How does an E6 have 6 service stripes?

Got out came back on or did timr sd a reserve

There are many factors to consider. I have been in the army for 20 yrs now which I had reached the rank of E5 and then switch to become an officer and now currently a MAJ to which I have met many outstanding soldiers of all ranks and years of experience having served in active duty, national guard and Reserves myself.. You have to consider the any career paths that soldiers take for either their own personal interest or ambitions. Some have done active duty time and then switch to either national guard or reserves. National guard for example has a very slow rate of promotion. I met many soldiers from E4 to E6 with 16 plus yrs of service and its due to no available promotion slots in their MOS in their state. I even have friends who have been in the reserves that i known since 2005 when i was a sergeant with them and they are still E5s today because they remained in the medical service MOSs. Never judge a person by their rank and years, every individual has a story and experience and you never know if you may have life changing experiences that pull you into similar situations. I was a PFC back in 2000 and im glad I had a few mentors that taught me this lesson. Keep strong and seek mentors my young green brother.

As a 42A ,and since clearly you've gotten past the 3rd grade and can multiply 6 x 3...what's the BS point of your question?

Maybe he has prior enlisted service in one or more other branches.

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.