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

Looks like previous note of mine disappeared To reiterate, you’ve hit the deck running. Your achievements at sea in the Cruiser/Destroyer world are exemplary. Qual for NROTC and commissioning? Forget about the too soon thing. You are going to be a seasoned Ensign compared to non-prior service Ensigns entering the fleet and SWOS. Quit looking behind unless you’re the OOD checking to see if there is a snake following the ship..then it’s “helmsman, mind your rudder.”

Since you are in the NROTC program now, I’d say that you have hit the deck running. Keep it up. The only time to look behind you is as the OOD to see if your helmsman is using too much rudder and a “snake” is following the ship. “on the helm, mind your rudder.”

No. I knew a lot of slick arm First Class. They were all good shipmates. I recently lost a very
good slick arm First Class from Easley, SC. I miss my friend John Wayne Anthony, he retired from
Milliken Corporation in Management,

In Vietnam it wasn't unusual to see a 19 year old Infantryman get a battlefield promotion to Ssg. E-6 .

Depends. With Band personnel making the premier bands where minimum rank is E-6, you get the rank upon completion of BCT or equivalent in other branches. But to do that, you have to pass a very rigid audition and be symphony caliber to get in. I did see a 13 series (field artillery fire direction) NCO make rank E-7 in 5 and E-8 in 7 years. I will say, he did quite well in his MOS. This is a very demanding and technical MOS. He is the only one I've seen be successful in getting rank that quickly. I've seen other NCOs get rank quickly and it was a disaster, the NCO didn't know anything about the job he was in.

It really depends on the person, I've seen it go both ways. Back when my Dad was in the Air Force (Korean War Era) you could make rank fast, and he did. One mistake later he's busted from E5 to E2. for essentially having a big mouth. He left because he said he didn't think he could live it down. I explained the rational for UCMJ is to allow swift judgement and rehabilitation. He just laughed and said he never saw that. I've seen lots of dead weight because they were promoted too soon and didn't really know their job. The funny thing was when given a chance to change that they resist, It's amazing to watch. I've also seen heavy hitters that have earned everything they have.

In 1962 while stationed in Asmara, Eritrea, Ethiopia at a STARCOM site (Strategic Army Communications Command) I was an E3 upon arrival. The NCOIC of my Section said if I could convince him that I could run the Receiving Section in 30 days, he'd promote me...I did, and he did and I made Spec 4.
I was a Fixed Station Radio Repairman E4 drawing P2. In 90 days, time in grade was waived and I made Spec5 and all this was within 18 months of my over seas service. This also was an era when rank from DOD was fast and furious and I was at the right place at the right time. So to answer your question, it seems to me if all the planets line up at the right time, yes.

You can definitely make rank too soon. People expect certain things from a First Class or higher. They are expected to KNOW THE DRILL for one thing.
We had one individual who made E6 in 4 years. This person was AWESOME at their job. They, however, did not know enough about the big picture, and because of divisional staffing, there was no one there to recognize the problems that were forming. Thankfully, a more senior person transferred to the ship and was able to turn the division and the newly frocked First Class into a fine working division on the ship. Had the new blood not checked in when they did, I shudder to think how bad it could have gotten.

Think - Lord of the Flies.

I was impressed with a 26 year old Major I met in 1969. And I knew several mid 20’s senior Captains on their second tours who were OCS/College dropouts. Rank was fast and furious during the Vietnam era. It wasn’t until 1971 (when I voluntarily joined a Reserve unit at the Presidio for the $110 tax free monthly pay) that I found out about RIF’s. The Major leading my battalion with 15 years in Reserves was RIFFED. My guess is a number of the young Field Grades without required educational backgrounds were RIFFED as well? Thank you for your service. Now get out!

Navy Nucs used to make Chief quick. Red Striped in the Chiefs’ Mess used to raise eyebrows.