How does an E6 have 6 service stripes?

Oh you poor child...

I retired E6 yes had some troubles but MOS and prior service had something to do with it, but I am proud of every stripe and year I served

Could be a rough MOS to promote in. Could be a few cases of the Korean fast track for ranks. Could just be that they rode the fine line of that cap before you have to move up or get out. Also could be reserve/guard time - I’m not sure but I think their time is counted the same even though most of it is not served as an active component.

I'd be more concerned with his left sleeve - that's a lot of hostile fire pay.

Maybe in that 18 years, he got busted in grade. Also could have a bad MOS. I had one of those, a Balanced MOS. It couldn't be changed to something else. Also, one one slot per Maint. Co. TO&E. I got lucky as I was the ranking E-5 and was the Armament Shop Foreman. I got prompted to E-6 while in Transit to CONUS from Korea. When I got to Fort Meade, there were 4 other E-6's in that Maint. Co. I ended up the Company Reelistment NCO. I got out shortly after that. I guess that the PTSD bothered me then but I never realized it then.

I'm 14 almost 15 in and have my 6 just now. My platoon sergeant dragged his feet to provide guidance for my 5 packet. And maintaining a passing APFT while working on my profile packet (figuring out why I my body is breaking down) kept me a SPC for quite awhile.

Also the wait list for ALC is long, terribly long. I waited 3 years just for one of 20 seats. Had to pass ALC for promotion.

It is very possible. There are a number if MOS's that have a bottle neck at the E-7 level. I was in one. I tried to get retraining to a different MOS but was told mine was a critical MOS.

It is very difficult to get promoted to E-5, even more difficult to make rank that has fewer positions to it for each rank, E-4 and below has a higher turnover rate than E-5 and above

I have a SSG that works with me who's been in for 18 years.

He's in the National Guard - that's my fist thought.