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

I have too many fast burners in my days in USAF. Some were well earned and more were cases of couldn't do the job so get promoted as fast as one can and be the supervisor/NCOIC.

One of the big problems that the US Army has seen in recent years is that of NCOs who are too young in their careers. During the Iraq/Afghan wars on Terror, we promoted many individuals too soon out of need.That need was to keep as many people in the ranks as possible. In some cases deployments played a factor in getting promoted. This was good for the individual, but not for the force as a whole. Once in the garrison environment, seneior leaders found that those who were promoted on the fast track, still lacked some of the qualities needed to be a well rounded leader.

The current SGM of the Army has been working on fixing this trend and ensuring that we have better leaders all around. That is not to say that all of those individual were not deserving. A good number of them had the maturity to be very good leaders at any level. There is a reason why Special Forces promote faster. In that type of unit maturity is a requirement, not a luxury. "To whom much is given, much is expected".

I made E-6 in 2 years &4 months, E-7 in 8 years and E-8 in 13 years.

BS. Talent over everything. You either have it or you don’t, mediocre individuals will rail against you till you shut up and leave.

Here is my take on it
Soliders need "stick time"! Mentor the younger Soldiers. Based on your personal experiences is the determining factor. And Im talking about all the way down to slick sleeve private. If they are hungry they will do what it takes to make rank. Now here is my take on being promoted to the NCO CORP. I 1ST 1SG used this formula. Sgt so and so. If it didnt sound right you werent going to the board. PERIOD! He only sent the cream of the crop. Thats how I did it. It didnt make popular but it showed my Soldiers that I ran my company my way. I got the best quality soldiers that wanted to be promoted for the right reasons. Promote then train. Oh hell no. It did go on but not in my company. Id personally pick who went to the board after I grilled them to death. Thats why I had the best NCO'S. There is no textbook for when to promote. Just use your gut feeling. As far as fast tracking up the ranks, it is more harm than good. Ive seen CSM'S go to lower enlisted for advice. Not cool. Plus if you move up too fast you will get passed over. Example a young NCO FAST TRACKING ALL THE WAY TO CSM. All in the same battalion. Never leaving the unit for more experience. Plus getting promoted with the minimum requirements. Now fast forward to the BN CSM'S TENURE. with no experience, no sizeable amount of time of troop leading, no staff time
2 options
1. Possible to move into a BDE CSM position, but not likely
2 Forced retirement
I choose number 2. Because fast tracking is nothing more than being about yourself. You are benefiting anyone else. Plus u have hindered your carreer of advancing any further. Just look over countless bios of BDE, DIVISION, AND POST CSM'S. THEY STAYED IN THE DIRT LONG ENOUGH TO GET A REALLY GOOD BITE. NOT JUST A NIBBLE AND MOVE ON...

A lot depends on level of maturity regardless of age or time in rank. A soldier whom has taken a few hard knocks in the civilian world will normally have a much clearer understanding of the who, what, where, when and whys of daily military life than a straight out of high school 17-18 yo. That is why most drill sergeants will try the older basic trainees as acting squad/team leaders first. Achievers, team players/leaders, Alpha male personalities and persueing of continued education even while active duty also help in the promotion of deserving warriors. It all comes down to case by case scenarios.

I can't see the difference in a 1st LT and saying a SSG get rank to fast. A LT can be in charge of a plt. with less than three years of time, but a enlisted person might have problems. I'm Glade I'm out. That was one of the things I could never understand. How someone who got a commission because they went to college is assumed a better leader than say a man who went to college and didn't get a commission.

wtf I was infantry and didn't make rank till i was in 5, nco rank is leadership,combat,barracks,and whatever else. an insult to all NCOs

Perhaps, understanding the context is the most important thing. Carwood Lipton enlisted as a Private in 1942, rose to become 1SG, and then a battlefield commission to LT before he got out in 1945. James Gavin was promoted to BG at 36.
I was promoted to E-6 in four years and that was a combination of lucky breaks and being in the right place at the right time.

Enlisted in the CG in 1974. Came out of Class A school as a E4, six months later E5, and made E6 a year later with 3 years of active service. Made E7 while aboard the uSCGC Reliance with 5 1/2 years. E8 was at 11 1/2 years. Was I smart or outstanding? No, it was mostly timing. I was in Electronics and most technicians enlisted in the CG instead of being drafted into another service during Vietnam. They were all getting out after completing their 4 year commitment. The Chief mess was very supported and basically told me, you learn more by doing and messing up than watching someone else doing and messing up.