Posted on Sep 19, 2015
Is it possible to get promoted this quickly in the Air Force? Is this typical for band members?
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So, this girl is 19, 4 months TIS and made Tech. Sgt (E-6) already. Typo? Misprint? Or horrible lapse in judgement?
Has anyone else heard about this?
http://www.usafband.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123449378
Has anyone else heard about this?
http://www.usafband.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123449378
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 412
So this article did not state how she got to be an E6 so fast. My guess is to help get her in the AF and into the band. I thought the AF had high standards and testing for NCO's. Apparently it can just be given away anymore. Nothing like the Chair force
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MSgt Jeffrey Glick
it is only band folks she will spend her entire career in the band, and do nothing else.
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I have seen this and from my understanding, as having been told by another commenter, this is typical for the AF Band. From what I understand, they wear that rank, as long as they are in the Band. If they leave to go to another AFSC, they revert to their original rank. I am also understanding that it is due to shortages of qualified folks. Many of these band members do have advanced degrees in music, so the rank-up is an incentive, much like what has always been done with medical personnel.
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MSgt Jeffrey Glick
You are 100% correct Claudia this is only for band folks being a recruiter for well a long time I have seen it more than once. Its a tough gig believe it or not the audition is super tough and the TDY requirements are nuts they spend like 20050 or more days on the road./ Most of that is in a bus.
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It looks like she's in the Air Force band. They come in as an E-6. Not right when you're only 19 yrs old but there ya have it.
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A lot of folks, primarily senior NCOs, seem to think it's ok because the band folks aren't going to lead "real" airmen. I just have to say they are real airmen and should go through a real promotion system. Otherwise, they're civilians we pay extra to and stick in a uniform for laughs. That being said, I think we need to eliminate all but the AF band in DC. Most folks I know never really thought too highly of Tops in Blue/random AF musicians. If rather encourage airmen to support the USO via donations to provide the same (or better) service.
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Yes. This is standard for members of "The" US Air Force Band. They are brought in as E-6s.
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While I was never in the AF Band (I wasn't THAT good of a sax player), I had friends who were. Back in the day, individuals were given rank according to their job and did not "earn" it in the traditional way. I don't know her circumstances (or even if it is the same today), but back then I would see guys coming into the Band who had very little TIS but were E-5 and E-6 simply because that was the billet for the assignment.
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Well I don't wanna sound mean but she must be good real good at kissing butt and doing something else other wise the chair force is more of a joke than I thought
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It is possible with ROTC and college credits earned in high school. My biggest issue with it is the pay she gets for that when battle troops are barely able to feed their families because they can't get promoted past E3 or Spec4 and there needs to be a limit on how long they can be in an unimportant MOS. Plenty of people in the military can play band instruments. It definitely shouldn't be a career.
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It is not that easy to make rank in the Air Force but for band member that represent the services i.e Air Force band, navy band and army band located in Washington, D.C. They are awarded E6 upon the completion of basic training these people will send the rest of their career in dc and will not move to any other assignment. Air Force also has regional bands and those band members will go through all 9 ranks just as any other service member
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No! When I was in it was nearly impossible to get a below the zone promotion. The pay raise must have been huge for a 19 year old. Not fair.
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Wow! Massive, idiotic, horrifically bad decision! There is absolutely no excuse for her possessing that tank.
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Lt Col (Join to see)
I am a previous E on the Army side...not sure why this is being so heavily scrutinized...I saw this same thing happen among the other branches as well.
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This is not a typo. The Air Force has 5 Air National Guard bands and 10 active duty bands. Out of those 10 active duty bands, 8 of them are "regional bands" and have typical promotion cycles. But...the other 2 are "premiere bands" (the Washington DC band, and the AF academy band). Some of their members are recruited from the regional bands but some very highly talented individuals audition straight into a premiere band and yes, the premiere bands start you at E-6. Don't feel bad. The USMC "president's own" (their counterpart premiere band) aren't even real Marines because they are EXEMPT FROM BOOT CAMP so basically headhunted civilians from professional orchestras wearing Marine uniforms. Neither one of these situations are as unethical as "Tops in Blue", because they are touring the world as "musicians" when they were actually recruited, trained, and paid to do other jobs in the Air Force.
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MSgt Jeffrey Eastep
Just FYI, the AF Academy Band lost its "premiere" status some time ago as part of the last round of band downsizing.
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TSgt (Join to see)
Yeah sorry. I just found that out recently. Are you a band airman? You might be if you knew that. Anyway what I am trying to point out on here is that Sgt. Quintello basically auditioned already at a 7 level. So...
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Yes, most musicians start out as an NCO. I know this because I was going to be one when I joined. This is actually normal. The AF justifies it first foremost because our number one responsibility is the AF image. Secondly, the additional duties they are required to do that we hand off to other people (I.e. UDM, RA, supply, etc..).
Also, their initial rank is based off of their audition and slots needed - sort of like guard or reserve slots.
Also, their initial rank is based off of their audition and slots needed - sort of like guard or reserve slots.
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Coming from a junior enlisted I hope that when the time comes for her to lead troops she has the skill set as well. Congrats.
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