During the late 70s and early 80s, when they decided to come back in, your service time doesn't start again, therefore whatever service time they earned continues into there new enlistment, giving them whatever time in service they earned prior to the new enlistment. That is how this soldier probably earned his service stripes.
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I had 8 service stripes as an Sgt...I also had various number of service stripes at different times in my career. When I first made SSgt in the Corps, I had 1 stripe for being over 4 but under 8 years. When I may Gunny I had 2 stripes, I had 10 years and 11 months at the time. I got out 6 months later. Fast forward several years to when I joined the Army National Guard. I was administratively reduced to E5 and had 3 service strips. Later I had 7 service stripes as an E6 with 21 years in and retired as an SFC. Years later, I returned to the active reserve status and was brought in as a Sergeant once again. In March of 2008, I was an E5 with 8 service stripes. I retired in April and promoted back to SFC and retired as an E7 with 8 service stripes.
One may have any number of service stripes for many different reasons.
One may have any number of service stripes for many different reasons.
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And you will stay confused, why dont you ask about the roughly 10 combat stripes? hit the bricks, double time march
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Created May 2016 and today is OCT 2016.
This is nothing new. I'm from the post nam era.
Now I was just a little PFC at that time but my NCOIC SSG Best, served in Nam with the 5th Special Forces and He was an E6 with almost 20 years of military serves getting ready to retire. Of course during that time, 1977 on, we once had a 20 year retirement, that changed to 30 years a few years later. I made my E6 while in the reserves shorty after I got out under the grand Ruptman law became full blown.
Sometimes it happens when the promotion is so high that there is no sign of promotion anytime soon and when that happens questions start to pop up. Your an example of those questions.
This is nothing new. I'm from the post nam era.
Now I was just a little PFC at that time but my NCOIC SSG Best, served in Nam with the 5th Special Forces and He was an E6 with almost 20 years of military serves getting ready to retire. Of course during that time, 1977 on, we once had a 20 year retirement, that changed to 30 years a few years later. I made my E6 while in the reserves shorty after I got out under the grand Ruptman law became full blown.
Sometimes it happens when the promotion is so high that there is no sign of promotion anytime soon and when that happens questions start to pop up. Your an example of those questions.
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SFC Brian Ewing
These young Soldiers don't understand this because nowadays the Army promotes them to Sergeant in less than 3 years for many of them. Back in the day you really had to put in the work to show that you deserved your stripes, you had to prove that you were a total Leader in all aspects.
Nowadays, if you do the basics like Pass the APFT, Weapons Qual, have enough Civilian Education and Awards along with passing the Board then you get selected even though you might not really be all that much of a well rounded Leader.
Now I'm not saying that this applies to everyone but it does to a great many, I have sat on Promotion Boards and watched how many are selected for meeting the basic promotion criteria without us knowing all that much about them overall as a Leader but they had the points so they got Selected and Promoted.
Nowadays, if you do the basics like Pass the APFT, Weapons Qual, have enough Civilian Education and Awards along with passing the Board then you get selected even though you might not really be all that much of a well rounded Leader.
Now I'm not saying that this applies to everyone but it does to a great many, I have sat on Promotion Boards and watched how many are selected for meeting the basic promotion criteria without us knowing all that much about them overall as a Leader but they had the points so they got Selected and Promoted.
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SSG Gerald King
In the Army Security Agency - it was pretty much a given that if you stayed in 20 years, you would make AT LEAST E-7. That was up until 1975 when I got out. Don't know what happened after that. I served with a lot of grunt units (in an advisory status) couldn't understand how there were so many old E-6's. It all depends on what unit and what your MOS is. I got out in 1975 with 10 years of service, but knew several close friends who were SSG's when I got out that retired in 1985 - 1990. 3 retired E-7, 2 E-8 and 2 E-9. Later I found out that one SP5 that worked for me retired as a SSG. That was the only one I ever knew of that didn't make it to at least E-7. For me, if I had stayed in 20. I feel confident that I would have made at least E-7, probably E-8
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My guess would be a nice collection of Article 15's. No offense, I don't know the man, just saying.
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