How does an E6 have 6 service stripes?

I retired from the USN as an E-6. I don't see a problem with this.

This is really simple to explain.
Low-density MOS' have a much more difficult time advancing through the ranks than Combat Arms MOS'. Once you understand that in some of those low density fields they have slots for given pay grades. Seeing an NCO with a lot of service stripes makes sense.

can you say BUSTED ? What ever happened it's his deal, get one it

Dependent upon MOS. or the politics at the time he was in he could have been passed over just by being in the wrong time. I made SFC. with 10 yrs. in service and it took almost 10 years to make MSG. The reason was because the
ARMY status changed from promoting combat arms to support personnel.

You’re 42A, you can see everyone’s SRB.

Sometimes leaders are not fortunate enough to fall into key positions for advancement to SFC. This is why knowing what your career map looks like is important so you can seek out those key positions if possible.

Third observation from a Navy perspective -- promotions are based on manning needs as well as personal performance. If there aren't any openings in your job code (MOS or whatever the Army calls it,), you're just S. O. L.

I have a couple of answers to this question but I am coming from a Navy perspective and having lived for almost 75 years.

1. Some guys recognize that they are in a good spot and don't want the duty changes that might want the job changes that promotion might bring. In the Navy, promotion to E-7 meant the end of being a technician and becoming a true boss. Not all guys wanted that.

2. Just because a person is an E-6 now doesn't mean that E-6 was the highest rank he ever held. Stuff happens.

Well that's an interesting question. When drafted in 1971 while Viet Nam war was on, myself and 19 others in my basic training unit who who got a non selected MOS of 11B were sent to Ft Polk for a 2 week LPC (leadership prepareation course) then on to IAT Infantry training. After compleating that the 20 of us were sent to NCO school @ Ft Benning for 3 months and after graduating we all were E5 Sargeants trained to be squad leaders in infantry units in Nam. At this point in time I had only been in 8 months. Now in spring 1972 President Nixon started pulling troops out of Nam and after taking 30 day leave all 200 of my graduating class got orders for differnt places than Nam. I got Germany and spent my 2nd year there attached to 3rd Armor Division in a mecinized infantry unit. While there there were several other NCO's who had several years in and were E-5 - E-7. So if a major conflict is going on you can make rank fast. I got out after my 2 years, something I have regretted many times.

Most likely either in a slow MOS like MP or something where there are limited billets for E7 or had a break in service and has to start in the back of the pack. With QMP boards etc, especially when reviewing staff sergeants for promotion to sergeant first class - if he was a clown, art 15 etc he would of been discharged. Has quite a few combat service bars each representing 6 months in a active combat zone so my guess would be break in service after several tours overseas. Barring being a PX warrior or something uknown then that is likely the deal. RTLW!