How does an E6 have 6 service stripes?

I am guessing that soldier had an article 15 or maybe two in his career. Doesn't mean he isn't an outstanding NCO. I personally never trusted an NCO that didn't have at least one article 15. I knew a 1ST Sgt. when I was stationed inFort Wainwright who had 4 Article 15's because he had a drinking problem and his soldiers idolized him. But the Staff Sergeant in question may not have an Article 15, he might be unable to make E-7, E-7 is a hard rank to achieve, I Know E-6's that have had to retire as an E-6 because even if they had the time and grade and the right schools they could not get a slot. Personally retired as a Sgt. (E-5) after a rank reduction to Specialist (E-4) for rolling my eyes at a senior NCO. I am going to be a lawyer and will proudly display that framed field-grade article 15 for everyone to see. To all those that are retired have an outstanding holiday season and to those still serving stay safe and have a great holiday season as well.

An interesting question with numerous like responses.

Here's a scenario - first hand.
Women's Army Corps (WAC) 65-66, 17 months E-4
USAR Troop Program Unit (TPU) 74-79, 4 years E-5
USAR Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) 79-81, 2 years E-5
ARNG (AGR) 81-86, 5 years E-5
USA 86-89, 3 years E-5
USAR TPU 89-21 2 years E-5
USAR Inividual Ready Reserve (IRR) 89-92, 3 years E-5
IRR Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IRR/IMA) 92-2000, 8 years E-7
USAR TPU 2000-2002, 2 years E-6*
USAR Retired Reserve 2002-2007, 5 years E-6

Total years service 34 retired as E-6.

*Caveat - Promotion to E-7T contingent upon completion of ANCOC. Went to the TPU as E-7 with an ANCOC date confirmed. The unit had been without a PAC NCO for 2 AT rotations so denied my ANCOC because the dates coincided with their AT the year I was assigned. Couldn't get another date as the slots were filled well in advance.

Bottom line, all sorts of things can happen. My service totals - 12 years 'RA,' 17 USAR. At one point I as an E-5 w/18 years TIG and 6 service stripes.

Lot has to do with MOS, early AR15, break in AD service etc.
Old joke:
Join the army, make CSM in 4 years. Join the air force, call your boss Bob. Join the navy, sleep with your buddy. Join the marines, Utah!

This question is just the type of misinformation that needs correcting in our ranks.

I had seven service stripes and retired at 23 years. That’s right, I did not get promoted to SFC. Are you going to judge me now? What was the point of this question? Was it to mock an NCO? Give me a break

Let’s be real, it’s the army. He probably doesn’t have a sub 14 minute run time.

Joking aside, he’s probably in a miserably slow MOS for promotion or he’s in a highly competitive one. Or he could just not want to be promoted. SSG is a fair balance between desk responsibility and connection to soldiers. It’s very possible he just likes where he is.

It is not your place to question this, PFC O’Hara. Your place is is to learn your job, listen to your NCO’s, and not question their rank progression. Sticking your nose in places it does not belong will adversely affect YOUR rank progression.

If he was like me he had prior service. By the time I made SSG, I had 11 years active. NG and Rervists can also have a bunch of service stripes and not much rank. I retired as a SSG with 23 years. Some MOS's promote faster than others

I am confused why you sign PFC and your name on here is with SPC. I was only in for 6 years and was fortunate to make SSG in 4 and a half. With that said some military occupational specialties are harder to make SFC. I have seen plenty of great SSG’s that didn’t make it to SFC even when spending 20 years in the military. It is said when soldiers like you try to clown NCOs for not making the next rank. How long have you been a PFC or SPC since your post is misleading on your rank. Also since you are a reservist, sometimes units simply do not have the position open for a person to get promoted. With your type of questions I do not see you making it that far in the military.

I read a bunch of these before I decided to answer. Private I don't know if this is your NCO or someone you spotted but let me say this one thing. If you are trying to shit stir the pot on this obviously dedicated NCO then your career is not with my Army. Baby SFC are very rare or used to be. In my day 70% or better of the NCO's I knew, myself included, all retired at SSG. But if you really wanted to know I would suggest you be straight forward and ask this NCO yourself. You might learn something that you can use later on in your career. Come on guys let's hear you'll whine because I was to harsh...BWAHAHAHAHA BWAHAHAHAHA BWAHAHAHAHA BWAHAHAHAHA BWAHAHAHAHA