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

In the Airforce there are minimum time in service and time in grade requirements, earliest for E6 is 5 years Time in Service, average is 12 years for making E6 in the USAF. Reading a lot of posts from prior decades where I guess they gave rank out like candy, probably the reason for so many changes since then they realized that just giving out rank without actually performing your job for awhile makes for a very poor leader.

While in Army School, while I was serving ( 60's) Several Soldies made E-6 after NCO School, they called Shake and Bake. Two of 20 or so wanted to turn in their stipes, as they had only been in Army fort 6 months. They wetre intelligent enough to understand they did not have the experience to be good NCO'ws.

You can be recruited in the Army as an E-3 (PFC) under certain circumstances, and make E-6 in 3 to 4 years

I don’t see it happening in the Air Force.

I don't think so, rank is based on ability. I went to Nam as a PFC, made Cpl. in 15 months after joining the Marines. I was put up for Sgt. 5 months later, which I turned down as I was getting out in 2 weeks.

I cannot speak to the officer side of the house, but I can say this much... The trip from E1 to E4 is entirely too speedy. I believe that is a large part of the reason why we have an "E4 Mafia". E2 through E4 shouldn't be "throwaways". They exist for a purpose and that purpose is to prepare them for service in the NCO corps. That being said, I am also one that believes that there should be expanded opportunities in a Specialist/Technician career path to retain those individuals that are highly proficient technically in specialized fields but simply not geared toward hard-stripe leadership. I said in another post regarding the issue of specialists vs. NCOs that the fact that it would aggrieve some CSMs/SGMs is a little more than somewhat immaterial. And if the idea of a 'turkey-on-a shield' set of specialist ranks being seen on a set of pinks-and-greens offends you, then reincarnate that same idea in the form of the Technician ranks from 1943-48. The prospect of losing proficient specialists in the increasingly complex technical environment that warfighting has become, along with the massive challenges in recruiting and retention makes the idea of making the specialist/technician career track more imperative and more of a no-brainer than ever. All IMHO.

Thanks all for your Service!

YES. That's too fast. I was active 78-89 and it took me 3yrs to get E5 and another 3 for E6-- and in those days that was moderately fast. I tried USAR afterward, where many troops were old. They wanted to bring me in as an E3. (No I didn't let them; I had more experience than almost everyone in my unit.) I assume nowadays rank comes faster because there is more attrition, and so if everyone around the young E6 are also making rank fast, maybe it all evens out a little.

There are time whereas there are exceptional people that perform exceptional well and are awarded advancement to the next pay grade , in addition there are areas that may involved a heroic act that advances an individual...So in reference as is it too fast, it definitely not depending on once dedication, commitment and high standards in performing in a high quality will always determine the merits of promotions

I'm just thinking about all the 21 to 24 year olds I knew and know. I cannot imagine any of them being in a position of leadership. Their maturity and lack of experience would be extremely detrimental to moral and the task at hand.

There are rates whose members are all on the fast track. Nukes come to mind and that's nothing new. My rate (RD/OS) was one of those rates who saw faster advancements because there was a need to fill billets. I did become the LPO at a young age but I was fortunate to have worked for people who were true leaders and saw their job to include developing both technical and leadership skills. Otherwise being promoted so quickly would have made my life hell.