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

I began my military service in the Air National Guard and was promoted to E-4 in three years. Then I went inactive until I was commissioned several years later in the Air Force. Making rank is great but it works best when it comes with maturity. That can be acquired slowly or quickly. I am now retired from the Air Force but have a son who has moved up quickly in the enlisted ranks, but he has done so based on ability, merit and has been mature beyond his years. Another son has moved up in the Army--more slowly, but with merit as well. I think it is possible to promote too quickly, but it is also possible to grow up as one adds stripes or other insignia. Rank is one sign of growth. There are others that are equally or more important. Great question for our modern American Forces!

I had the unfortunate opportunity to watch a young man go through a firework promotion/crash cycle.
I had just put on my crow and was easing into my new responsibilities when we got a new E5 to our shop fresh from training. Between AFTA and prior professional experience, he had come out of schooling advanced to his rank with just under 2 years TIS and was lined up to sit his E^ exams next cycle.
Initially, no one had any problems with our new PO. He was a good mix of personable and professional that makes few a good shipmate in the shop. He took the exam and was tapped for his third chevron with a second-round advancement. That was when things fell apart in an unexpected way.
About two weeks after he tacked on his new rank his number came up in the monthly lottery and he got to pee in a bottle. It came out positive. The second test to verify and it came back positive. As per SOP since he was still living in the barracks a Health and Welfare was called and to everyone's surprise, they found close to two ounces of weed in his room. Now due to his otherwise spotless record to date, the command decided to pursue only the simple possession and use charges and let him go to the old man for Mast.
Over time you pick up the unspoken rules of the road when it comes to taking your licks in the service. No one comes right out and tells you to do this, don't do that, to a lot of these things. You just pick them up by observation and sea stories along the way. Being fast track our young PO seemed to have missed out on some of this seasoning.
From this point on it was like watching a slow motion train wreck.
Everyone in the command knew the score, our CO made it a standard practice to post the minutes of Captain's Masts openly so everyone knew where they stood if their turn in front of him came. Possession and use were cut and dry. Forty-five days restriction and extra duty, 1/2 pay for 6 months, and a stripe. And when you were done you picked up and carried on and no more was said or done if you kept your nose clean. Hard but fair and consistent with no one playing favorites or being made a scapegoat.
This young man seemed to think that he was a special case and proceeded to screw up by the numbers. it was almost painful to watch. Since he was tapped and not yet paid for his new rank he was facing being dropped to E4 but that should not have mattered that much.
I am going to assume that most of those reading this know the score when it comes to Article 15 and court marshals so i will just check off the list of dumb moves rather than explain why they were dumb.
He started by opting for a court marshal at his Captain's Mast, he then proceeded to opt for trial by his peers. The Master Chiefs they tapped were equally amused and annoyed at him. He then waved JAG counsel and brought a civilian lawyer in to represent him. It should be noted at this point that as he had decided to make things difficult NCIS also stepped up their end and applied possession with intent to distribute and distribution to the charges. (They actually tracked down a few folks who would admit they had shared a few bowls with him). The trial went as one might predict and when it came time for sentencing he took his opportunity to speak and spewed forth the craziest diatribe anyone had ever heard challenging the board with its authority to try him, the Navy with its ability to make what he did illegal, and a general disavowal of the proceedings. He spoke for close to two hours despite advice from his lawyer. In the end, he lost everything. Busted down to E1, loss of all pay, 2 years confinement, and in the end a DD214 with the word dishonorable on it.
While this is easily an anti-drug story I think that it is also a case of something that could have been avoided if the young man had the seasoning and wisdom proper TIS would have given him. Not everything you need to know is learned in a classroom. Some lessons are learned by being there and doing your job as the service moves and acts around you. The best people I ever served under were neither one of the guys nor by the book. They were those individuals that had learned the lessons that TIG and TIS teach you and applied them for both the good of those that looked to them as well as the good of the service.

Combat services make rank quicker than desk jobs.

I made E5 in 17 months It pays to do your job. Bump in pay to 205.00 a month helps.

Saw this pop up again and decided to add on. In the early 70s, Navy Officer promotions had delays from selection to actual promotion, except for certain circumstances. One was serving in Vietnam. With “just right” timing, I went from O-1 to O-3 with just over 2 yrs TIS and in the Navy Riverine forces at the time “railroad tracks” really upped the respect received. However, those collar devices didn’t impart any wisdom etc. which didn’t help when conducting ops. on the rivers but sure upped the pressure and lead to a near vertical learning curve. But it was also a time when O-3 pay, tax free,and Combat pay combined with the soon to receive the 3 yr TIS pay bump really helped my then bachelor lifestyle on R&R etc.

It took me six years to make E5. Then two years to E6, and three years to E7. Three years later I had orders for E8, but was placed on medical hold and forced to retire. I think my time as jr enlisted helped me as a SNCO.

In the Army in Korea in 1969, in a battalion totaling 99 members, of whom about two thirds were officers, I made E-5 in 16 months. I didn't hang around for E-6. (At the same time, I attended one soldier's Promotion-to-PFC (E-3) Party THREE times! He'd get drunk at the first two parties, and be demoted the following morning.)

I made E-6 / SSGT in six years while serving in Army Reserve from 1973-1979. This was after Vietnam and the Reserves were hurting for NCOs. I retired after 32 years as a CW4. Best 'part-time' job I ever had including deployment to Northern Iraq.

I doubt it in the Air Force. Unless you get constant step promotions.

Making E6 in just 3 years I feel does not give the person time enough to hone up his leadership skills.Leadership/Supervisor skills takes time to learn and practice.