Has anyone ever gone from E-1 to O-10? Could it happen?

PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 15:03:49 -0400

Does anyone know if there has ever been a person to go from e-1 to O-10?

Response by TSgt Kevin Buccola made Jul 23 at 2015 3:21 PM

TSgt Kevin Buccola — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 15:21:28 -0400

James Buchanan went from Private to President

Response by Sgt Michael Schmidlkofer made Jul 23 at 2015 3:42 PM

Sgt Michael Schmidlkofer — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 15:42:43 -0400

Former Chief of Naval Operations, Jeremy Boorda, began his career as an enlisted sailor.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jul 23 at 2015 5:06 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 17:06:26 -0400

There have been a few:

Adm Mike Borda

Gen Alfred M. Gray, Jr

BG Chuck Yeager

LtGen Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller

Gen Doug Brown

LTG William G Carter III

MG James Day

Gen Shalikashvili

Gen James Vincent Hartinger

MG Nathan Bedford Forrest

There may be others as well.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2015 5:19 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 17:19:27 -0400

General Tommy Franks, Commander of USCENTCOM during OIF 1.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jul 23 at 2015 5:33 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 17:33:19 -0400

PVT Private RallyPoint Member Awesome topic, interesting and well said and articulately conveyed.

Response by LTC Jason Bartlett made Jul 23 at 2015 5:57 PM

LTC Jason Bartlett — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 17:57:10 -0400

I am working on it but it is not looking good;) a better question has anyone done it holding all the ranks along the way and without a break in service? Be fun to research that one and see who got the closest.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 24 at 2015 5:29 AM

PO1 John Miller — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 05:29:14 -0400

Former Chief of Naval Operations, ADM Jeremy "Mike" Boorda.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Jul 24 at 2015 11:24 AM

SrA Matthew Knight — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 11:24:30 -0400

Although you will most likely only find his officer record the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Larry Spencer was prior enlisted. Not sure how far up he made it when he commissioned but he would have started like everyone else as an E1.

Response by Maj William Gambrell made Jul 25 at 2015 3:09 PM

Maj William Gambrell — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 15:09:11 -0400

There is one that is close...Lt General Heithold. He is the current Commander for AFSOC

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jul 25 at 2015 6:54 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 18:54:08 -0400

I believe Chuck Norris did it.....twice........and it only took him 6 months.

Response by Maj Mike Sciales made Jul 26 at 2015 2:27 AM

Maj Mike Sciales — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 02:27:20 -0400

Admiral Mike Borda.

Response by PO1 Rick Serviss made Jul 26 at 2015 2:54 AM

PO1 Rick Serviss — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 02:54:50 -0400

ADM Boorda is the 1st name that pops into my head.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2015 3:00 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 03:00:15 -0400

Gen. John Vessey Jr is another one to look at. He enlisted as a Private in 1939, made 1SG in 1942, and received a battlefield commission at Anzio. He retired as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest military billet in the nation.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2017 11:38 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 11:38:17 -0400

Good question. I'm sure there is someone.

Response by PO1 Rick Serviss made Jun 15 at 2017 6:24 PM

PO1 Rick Serviss — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 18:24:53 -0400

I know a couple of enlisted who have made Admiral, One was a Vice Admiral (09) but he was the highest. VADM Boorda was his name.

Response by PVT Raymond Lopez made Jun 15 at 2017 7:37 PM

PVT Raymond Lopez — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 19:37:51 -0400

Has anyone ever gone from E-1 to O-10? Could it happen? I am not sure but I do know that James Maurice "Jumpin' Jim" Gavin (March 22, 1907 – February 23, 1990) made Lieutenant General 0-9.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2018 7:08 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 19:08:16 -0400

How about NCO to O-10?

Response by Maj John Bell made Mar 25 at 2018 7:40 PM

Maj John Bell — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 19:40:52 -0400

Former Chairman of the Joint chiefs John Vesey Jr. comes to mind.