E6 in 3 years? Is there such thing as making rank too soon?

For the position I was being recruited for and assigned in the Army, I had to have the rank of E-5. Prior to entering the Army, because of my age and circumstances under which I was being allowed in, I had to undergo stringent testing to be allowed in, in the first place. I scored very high in the testing phases and was guaranteed fast advancement through the ranks. While I was young for the position, I was wise beyond my years and gained the trust of those who I worked with so a trusting, two way street was established between the different services I was working with at the time.

Well, if a college graduate, one can become a 2nd lieutenant in about 12 weeks.

SPC Sam Williamson - In 1976, I had just graduated from college with a BA in recreation admin and expected to get e civil service job as a Park Ranger or other exciting outdoor career. I submitted the Standard form 171 to every national park and BLM dept in the country. I was not qualified because, I WAS NOT A VETERAN. BUT I IHAD A COLLEGE DEGREE!! BFD said the government. Oh Sh*t. At my graduation party, I told my family that I should just join the military. I joined the USAF in 1976 on a bet from my 3 brothers. I wanted to be a Marine because my last name is Patton and myj big mouth got me too much trouble in civilian life. My brother’s said I couldn’t be a Jar head and had to join the Air Force because “IT WAS THE ONLY SERVICE NOT REPRESENTED IN THE FAMILY.”
In 1976, the Vietnam war was winding down and Officer training school was NOT accepting non-technical degrees. I’m sorry you didn’t get to go to officer training school because you probably would have gotten in with an engineering degree. So at 25-years old, I enlisted as a slick-sleeve-no-striper airman basic.
In 1979, as an A1C everybody from my 1st shirt to commander, told me to apply for OTS. I was promoted to E-5 during the 90-day how-to-be-an-officer-and-not-a-cocky-jerk trainee and got my “butter” bars in July 1979. Now I was a "mustang,” prior-enlisted officer. I proudly wore my GOOD CONDUCT medal on my dress-blues and because I was once “one-of-them" - enjoying well-earned respect from the enlisted troops. Ego-gone wild. In 1988, I resigned my officer commission and got my E-5 stripes back. Fast forward to 1998 made E-6 in the reserves, and retired as a Captain (O-3), my highest rank held with 23-years continuous service.
My military history, how sexual harassment screwed up my career, and other anecdotal stories is documented in the PREFACE - "The emergence of PTSD" - of my 436 page autobiographical book, currently available on amazon.com titled, PTSD: Pissed-off-To-Some-Degree. Vent Verbally NOT Violently. Read the sample on the book’s amazon website and if motivated, feel free to ask me any questions here about its interior.

Righteous man

PO2 Henry Kaczmarek - could not agree more. A new officer that wants to learn and excel quickly finds and latches on to some good NCOs... while maintaining that officer/enlisted relationship. It helps the NCOs out as well. They're mentors to everyone. They have an obligation to share what they have learned. This isn't necessary and often backfires with warrant officers - especially Marine ones. LOL. You don't really need to teach those folks anything.

I think Col Burroughs is right about case by case judgement. Some people have rabis some don't. If you do make rank fast you must have the good sense to figure out how to survive and learn from the best.

This is an example of getting rank fast. In the AF medical core and I think all the branches are the same, promote rapidly. My daughter joined the reserves, then went to medical school with the AF paying her way. She got promoted to Captain while in the reserves. We got to put the bars on. So reporting for active duty she had no idea how to act as an officer. She was lost just trying to process in! One airman seeing that she was up set tried to help her. She was saying "this is my first day!" First day at Kessler" he replied" "No !, my first day in the AF" . I told her the after my 21 years enlisted in the AF the best thing for her to so was find a mature E 5 and ask what she should do. I also told her to take care of her people. Everything seemed to work out ok for her.

Need to separate the eggheads and make statements

CPO Eugene Gillam I have a friend that made CPO in 6 he came in as E-3 made PO3 first time up was caped to PO-2 EP tested made PO1 and made board first look he is now a nurse practitioner he was also 3 Warfare qualified by the time he was a PO 2

1SG George Truelove - Right on, 1SG! I believe that the Army made a huge mistake in eliminating the Specialist (E5 and up) ranks, and, they should bring them back. There are many enlisted who do not want to be a NCO!

MSG Donna Dewar - Good point, MSG. My Army was self-reliant, with very few "civilian" jobs. I believe that having many occupations filled with civilians will turn around some day and cripple the Services. We need the Draft, back!

SPC Edward Abney - I agree with MSG Dewar. I was a Spec-5 for 6 years because I did not want the responsibility of being an NCO. I loved my job repairing HAWK System equipment, getting my hands dirt was what I liked. When I made SSG most of that changed. I still got down and dirty but not near as much as I liked.