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

My dad went from private to corporal in two months, sergeant six months later, and staff sergeant in less than twenty-six months from the day he was drafted. Received a battlefield commission to second lieutenant ten weeks later. Private to lieutenant in two years eight months. But then again, it was WW II.

Yes, the services can promote before the person is ready for the additional responsibilities. However if a particularly sharp person is recognized with an early promotion, they probably deserve the promotion. I worked with a Chief Master Sergeant (E-9) who had only 10 years TIS. He was very sharp and it was easy to see how he did it. His biggest issue though was he was stuck as an ops NCOIC for years. He was a Chief but didn’t have the experience to be a group Chief. He still did fine once his TIS caught up with his rank.

I thought that only could happen in combat. Ability, efficiency and maturity moves slow during non combat situations. Otherwise, it should not be allowed, the military wants competent and people willing to take responsability by merits.

As a Marine on board a Navy ship, I saw a lot of Petty Officers that treated the Marine NCO's that were junior to them with a lot of respect. I asked a 1st Class PO about it and he said that their crew had been trained that by the time a Marine reached E4 Corporal, that they were more equal to an E5 2nd Class PO than any other rank. We had more leadership training and had ourselves more squared away than most junior enlisted in the Navy. Many of us made a lot of friends with the Navy, and that made us a tighter knit group when it came time to go to the Gulf. I felt that the Navy system is moving people up before they are as ready as other branches.

Brother-in-law was an instant Spec 5 after graduating from refrigeration (HVAC) school, his responsibility was maintaining A/C for hospital units in VietNam... Had more air miles than most pilots, went everywhere he was needed by chopper...

It all depends on your MOS how fast you get promoted.
I seen a Marine get his Cpl/ E-4 and one year later his Sgt/E-5 the Sgt rank was meritorously promotion.
His MOS was short Cpl's when he picked it up not sure about the Sgt rank to find out if it was short too.
I left the unit a few days after.

Enlisted E-1 June 3, 1967, promoted to SSG E-6 December 10, 1969. Lot of job openings in the Infantry back then

I made Sp6 in less than 3 years cause the job I was assigned to called for a 6 and I was not going to turn down the pay increase. Be proud of you accomplishments

Learning from mistakes is important. Live, learn, and move on is extremely improtan.

In 1968, a (late) homie of mine got E6 in Vietnam during his second year, and I was offered SP6 just to re-up, but as a draftee, I didn't bite. Sometimes the job fits the person, other times the person fits the job, huh? I was permanent PFC, oc.