How does an E6 have 6 service stripes?

We had a company clerk who had been in 12 years and an E4. Would make rank then go on a binge get an article 15 and loose it. He was too good of a clerk to kick out

Let me add my two cents in... Once I hit Sergeant E5, the promotion points in my MOS (71D) remained at 998 for quite a while. When I was medically discharged, I had been "promotable" for over two years - that's right - an E5(P) for TWO years. There are always MOSs out there where the promotion points remain high and/, or slots available for senior NOCs remain full. And the only choice many NCOs have is to either reclassify into a faster-promoting MOS OR to stay put in their current MOS, knowing they may retire as only a Staff Sergeant/E6 or maybe even a Sergeant First Class/E7.

There's always more to the story than the crappy barracks philosophers will tell you.

The man is a SSG, he served his country and retired. No need or right to question him of his service.

Whatever the reason, his or his Uncle Sams, there's no rational for questioning the soldier visa vie this forum. I was once told by a mentor that the stark difference between an NCO and an officer is that the officers don't discuss fellow officers discrepancy on open MIC. Let's support one another and remember, the other difference between the two is that the NCO IS an officer, non-commissioned, but an officer none the less.

Yes I’m one of those pos SSG retirees with more combat stripes then service stripes ... I chose to stay with my MOS and my guys and unit then dodge deployments to get more education that would have certainly advanced my career... the 10th mountain is a highly involved unit in the army and it will make you you quickly realize the difference between self advancement and the survival of your fellow soldiers ... 6 service strips and 10 combat stripes

Whats even more interesting is that he has four years in a war zone SGT Sean O'Hara. Dean you at Fort Totten? That was where i first did my reserve duty after getting off active duty. I have friends at the FDNY Fire Marshals office. Usually there once a year.

Ability, skill and down right tenacity of "smart" are now always depicted on ones sleeve. The smartest most deadly soldier I ever met was (at the time not wear any signs of rank) a LRRP Sargent . E5 Graff. Had a Camel hanging out his mouth, sucking a can of Black Label in his hand. Looked like he had been just dragged through a plowed mud field, smelled similar to a dead hog in a slop pit. We picked him and 4 others up somewhere in Cambodia, at night, some how we started a long friendship on the trip back to the FSB. He'd been in for 16 years, couldn't count the decorations he had, the promotions and busts he had looked like a laundry list. Problem was, he loved his booze and whooping heads. He got another stripe back in the time I knew him, they just couldn't keep this outstanding warrior/leader down.

even if you have all the schools, & have the points . you can Not get promoted with out a Slot . that`s how a E5 ends up with 8 service strips !!! and retires with a cheek in the mail box..

It is not unusual for a SSG. to spend 18 years or more in the Service.

He has been in at least 18 years. Why a big deal?