Is it possible to get promoted this quickly in the Air Force? Is this typical for band members?

This is why:
https://www.facebook.com/USAFBand/videos/ [login to see] 091121/

This is ridiculous. In my experience in the Army we have higher expectations for SSG's than we do a 2LT.... At least until the LT proves otherwise...

I believe that they give advance grade due to their skills in order to attract outstanding musicians. This is not unique to musicians. The military has civilian-acquired skills for people skills like computers, engineering where they go in at an advanced grade. In the officer grades, doctors and dentists start at O-3 sometimes even O-4 if experienced and board-certified specialist.

Maybe this was like the Army has; stripes for skills??!

All the branches have bands that allow people to come in as E6. I don't have a problem with the individual member, and good for her the system allows it. However I do have a problem with the system. Why do we even need professional musicians for the bands anymore? If we can pull trainees to do band in basic training, and they aren't the caliber of a professional musician and are good enough for a basic training graduation where you have an MTI/DS/RTC/DI putting the fear into you, and there are various DV's doing the oath and/or at the ceremony every week, why can't we use that same caliber of musicians for the rest of the military outside of BMT? Why do the branches even require BMT, basic or boot camp for band members, but not the Marines?

The Marines of all branches doesn't require boot camp for the Marines Own, and if that lack of boot camp it is good enough for them I don't see why the other branches can't follow suit. I have heard it is required if they are no longer qualified or need to retrain, but my thing is... if they are no longer qualified for the band or want to do something else, then they should be shown the door.

If its the photo with the little girl the MSgt has the old stripes on these are not TSgt stripes or is the story something different

way to fast, slow it down.

This is what I got from a USAF press release. Says she's been in since 1990 - How are you getting 19 yrs. old?
"Master Sgt. Shani Prewitt is a vocalist with the Max Impact, The United States Air Force Band, Washington, D.C. Originally from Staunton, Va., her career in the Air Force began in 1990."

When I was going through AFTA at NATTC Memphis in the mid 70s there was an instructor that was E-6 under 4, but he was in his mid 20s and had been a civilian tech and had a EE degree before enlisting. I made E-6 in just under 6 years.

I'm definitely late getting to this thread, and as of the time of me typing this, there are 426 responses, and I'm not going back to read them all. So if this was already mentioned....sorry.

So, think of this... a member has attained their Bachelors or Masters degree and decides to enter the AF--usually as a 2ND LT!! Okay, Capt in critical career fields.

This woman has at least the same educational background, went through a complete interview and audition process, and wishes only to perform for all of you around the world, and is only a TSgt!! TDY's for this individual are probably unending whereas the rest of us (in the AF) would likely experience a TDY once or twice a year.

I read some comments about reluctancy to take orders from her. Seriously?--on two counts! One, are you also in the band where she would likely give you direction? If so, you would understand and know the drill. Otherwise, what do think the likelihood of that would be? Second--referring to my second paragraph above--you would take direction from a newly assigned "butter-bar" with the same education background but lack of military background. Example? One of my first transportation duty officers--a newly assigned 2nd Lt.--had her degree in Marine Biology!

Don't be haters because you didn't pursue a music degree before coming to the AF and get awarded TSgt after basic because that's worse than being a hater because you didn't pursue a law degree, or business management degree, or even a Marine Biology degree, and being a 2nd Lt. Instead, if you have kids that have an interest in going in the military, make sure they get their degrees FIRST! As you now see (20/20 hindsight), it makes a big difference!