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

In the nuclear community at least, you pick up E4 automatically after 6 months for finishing 'A' School. Then about 6 months to a year later, you can pick up E5 for star reenlisting. Then if you get picked up for staff instructor immediately after, you can make E6. It may not be exactly 3 years but it is pretty close. But in my opinion that should be done away with for one reason: They are now in a position to lead and have had little to no fleet experience or leading experience.

Even coming in as an E3, what happened to TIS/TIG requirements- you can waiver one but not both. Is the SM prior service?

i can tell you this, i made e-3 in boot camp. and received my promotion to e-4 a year later. and my promotion to e-5 in my third year of my first tour. and i made it to e-6 my final year of active duty, but had to take an admin bust to go to reserves. i was hoping to get it back soon. but,because the rates in aviation was to overmanned they were108% manned and nobody was getting out,i never got it back. i had enough PNA points to make admiral. but aviation was just not advancing anybody. i finally transferred to inactive reserve and walked away. my discharge was given to me in march of '92.and i never looked back.

Yes This can be a problem,In my experience as you make each rank it comes with certain responsibilities and knowledge of who came before you. When I made E-4 Cpl in the Marines it was a big step.That was almost three years in. To rate the "Blood Stripe" on my Dress Blues, The Red Stripe on our Blue Trousers was a moment of Pride. E-5,E-6,E-7,and E-8 were easy compared to making Cpl. ..........You have to earn the respect of your peers.I made E-8 in just under 20 Years and had to extend in order to accept the Rank.

Yes

Yes. With rank comes expectations of that rank. How can you expect a senior enlisted to provide good leadership when they barely had time to cut their teeth in a leadership position as a junior enlisted. Being able to shoot well, run fast, do a bunch of crunches and pullups is what makes you a good enlisted. But that can't be the only reason to promote. E-6 in 3 years... if he was 18 when he joined, he'd be in the upper ranks before he's even gotten into trouble for alcohol. Imagine giving the junior ranks a lecture on drinking responsibly and then goes out and gets in trouble for drinking on his 21st.

When we were heavy at war from 2003-2010 way too many people made rank too quick. 7 in 7 and all that other mess. They're in charge of people and they don't know what to do. No experience whatsoever. They cant mentor anyone, because they don't know much.

I think it depends on the person and rating. In the HM rate there is a specialty where you are an PO3 when you graduate boot camp and HM2 after Corps school, but they are morticians though.

Bandsmen. My cousin got recruited out of as a college junior to the AF Honor Band. She went in as an E5. Later she went into the Army Guard and became a WO. She commanded the DC Guard Band. Band member come in "trained" as musicians. I was floored to hear how many reservist are music teachers. Several others come in with Master Degrees in the Arts.

The simple answer to your question is yes and no. It is rare that one who achieves rank quickly is equipped to handle the duties and responsibility of that rank. There are some things that just come only with experience. There is no such thing as making rank too soon to the troops making it but there could be a great deal of growing pains per se that many are not ready for.