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

Went before the promotion board the week after I qualified with time in grade and time in the service with wavers. At that time most comanies were short of NCO's due to drafts for Viet Nam. What helped me was I was 21 when I got my draft notice then I enlisted. Most of my platoon were draftees and quite happy to be PFC or Sp4. I made Sgt E5 16 months after I entered the Army. That was my goal and I worked for it. Went to schools, was strack in appearance and manners.
When I got to Viet Nam the 1SGT told me if I performed the same as I had in Germany he would see that I made SSG. 9 months later I got my rocker. 2 weeks later I was told to remove it. It seems that Brigade wanted the rank for there people and I was not in the Army long enough. 3 months later I was told I could get the rank back with reenlistment. But I was not going back to Viet Nam. 1 tour was more than enough.

Congratulations! I joined at 17 yrs of age as a E1/PVT in a high strength Mos 76V which became 92A the cutoff scores were high on the 999 point system. Picked up additional MOS', skill identifiers and was E5 for one year, E6 for two yrs, E7 for two yrs, E8 for four yrs and made E9 in less than twenty out of my 22 yrs. Continue to move up the ranks E8 was the longest rank I held before I made it to E9 which was my longest!

Nuclear ratings/MOS make E5/6/7 pretty quick... they are technically smart but need a strong Goat Locker to round them out... provide leadership lessons. As a baby nuc I wouldn’t have ate that shit/workload if I wasn’t making money... too many fun things to do... leadership is a callus earned... not taught is some BS skool...

If you work at Lieutenant Audie Murphy and how fast he made rank but those were ranked promoted under combat conditions. There are officers who finished College ROTC and come in a second lieutenant Ensign in your case. You would not have been promoted if your command felt that you could not handle the responsibility and you had to demonstrate leadership in order for it to be accomplished

I was 24 years old when I was drafted in 1966.I was sent to Korea after AIT. I have never been a stand back and watch sort of person.Perhaps this was recognized as I made E-5 in 19 months.Right place at the right time...maybe.You can't ask for or buy rank.Someone must recommend you.It may have happened,but I have never heard of any one saying,I don't deserve this honor. I was told by my CO that if I reupped, I was assured E-6 within 6 months.21/2 years to that rank would have been pretty uncommon.Also,that was his opinion.I could have still been E-5 ten years later.All this blabber to say that it is possible to make E-6 in 3 years.Don't hold me to this,but it seemed to me that draftees seemed to gain rank faster than enlisted personnel.

I don't know if there is such a thing as too soon, I personally made E-5 in just over 2 years and I think that's a lot to do with willingness, but only in part. the other part is due to MOS and intelligence levels. Not in IQ but knowledge of what is on the table. The other part is ability, ability to perform the job offered. During weapons training, I maxed out every weapon they put in my hands. Took the highest score in base history, especially in distance fire. I earned a 3 foot tall trophy for my efforts, they wouldn't let me take that one home tho, they gave me a 10 inch tall replica instead. But I had elite groups visit during boot camp wanting me to TDY to their org. Besides being a rough and tumble troop, I had the intel. level they needed. I was sent out on solo actions that carried stealth activities so there was no fanfare, just silent promos at CQ which is why the quick rank I think. The other part about quick rank makes me think of the NCO's who became an officer as soon as boot camp was over. Anyway, this is my take on it. They find someone they feel is an elite in one way or another and they are the ones who get promos quicker. We've all seen green lewies that couldn't hit their own asses with both hands but had gotten a promo by one way or another. I have a nephew that made it to a Master Chief in under 10 years in the Navy but the Navy promos faster than all the rest do. I really didn't believe him until I seen his DD-214, still not really sure he didn't just pull some strings or something but it's standing.

I made E6 in 4 years and E7 in 7 years and never regretted it. My only focus was to be a CPO and I did it.

I don’t know about the Navy, but I know in the Army, you cannot even be promoted to E-6 until you have 4 years Time in Service. Now I suppose in the 2 1/2 years I have been retired, it may have changed, but I seriously doubt it.

I joined the Army as a PFC and by the time I completed six months in the 2/11 FA I was already a SPC/E4. Another six months and I was a SGT/E5 and I completed the DivArty Leadership Course, a parallel to the PLDC. By June 1992, I had pinned on SSG/E6 stripes and was acting Division Artillery S-1 NCOIC in the 25th ID at Schofield Barracks. In July 1992, the DivArty Commander recommended me for OCS at Benning and in September 1992 I was airborne to Fort Benning to attend OCS in the rank of SGT/E-5. So, yes, you can make rank in under 3 years, if you are like me, but keep your feet on the ground and don't try flying too high for jealousy can defeat your purpose.

We need good NCOs. I was 17 when I entered service. Basic was tremendous, and I loved AIT. But when I PCS, I became a total screw-up. And I screwed-up for3 years. What changed it for me was my 1st SGT said I had too much time on my hand. So he put me in charge of the barracks. I made E-4 in three months. From there, I moved to Brigade HQ. I became the Commander drive and made SGT in two months. Then I was promoted to Brigade NCOIC of distribution Center. We need NCO with good insight. Let's agree a lot of the NCOs do let it go to their heads. However, we need them to because sometimes they think outside the box. If they can do the job, promote them. Fast-track them if they are outstanding. Sidebar for some of you. When it came time to reenlist, I got out of the service. I knew I could make it in the military, but I did not know about civilian life. And I did catch "Hell for doing that." I went to college, got my degree, and when to Auburn and never looked back. But I will say this the Army was a great place for me to grow up. I hate it took me so long to do so.