How does an E6 have 6 service stripes?

Someone here put it best; he may be in an MOS which promotes very slow. He also may have had a break in service and, when he reupped, had to take a pay grade or two step back. This happened to me. I was a SSG for 6 years in the Reserve and Guard infantry and those PSGs/SFCs are there long term and so promotions stall at SSG. I got fed up, got out after 14 years, and reupped in the Reserve 6 years later. They made me come back as a SGT. They still made me do my 18 months time-in-grade
to make SSG. I did, but they wouldn't count my previous 6 years as a SSG and so I had to do the 21 months time-in-grade to make SFC. I was always told that I was an excellent NCO, I was respected highly, maxed my APFT, and was very proficient in my MOS, yet still, at one point, was only a SSG at 16 years. This guy might be a stellar NCO, but is just a victim of circumstance(s).

I did, I was comfortable where I was at and then I picked up my 7

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Anyone figure he just likes being an E-6? Maybe refused to go higher because of the politics? Or just knows that he will have to transfer from a great unit if he hits E-7? Come on people, no right to ASSume and shit on someone, seriously it's a fricking picture, if you know the guy then great, shut up and don't talk about him behind his back... if you don't know they guy, shut up and quit talking crap about someone you don't even know! He's serving honorably just like the rest of us are, or have!
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He may have been prior service or served in a different branch of the military and in either of those cases you would most likely take a rank reduction if not have to start all over. besides the obvious.

In my time, 68-75, that might have caused a few raised eyebrows. But in today's Army, it is everyday. My son graduated top of his class at Corry Station, FL then spent 4 years basically running his team at Ft. Meade. Got out as an E-4.

I knew SSG Cowell myself and it was an honor serving with him. He is a great NCO. You don't control the promotion rate in your MOS. Some MOSs are very slow when it comes to promotion. That does not make less of you as a Soldier.

The United States Marine Corps recognize an E-6 as a SNCO, the DOD supports this and does Grant retirement to those at 18 yrs, it does however take some recommendations to stay active duty passed 18yrs as a E-6 or SSgt, but it has happened many times before and it will continue that way, because the USMC's structure.

Why be confused? He is a SSGT with 18 years. Lots of good reasons why that may be - but your question smacks almost of a back-handed accusation. Why is it even important to you?

Now this is Navy but when was in I had an AE1 POIC on one of my deployments that had 20 years in. He was good enough at his profession for the Navy to retain but he didn't seem to get past the Chiefs board for reasons he would never go into.

OK so now the fun begins I was A 91S40 when I retired I had 6 service stripes and 4 combat stripes but because I was in an MOS that there were 973 of us in the Army, and because people tended to stay I was promoted real slow real slow like needed 793 points slow, then retired as a 5 because I didn't had TIS OR TIG as a 7 so I got part of my 7, part of my 6 and a lot of my 5 pay> in any case the stripes on your sleeve don't represent any thing more than how long you have been around