How does an E6 have 6 service stripes?

What is so unusual about a SSG, E6 having 18 years worth of service stripes ? Plenty of people retire with 20 years as an E6, nothing is wrong with that ! There are plenty of factors that determine how far You may go in rank including an MOS that has less opportunity to advance. That is true in any branch of the Armed Forces. Also if He were Reserves of National Guard unless there is a vacancy for a higher rank and He can get into that position a promotion isn't even possible. There are a limited number of spots available and even less as You rise in rank., quite often it is a case of waiting for others to retire or pass on to even be able to move up.

Hey PFC O'hara, get some time in the Army and then you can ask that question.

Nothing wrong with him at all...he looks like a pretty decorated E-6; that probably after multiple deployments is in the training environment. Maybe he never got a chance to take an E-7 position before going in the training area. Bottom line his service stripes or rank should not be questioned!!!#

Yeah. He's been in for 18 years. SSG is the most common rank to retire at in our Army.

SGT reports into a unit and asked if it is hard to make SSG in the unit. Response was "not if you are SFC".

Myself I had 6 service stripes as an E-6 SSG. I spent 20 yrs in 13 yrs TIG as a SSG. Not everyone makes E-7 or above. Some MOS’s were harder to get past E-6 than others. Also in my time if someone on the promotion board knew you and didn’t like you your file would end up in the do not promote pile no matter how your record was

The simple short answer is, the Army hasn't promoted the SSG yet. As you you carry on thought the ranks some MOSs have maxed points when going from SPC to SGT and SGT to SSG. In these MOS it is extremely difficult to move from SSG to SFC. If you do a bit of research you'll find the higher in rank you go the harder it is to be prompted. At one time it was said less than 20 percent of all Soldiers will earn SGM/CSM in their career but 84% of LTs will make it to MAJ. You may ask yourself with so many odds against us why would do a career where our chances of promotion are limited? I can not speak for all, but for me it's a passion for the Soldiers we lead and the work we do. As an NCO, our names don't go into history but without us the officers would never succeed. We NCOS are the Backbone of the Army and you are the future of the Army. Get trained, get educated, and remember our history, there are some big boots to fill.

Article 15 would be my best guess.

I retired at 20 as an E6 I was in a small MOS promotions were tuff

Maybe he has Some Reserve Time.

Maybe his Career featured being stuck in some dead end duty stations that don't look as good on an evaluation.

Don't shame someone's career. He Volunteered to serve just like the rest of us.