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

Chief (I assume you're an initiated Chief and not an E-7): Well, I've seen service wides where all you need to do is spell your name correctly to advance because the community is way below 100%. Usually, a red stripe Chief means little or no practical leadership skills, nor practical KSAs, not in all cases, but in most. Most persons who made Chief during my tenure had a minimum of 12 good years, sea time, beau coup points, and had the KSAs to fix a Cutter with holes below the waterline with only a wad of bubble gum. I may be biased because I'm a "sea going" rate. When they say, "Ask the Chief." they are serious because the Chief is a walking textbook, operational Bible, leader, and teacher, so when someone makes Chief they will be found out if they have it all packed in a sock or not, especially in the Chef's Mess.

It is a double edged sword. There are those who are out for themselves and don't care who they burn or step on to get ahead. Some get lucky and survive leadership either by growing up and learning, the others will point fingers and hide to survive. Then there are those who truly earn their rank by their actions. During the Vietnam era they had what was referred to as "shack and bake" sergeants. They showed leadership abilities during basic and AIT. These individuals literally learned the job under fire. Some became very good leaders. Bottom line is if you promote do the job. I was slow to promote due to my inability to shut up and not question stupidity. I retired with 20 and small change as an E6. IF you looked at my record I entered the service with a college degree and should have had an advantage but my straight forward what you see is what you get attitude I did not progress. I have no regrets and I am proud of all I accomplished.

No. Its no different that getting a 21, 22 year old to be a commission officer or Warrent Officer.

It depends on the person and their job. Some people can handle the stress of leadership and the ability to lead people as much as a decade their senior while others cannot. I think it is easier for most people if they are in a technical position. I don't think the speed of my promotions is possible in today's Army. Congratulations on Officer Candidate School.
I enlisted on my 18th birthday. I was promoted to PV2 as a Squad Leader and the Honor Graduate of BCT and made PFC as the Honor Graduate of my MP School company. I arrived at Fort Ord and was the second-highest-ranking person in the 3rd Platoon as part of the reformation of the 7th ID MP Company in 1975. Only the SFC Platoon Sergeant outranked me since everyone else was straight out of AIT as PV2s. I was an Acting SGT as a Squad Leader and was the Dispatcher when we had Garrison MP Duty.
Six months later I was a Cadet Candidate at the US Military Academy Preparatory School. After ten months at Fort Monmouth and ten more as a Cadet at West Point, I requested a three-month early out of my AD contract to attend college (they counted my time at USMAPS and USMA as part of my enlisted time). I was accepted to a Top Ten College with an outstanding ROTC unit and joined the Army Reserves. I was the 1SG in my ROTC Company and made SP4 in the reserves after four months, so slightly more than a year enlisted to make E4.
I had to leave the USAR less than a year later when I received a Two-Year ROTC Scholarship. I was commissioned as a Chemical Corps Officer in 1980 and was given a medical discharge in 1988 right before I was going before the early promotion board for Major.

Making rank to fast isn't the problem. The problem the wrong ppl making rank. Now making e6 shouldn't be done til after 6 years honestly & e7 til after 10 years. But each branch has their own requirements for the ranks for positions. The thing is the right ppl should make the rank.

1978 a CTM could expect E-6 in three years
E-7 in 8 years

God, this post is from 2016. But I'll add my two bits anyway. I was active Army for eight years before Navy. We had a Medic(I was a Medic) named SSG Sheedy. He made SSG(E6) in 28 months. He said it can be done and he has the orders to prove it, even showed us all. He was a damn good NCO. Mature enough for the responsibilities. He was in his thirties, which makes a difference.
As far as making it too soon...if you mean as far as maturity's sake, I'd say yes. When I was a Mechanic in the Army(my first term of service before I re-classed to Medic) we lived in the same barracks as the Scouts. They were down the hall. We had a kid who made E6 at 22 years old. He was way too immature for it too. I PCS'd a couple months later so idk if he ever fucked up and got busted down or not. I can only assume he did because he was a drunk and a partier. Just not mature or responsible enough.
Anyway, that's my two bits. Enjoy your day.

I was in the same boat as you, I made E-6 after 33 months in service and I was scheduled to return to the U.S. after my tour in Germany and the Battalion C.O. pulled me aside and said that If I stayed in his unit, and re-enlisted, he would hand me my orders for E-7 and I could take a leave and go home and visit my sick father. I turned him down and sometimes I think I made a mistake, but as far as being too young, that has nothing to do with your capabilities as a leader. I returned to the U.S. and ended up using my big mouth to get me into all kinds of predicaments and then it took me 10 years to get my E-7. The problem with my mouth and my temper came back to haunt me again when I was up for promotion to Warrant. I managed to remind the people that I hadn't lost my temper in years and I received the appointment. The old adage of "An Ounce of Keep your Mouth Shut, Beats a Ton of Explanation." is the best thing for any soldier to know.

Trick question. COL Burroughs has it right. It is a case by case situation and if the people doing the recommending and promoting do their jobs right then it WON'T happen. If not, then watch out. I joined the Army with the stated goal of making Warrant Officer. I had a college degree and entered as a PFC, made SPC out of MOS training (Distinguished Honor Graduate) and made SGT after 6 months in my unit. Eighteen months later, with a waiver, I made SSG (thirty-three months in the Army). Three years later I made Warrant and retired after thirty-one years as a CW5. The only regret I have is that in WOCS, I found out that as a college grad I could have enlisted as an E-5 and after basic, MOS and WOCS could have made warrant then, but my #%$hole recruiter did not tell me as he got a $2500 bonus for signing a college grad as an enlisted. Do I think I made rank too fast no, but as a college grad I was a bit more mature than my contemporaries and as a Psych major, I understood the purposes behind some of the more tiresome things they did in basic training so was better able to deal with them.

I joined at 17 as well. My mother signed an age waiver. My 4th day in reception (Army, btw) was Sept 11th, 2001. Talk about dealing with nonsense t a high level. I made E5 4 years in. You said TIS which is important but most don't know. I'd say thank you for your service but few know that it sounds ironic. You are appreciated however. Thank youy for going above and beyond.