How does an E6 have 6 service stripes?

My old unit had an E5 with 33+ years of service. He was in one of those weird positions that made him essential. He had gotten injured and due to his injury he was not promotable. My step-grampa retired out as an E7 with 36 years in service. So it is not hard to have lots of service stripes but not attain a high rank.

No reason to bust his balls, That NCO has a plethora of been to war bars on his right sleeve. Thank you for your service SSG!

I’m not experienced in Army affairs but there’s a possibility he was prior service but had to start back at PFC or PVT. The Marine Corps does it and Id assume there’s at least one other branch where rank won’t transfer. Maybe he’s in the reserve and promotions don’t come by to often. This next one is far fetched but maybe he went reverse Mustang. Maybe he was an officer and decided he always wanted to be enlisted and so had to restart. Idk, when you guys find out the real answer, I’d like to know. And Article 15s don’t mean you’re a garbage service member. I was probably a little garbage but all my guys respected me. The chain just mostly hated me. But that lead to me being mute after surgery checking into a new unit with a PFC chevron, 4 ribbons and a 4 year service stripe. Kid says “Wow, you’re one salty PFC”. Good times through bad times.

In the
USCG, each hash mark is 4 years.

i made e-5 3 different times in 3 different branches retired as an e-6 after 21 total yrs.

Damn PFC’s are being salty these days.. I was an E-5 when I got out at 15 years.. (11 on paper due to being young and stupid) Other than that back in the day the average time spent as a specialist was 8 years for a lack of slots.. I would stay in your lane, observe the military customs and courtesies.. and for God sakes not bash your Chain of command on any social media platform.

Different possibilities: could have prior service or a break in service that caused him to start over; his mos’s points were maxed out making it near impossible to promote; could have been demoted for either legit or bs reasons (depends on the CoC); etc.

Main point though, the rank doesn’t matter. What matters is that the dudes been in for a bit, and if he’s g2g then if I were you i’d try to benefit from his experience…

I see the snobs are at it again.

The solution worked for me thanks to the community and the members for the solution.

https://www.mygroundbiz.me/

He is in a job classification that doesn't have much chance for advancing,due to cutbacks.My uncle was in the navy for 22 years as a boiler tender,and retired an E6.