How does an E6 have 6 service stripes?

Every situation is different, and until you know everything you should be cautious about jumping to conclusions. I wear 8 service stripes and will have 9 when I retire from active duty in two years. National guard and reserve time also is reflected in service stripes. Some MOS choices could mean slower promotions also. And it could be a choice. The point is, don't think every situation is the same for everyone.

The SSG has 18 years of service in his sleeve pretty much explains that. Hell the army is full of 18 and 19 year SSGs. He probably was talked in to an OUTSTANDING MOS like anything medical or tanker or infantry or intelligence or vet tech or boat driver etc etc etc

Un-confuse yourself and move on......or try asking the SSG

Some are quick to judge but when I was in the Marine Corps, I said if I got orders for Vietnam, I was going to find an E5 over 18 and glue my ass to him. That guys coming home!

Back in 1966 I knew an E-4 with 20 years; he drove a fuel truck on the flight line, it was all he wanted to do and he did it well.
An E-6 is OK for 20 years and retirement.
Not everyone is as cute and smart as you.

I am glad PFC O’Hara that you noticed that the Staff Sergeant has been in the Army for 18 years and you feel he should have more rank. 1. Why didn’t you ask the SSG directly of the circumstances for him not getting promoted? I don’t think he would have mind talking to you depending on how you ask. I see a great counseling session coming out of that encounter. 2. Not everybody is destined to be leaders, so maybe he did not take the necessary steps for promotion. 3. He probably did not have a good leadership team looking after him. 4. It could be his MOS didn’t warrant promotion above E6 or he could have had some minor infractions. At any rate, I applaud him for not giving up. One last advice PFC O’Hara, if you don’t want a PFC asking the same question about you in the future- you make sure you aim for the next grade by knowing your supervisor’s job description and duties. Hope I addressed your question.

Being a former MP, I've run into this situation & question before...so I asked a Spec 5 with the same service stripes...to many Article 15's on his record. He can.t be promoted per-say, he might have a specific MOS that another couldn't fill, but who really knows...? The Non-Com, and he CO who "did this to him: really know the circumstances...and maybe, an "am-bare-ass-ment" to the service man. The serviceman I questioned...sadly had an " I could care less" attitude. He got his years, he got his $'s, and he didn't have to "put-up" with what he claimed as the BS of his rank and "time in service". On the other hand, depending on your MOS, rank attainment is almost impossible...just ask an MP 'bout that. Sometimes rank is verry sloww... It depends on what is needed at the time, and what comes down from HQ. You do the best with what you've got.

It is dependent on the soldiers MOS , For example , myself , I was a 91B E-6 , I sat on the promotion list for 3 years waiting for E-7 before I finally got out , their were a few hundred others like me on the list , there were very few E-7 91B slots available army wide , so we all would watch the Army times each month to learn if any one was going to get promoted . Like many others I could have transferred into the infantry and make rank as they had the slots . It's all part of the bigger picture , we are all part of the machine you go where they need you and if you want the money and the rank AND you can do the job feel free to hop around till you get where you want to be.

When i entered the Guard, STPA was not a thing. I made E-5 in 4 years. After STPA came into being, I remained an E-5 for the next 10. No ones fault but mine, as I loved the unit I was in and wouldn't transfer. Turned down lots of offers to remain with my guys because honestly, it WAS my hobby, not my job. When I finally did move on, I made E-6 and because I was called to active duty, made E-7 eleven months after that. I would be willing to bet that this man's situation is similar.

I know plenty of dudes that are sitting in MOS that are hard AF to get promoted in. Close friend of mine is a fire rescue dude. PT Stud, College grad, has a deployment to Afghanistan and he’s still an E4 because there are a very limited number of NCO slots for him to move into. My old roommate is an active guardsman with almost 20 years of service and he’s still an E5 because when folks get those jobs they do not leave them til the ARNG kicks them out from old age. I’ll finish with this: I’ve served with dudes that had 20+ years and still E6 that I would go anywhere with without hesitation and I’ve had pretty young 1SG’s I wouldn’t follow to the grocery store.