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

Yes there’s a big problem with making Rank too quickly. Not enough Time In Rate to go with the maturity level to lead effectively.

Made sp-5 in 9 months, 1year 3 months later was to go for E-6. Had to wait till return from Nam so could not get tax free re-up bonus. Bunch of bull,. E-6 2 years 4 months. Too early promotions, if you have the ability to do the the job, it benefits the unit. If you can't do the job no promotion time in position does not mean you are an asset

Way to fast. Is there not TIS and time in present rank to even be considered?

I actually worked with someone who made PO1 on his first test because our CPO spoon fed him EP evals so he would make PO1. Never mind that he was on shore duty first them went to a ship and knew nothing about the equipment or how to lead sailors on a ship. Every PO2 and below in our division would look to me for help t/s equipment or advise while this now PO1 couldn't really help with anything. He was not ready to be a LPO and before I left the ship I was actually LPO as a PO2.
It comes down to how well the Sailor or Soldier pays attention to their leadership and if they actually follow and learn from their mistakes or keep fumbling along. It took me almost 10 years to make PO1 but tht is because of my attitude and stubbornness. Officers and Chiefs don't like being told they are wrong by a PO2. Or told something should be done a different way then how they want it done by a PO2. That has and will always be my problem. I don't know how to bite my tongue you could say.

That would depend upon the individual and the circumstances.
During times of peace, promotions do come slower as the attrition is nominal whereas, in times of war and especially high-intensity conflicts, an Infantryman can go from PFC to Buck Sgt in practically no time just by exhibiting some leadership qualities. Audie Murphy, David Hackworth, Dick Winters, and others like them made rank very quickly during WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam.
There is a caveat to making rank too quickly and by way of example, there was an outstanding Reserve LTC (in the early 80s) who rose very quickly through the officer ranks making 05 at the age of 33 and was ready for promotion to 06 by the time he was 36. There were no 05 command slots in any of the divisions and he was relegated to the IRR until one opened up. If he ever found a command slot, I am not aware but I felt it was a great injustice to send him to the showers that early in his career.
The IRR takes a soldier out of the system and out of the line of sight of those who will be making the decisions as to who gets what command slot. The longer one is out, the worse that condition gets until the SM is forgotten.

I steadily went through the ranks as I had planned... Before I signed on the dotted line I had insisted that I would accept nothing less then the starting rank of Brigadier General.. In only three years of Army life I was discharged with the rank of Spec.4... I was on rank higher than I thought I would have been at the end... It's all in the planning..

That’s awesome but it wouldn’t happen in the AF because that have time in grade rules. As an E3 that just made it he would have to wait two years in grade before he made E4.

No, I made E5 and E6 at the min time in service. Leadership and maturity and technical expertise should dictate the progression. I personally have seen E-7 and O-7s that needed to go back a few notches due to maturity issues.

Not true Cmdr. I was one of the navy's finest. In fact served as a Dept Training Officer when I was (2-yr) E-5. There were no such things as hits on a certification inspection on my watch. Got my SECNAV to prove it. They had to call me Assistant though because it was an Officers Billet. But trust me there was no one in the office with me reading directives and safety manuals and running the program. You get mature real fast when the entire department's annual certification depends on you. BUT I came up through the ranks quickly because I wrote a hell of an advancement exam. Made it every time and didn't have to search for points. So when a person has been in for 12 years and still can't make E6. It begs the question, do we really want this person running anything? i personally prefer an immature highly educated Butter Bar that grasps concepts quickly and can be groomed toward maturity.

Yes there is such a thing as making Rank to fast for some Individuals.
this does not mean they or you are INCAPABLE of doing the JOB , other wise you would not have been Promoted , it means they, you , I lack the Mental Maturity to lead the men and women they are going to have to lead, at that time, and we are going to have to find it quickly .
this is not your fault or the Fault of your Supervisors, it is the FAULT Of the Senior Leadership. we put to little training on LEADERSHIP!
to Little TRAINING ON MENTORING IN LEADERSHIP.
no one is a Natural BORN LEADER, we learn by watching are SUPERVISORS, we learn from those we work under, and taking what we like from them, and what we do not like from them, we say i want to be a leader like him, or i do not want to be like him. and we make it part of who we are.
we all they have the Physical , and Mental Knowledge to to the Job but we are unsure just how to apply that knowledge, that where a mentoring comes in handy, and that where as we Mature service Members start to know just how to apply the MENTAL MATURITY AND SKILL SET TO LEAD THE MEN AND WOMEN.
this is why I use to tell every new PO, as they moved up in Rank to find a mentor one who they could talk, to when they had a tough situation, someone they could get advice on how to handle a situation, it never hurts to have more than one mentor that you can call or talk to.
i know it saved my ass a few times. when I had the situation or difficult member to deal with, I would call and talk to them. over time you will find you will be calling them more and more just to say hi, and you will find you will be Receiving calls. and you will be making more and more Decision on your own. sometimes you just have to make a Command Decision, but that why the CO left you in Charge. so don't be AFRAID TO MAKE THOSE DECISION!

Like I TOLD MY CO , if you do not like my DECISION, don't leave me in Charge.
APPARENTLY He was ok with MY DECISIONS .:)