How does an E6 have 6 service stripes?

I retired as an E6 with 21 yrs service. No openings to move up unless I changed mos. like my job so I stayed.

Hey boss. He was an AIT platoon sergeant in my Batallion while I was going through. While I was there in 2016, he had been at 19 years. My understanding is that he’s retired now.

depends I think. E6 is the hardest to get. After E6, then to get E7 comes from the DA. But certain MOS's have a hard time with available slots for E5-E7. Infantry is a great place to get rank. cutoff scores depending on DA needs also affect promotions too

Instead of questioning a SSG about his combat stripes, SPC, we should honor him for being the example, even in the face of adversity. I got guidance in the Army from SSG Deter Hooks, who went on to become CSM at the 18th Airborne Corps HQ. Learn from them; rather than criticize their excellence. Thanks.

Many in the military that do 20 years in retire as an E-6.

How about National Guard/Reserve? I stayed for 28 (3 active, 25 NG) E6 retired with one MID.

Could be a slow promotion M.O.S.
Could be prior service with a break in service.
Could be went from reserves to active duty.
There are lots of possibilities that don't reflect negatively on the soldier.

Hey, I was an E-5 and I did 16 years. No Article 15. Of course, I was Guard for 9 of those years, and I was medically retired before I could do my last stint. Plus I had a 2 year break in service. Still, most NCO's retire at E-6

Could be he was prior service too.

When I was growing up, Staff Sergeant was something of a career slot, because of its particular functional role in the military performance matrix. I shot rifles in college and the rifle coach, SSG North, was a career E-6.

In 1947, Army doctrine was changed from the private soldier as the basic unit of the military organization to the squad, based on lessons learned from the Wehrmacht*. As a result, the SSG became the essential leadership slot in the Army A team B team dynamic. From my experience, the squad leader is the hardest working member of the chain of command but SSGs tend to stay there because they like the duty.

A soldier with 18 years as a SSG has earned his/her retirement, but a 30 year SSG has probably over-stayed his/her value and should have attained SFC status as a mentor to younger SSGs. You lose a step or two after 20 years.

*(CF: Men Against Fire. S.L.A. Marshall)