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

Maybe she has a really good golf game.

I spent 6 years in the Navy back during Desert Storm as an electronics tech. and the tough thing about the military and the pay grades is they are all treated the same. I have a problem with this is due to the nature of the job, always have. I just don't think that someone who sings or plays the flute should be given the same base pay as someone who has a much more physically demanding job. Or has to dodge bullets on a daily basis. I know there are the added hazardous duty pays involved and all that, just saying the BASE pay, ect... I know there may be some flack about my statement, after all, I was only an ekectronics tech., but I had more then 2 years of Navy schooling for my cert. My rating was like 113 % staffed also, so promotions were few and far between when I was in. I mean if I was like a mechanic, sweatin' my ass off, bustin' my back all day every day, I'd be pretty pissed about that kind of promotion policy.

When I was in the Army (many moons ago), Army Band members promoted quickly also and actually began their Army careers as Sp4's. In Germany, I was in a Intel unit (ASA) and found that many of the Intel guys had double waivers (TIG/TIS) and made E-5 in less than 2 years. In the AF, I knew a guy that went from SSgt (E-5) to MSgt (E-7) in two years because he was in a "critical" career field. It seems the be the way things are for some folks. I highly doubt this newly minted TSgt is in charge of anything or anyone except her singing.

I agree that this is ridiculous. At 19 years old a young man or woman is not mature enough to take on the responsibility of leader others. Then again she is in the Air Force. Nobody really expects much out of the Air Force anyways. The TSA and the boy scouts are more of a military organization.

I dont think its possible. I was in the Navy, and there is no way you would make E-6 that soon

Why does singing in a band deserve higher pay than the person serving on a war zone?

Another thought. I know a cardiologist who entered the service as a colonel. The guy couldn't even salute!

I've got a lot to say about this. But I won't, I'll just say this. What is the government doing? We have there military band members that to me are like people mooching on welfare. They get rank and pay based on experience like the girl in this article and the rest of us have to actually work out ass's off! The members of the military band are not military service members in my eyes, they are a waste of precious government money that the real members of the military should be getting.

The Navy has a program called stripes for skills and I personally know a Sheriff that joined as an MA (Master At arms) as an E-5 and did not have to even do Basic Training. I am now a recruiter though my AFSC is Security Forces and just sent a nurse to an Army recruiter and they put her in as a Captain with no OTS, Just a two week school to explain the basics. All branches make exceptions for different skill sets. Most commonly professional officer accessions such as medical, JAG, Chaplains etc.

I personally do not believe this person is 19. E-6 with max 2 years TIS is impossible.