How does an E6 have 6 service stripes?

I have seen people go on active duty right out of HS, do 4-6 years, get out and by their late mid- 20's go back in and stay 20 years after that..leaving active duty in their late 40's and early 50's..then go into the USAR. There are tons of scenarios

Bergdahl is a POS!!!!

I agree with previous response, sorta. The way you worded it, even proposing it, shows you did little to investigate this yourself. That does make this a stupid question. Service stripes can come from prior service, other services. All this indicates is that he had 18 plus years of HONORABLE, NO NEGATIVE ACTIONS TAKEN time in service. E-6 after that long, with those stripes, indicates he 1. re-entered service at some point, 2. Was in an MOS that had promotions maxed out. 3. Incompetent Command that intentionally held him back or locked him in a position due to special need or skill in that specific position.
In all 3 cases, kid, you are looking at a real man. Someone who due to forces probably beyond his control served 18 plus honorable years doing a job no one else could perform.
Instead of trying to stupidly vet him, you should probably be honoring the hell out of him.

SSG Ret. Special Forces

Trust me PFC, those stripes were earned. MOS dependant promotions, unit dependant, could have hit a bump in the road which you show me an NCO that hasn't and you'll color me impressed. He's got a hell of a stack going which shows me, that SSG didn't Dodge anything and does his job.

I wouldn't tread this trail.

A lot of MOS's dead end at E-6; not only that he could be in the NG or AR. My son's KYNG unit had a Unit Armorer that was about 45 years old and was only a SP4; but he loved his job and didn't want to move. On my 1st tour at FT. Hood, TX, I had a SSG that was a section leader and would have had to change MOS's to go any higher, but he really loved his job in the Welding Section. He had 18 years in and quit to work on the TX oil pipeline in East TX instead.

I retired as an E6/SSG with 24 years of service and 34 months of combat. I earned every stripe I wear.

I would guess a break in service. Stripes fly away real fast.

And your question is?

My old commo MOS had 998 points cutoff for 10 years.

See this is that mentality as a result of people getting promoted too damn fast on a regular basis. People expecting to make SFC in 10 years.

He stopped getting promoted. That’s about it. Whether it be a saturated job field or performance/behavior based it could be hit or miss and person by person. It’s not uncommon enough to make it weird though. There is a stigma about it in the Marine Corps and Army. More than a few times I have been questioned about retiring as a SSgt and they back off when I respond that I was medically retired with under 12 years. I won’t lie, it would be easier if I was a Gunny

A lot of the rank depends on the MOS you choose. A lot of the MOS's don't require a lot of E-7's, E-8's or E-9's at the top but a lot of people stay with the MOS because they like the work. My brother was a good example of that. He was in the Marksmanship Unit at Fort Benning for 18 years out of his 22 year service career. They offered him E-8 and a 1st Sgt job if he would change his MOS. He refused and retired as a SFC-E7.

he could also be active guard or reserves. most training sites have Guard and Reserve Liaison Staff and unfortunately it seems like those guys never get promoted.

As a retired SSG, my MOS the promotion points where always set at max to make the next rank. So a lot of us E6s where stuck waiting for points to drop or for away for us to make more points to add to our promotion packet.

It's simple really, he's not Infantry, which translates to slower promotions, used to be called a dead end mos..

I retired a SSG and had 7 service stripes because I was extended during the first year of Iraqi Freedom.

I have had two Uncles that retired from the Army. One had 20 years combined service as he started out in the Navy in '38, then went into the Army after WWII and retired as an SFC. The other Uncle retired after a littl over 22 years as a S/Sgt. The SFC was Transportation and the other was Infantry. I don't know how the Army works their promotions. In the CG / Navy, To get from E2 to E3, you have to take and pass a course and pass Practical Factors. As an E3, you can be a Seaman, Fireman ( Engineering ), Airman, and the Navy has Construction. Each one has a menu of rates / MOS that go with it. Here, I will use Fireman. The rates / MOSes are or were, Engineman, Boiler Tender, Electricians Mate. Boilertender, and Machinist Mate. I think they have rolled up Engineman, Boilertender, and Electricians Mate into one, Machenery Technician. Anyway, If you are E2 and go to, Engineman school, and pass the course, you come out as an E3 Designated. you will have the E3 stripes plus the gear for Engineman. Now, the other way is to take the Course for Fireman and pass that and the practical factors, you will get promoted. Then you take out the Course for Engineman 3. You pass that and then you are Desinated. Once you have reached that point, the next thing is the practical Factors and then when the time comes, you take a Service Wide Exam and you are competing against guys across the service. How you score on that exam determines where you are on the list. If there are 25 Billets to fill and you are in the top 25, you get the promotion. If you are 26 and lower, tou don't unless a billet opens up. If, by the time the next Service come around and you have not been promoted, you have to take the exam agian. In short, once you have the knowledge stuff behind you, it is then based on the Number of billets to fill and where you are on the list. I don't know how the Army does it, but I assume it does have to do with open billets for that Grade.

No need to be confused, some MOS's have a slower rank progression and slot availability. I retired as an E-6 with 7 service stripes!

Not hard, I'm getting ready to put on my 6th strip this summer. As a SSG your RCP is 20 years. So SSG Kemp is correct, there are a lot of NCOs that retire as a SSG.

It means he has served his country almost as long as you have been alive. Todays young and immature lower enlisted are the living example of why I am glad I finished my 19 years back in 2009.