[RetiredArmy]

but don't they ever promote you if you have been in that long?

He was a Chief Warrant Officer.

There are five grades of Warrant Officer in the Army. The first is a WO1 or Warrant Officer One. Then it is Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) 2, 3, 4, and 5. They wear a silver bar with a small black square on the bar. One for one, two for a CW2, etc., etc. This guy had to be a CW5. Otherwise, he would probably not have been around this long.

[chesty_puller]

Redirect your fire Soldier. I have known what a Warrant Ofc is since my first Huey ride.