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

Unfortunately that's the only way the military can lead and keep talented people. Same thing applies to the qualified medics - they go direct commission and put MAJ, LTC or COL depending on their medical (not combat) experience. Bunch of them never got deployed (which is not the point). That way we have adequate and fully qualified medical personnel as well as musicians. We want to be the best. And the pay grade is tied to to the respective rank. So if you don't like it, oh well.....Just leave them alone and do what you have signed up for......

A small group from The United States Army Field Band will be on Conan this Wednesday the 11th of November. They will be there as part of their mission to represent American service members, including all of you who have seen fit to talk a bunch of crap about military musicians and bands--a subject that most of you haven't got the first clue about. You think you know, but you really don't, so why don't you educate yourselves and show them some support in return instead of acting like a bunch of asshatts?

http://teamcoco.com/schedule

Some real perspective on this issue: The USAF Band, Washington, DC is a highly specialized group of musician Airmen. Their skills require many years of dedicated training and experience prior to joining the AF. The band is one of, if not the only, Air Force career fields that has no tech school for their enlisted. It would be prohibitively expensive and time consuming to take a beginning musician (or even moderately experienced) to world class professional status...this doesn't even take into account the natural talent of musicians that rise above the rest in the process of development. To gain their positions with the band, our members have won nation-wide auditions (over hundreds of applicants). Most have played professionally for at least a decade, as well as being educated at many of the top university music schools and conservatories. Almost all have Bachelors Degrees...many have Masters Degrees and even Doctorates. In turn, most are asked by their recruiters and MTI's "Why aren't you going to OTS instead of being enlisted?" It's because they have a passion for what they do. Their mission requires a minimum of a 7-level job skills (in Air Force terms)...it's why they come in with a 7-level. Many members find themselves coming to the band, and within their first few days, performing at the White House for the President and top leaders of the world. It's a no fail top performance environment from day one. To attract the highest caliber musicians to take on this high profile mission, the Air Force (as well as all service branches in DC) offer their members E-6. The TSgt in this photo has a gift beyond her years, and won a national audition. She was a contender on American Idol at the time, and chose to not continue after being invited to Hollywood in order to serve her country. She has already co-written a song for the Air Force that has gone viral and impacted literally millions across the nation and the globe, bringing extraordinary credit and positive public awareness for the what the rest of the amazing men and women of the USAF do everyday. Her singular impact for the USAF has already been greater in a few months than what most experience in an entire career. Thank you all for your service.

I think it's value for money. The USAF is paying a rock star $34,512 a year. They are a recruiting, diplomatic tool and motivational tool. This isn't any different then when they offered direct promotion from E-2 to E-7 to anybody who volunteer to be tail gunner in a B-52D model (no takers in our lot). The needs of the Air Force drive the spending. She (and the others) have talents we can't teach in tech school. They perform multiple functions and improve international relations. They are a force multiplier.

I'm sorry what is the issue here? What if she is fully capable of being a NCO. I have a Soldier who was a SPC doing the work of an E-6. So now she is a CPL who I am looking to send to the board. Why don't we stop trying to get upset about this and try to mentor and lead our young Service Members, this is an unessary post. If you are upset about this then FIX IT.

I am late to this party and most everyone has pretty much summed up my thoughts to good points but here is my 2 cents. There is a rift between Air Force leadership and Airmen. It is growing slowly, but surly. Incompetent leaders are allowed to flourish while good leaders are disregarded and pushed aside.

What I see here is Air Force leadership, on a time when the force is drawing down, promote someone because of a special duty. I honestly don't give two craps about what rank she is, what I care about is when the military is cutting budgets, cutting benefits, and cutting back people. Why is there a band? Is this the only band? That is rhetorical as I know there is more than one. I served 21 years and saw tops in blues once, while I was deployed. I may be in the minority here but I could have gone without them. Someone do a cost comparison to a civilian band being sent over seas to sending a Military band.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the different bands nor am I a hater of music. Just in a time of draw downs, I would rather have one less band and one more mechanic/Aircrew/Hospital worker/security forces/cook/admin/transportation person.

The way I see it, this effects the Air Force moral of every airmen. Some think this is great, others are now upset over an unfair promotion. I see the Air Force failing at cost budgeting again. Like they have done year after year. And that rift between Leadership and Airmen keeps getting bigger. Sorry but I think this is just flipping stupid.

I've met a few "pushbutton" Nuke E-6s. Benefits of rate or MOS. How fast someone gets promoted and or if it's justified had absolutely zero bearing on my career path or goals.

Think everyone covered it. Due to her talent and experience, she entered as a TSgt. The Official Navy Band members are the same in that they enter as an E-6. But by the time they actually promote to E-7, they are pretty much right around the 12 year mark. Would have been nice starting out at E-6 pay, but oh well!! :)

All Air Force band members are given E6...its been that way for a long time. Everyone needs to quit worrying about this Airman, who won't supervise anyone anyway, and worry about themselves. If you have some majestic musical ability apply for the band and see what happens - is it fair that she's 19 and makes as much money as me? Yes it is because she could be somewhere else making mad money and I sure as hell can't sing like that. It is just like any other recruiting tool - pay out some money to ensure you can get talented people to stick around. This has been happening for years and I heard about it in basic - quit griping and get back to work!

Read this *drops mic* she's clearly talented and deserving of the rank to get these reviews. Her job is to be a musician in the Air Force and she is clearly going above the standard. You're not chief of staff or secretary of the Air Force

STAY IN YOUR LANE.

" She's the youngest technical sergeant in the Air Force but brings a wealth of musical experience to The U.S. Air Force Band. Recently, she performed at the 2015 Air Force Charity Ball in front of the chief of staff of the Air Force and the secretary of the Air Force, receiving rave reviews from both."