Is it possible to get promoted this quickly in the Air Force? Is this typical for band members?

In the Navy, all musicians come in as E-6. Most have at least a Masters Degree, some with P.hD.s .. however, at 19... pretty much says she doesn't have the advanced degrees the Navy requires to get those ranks.

Band positions are different. Certain positions have assigned ranks. They go through an entirely diff recruiting process requiring auditions and/or certain education requirements. In her case it may be that a vocalist position is an E6 - Assuming she is primarily a vocalist...she may play an instrument or instruments as well. There is a lot more to just performance too.

This Rank is a reflection of her talent and enlistment into one of the special services. For a lot of us, being an NCO was a tough, mentored, educational, and experiential career path that took years of devoted service to achieve. We had to be forged into leaders and Perform our jobs to the highest standard. For all the blood, sweat, and devotion to duty, we were promoted. Her talent is singing, which she excels at. She serves in the Band, she is in a "different World" than most of us who served. She is esentiall in a P.R. unit that represents and promotes promotes the Air Force. She will never lead airmen in the traditional sense. I have no issue with this other than to say, that if She were to come into a situation where she would be expected to operate at her Rank outside the Special Services, she should take it upon herself to get the leadership education in order to do what's expected.

This is absurd, I don't care what MOS you have, there are expectations for those holding that rank, if you just give it away, then you are destroying the NCO Corps and all we stand for. You need to develop that Airman and make sure they know what is expected of them and that they are mature enough to represent all of us NCO's.

That's the AF!

Each MOS is different. You can rank up pretty fast if you are in a position that has very few people in it. If you want to make quick rank in the Army, switch to working in food services. Just sayin

The military is based on rank which is tied to leadership ability and technical development and competence. A troop who has 4 months TIS has neither the leadership ability nor the technical competence to hold the rank of TSgt. It is astonishing that senior NCOs who have responded to this article are okay with this. It doesn't matter what this young lady's job is in the Air Force. Her rank based on her TIS diminishes the good order and discipline of the service.

For MU s in navy the start E-5 or 6 depending on musical skill or schools.

The Airforce Band is one of the hardest units to get into in the armed forces. Airman that make it into that unit earn a higher paygrade because they have the expertise. She may be young but she has a skill that surpasses others. She had to pass an audition and meet all other standards required to enlist in that slot. The audition that is on par with Symphonies. If she were to leave the band field she would most likely have a reduction in rank. Music is an aquired skill. You may feel that military bandsmen are unnecessary. Not only do we continue to honor military tradition through ceremony, we inspire civilians. We inspire them to raise their right hand and join the ranks. We inspire them to support the service members overseas and we honor those that have given everything for the nation.

My concerns are what type of leadership course(s) has she gone through? What happened to time in grade / time in service? Or is that waived because of her mos? When she interacts with other troops how could she possibly know what a lawful order was? I've read that other branches do the same thing, but is it right? Kind of a slap in the face to all the combat NCOs who work their asses off to make Staff Sergeant.