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

I once recently read an article regarding the reason why people pick up these rapid promotions especially in situations like members of the President's Own band. These are civilians who play for philharmonic orchestras and are normally paid well in the civilian world. The only way to get them to joins such military bands, the have to give them higher pay so the can come on board. They are put through an excelarated military boot camp and sign a contract which limits them to that particular MOS. That said, they don't affect the boots on the ground so I say let it be.

There seems to be a lot of confusion regarding military musicianship. There is a very specific reason she is an E-6 at the age of 19. As a former military bandsman, please allow me to share my knowledge of the field.

For the Air Force, and special bands in the Army and Marine Corps, auditions occur before someone even enlists. They must audition for a specific spot (instrument or voice), and often they compete with other musicians. Even those already in the traditional band field must audition separately for special bands (such as Pershing's Own for the Army, the President's Own for the Marine Corps, and apparently Max Impact for the Air Force). The deal is, if one passes the audition phase, they will be offered the position; should they accept, they will begin a new contract in which they enlist as an E-6, must maintain height/weight and PT standards for their respective service (among other things), and understand that their purpose is for morale and ceremony ONLY. Those bands do not deploy for combat purposes, participate in field exercises, or do any of the things regular soldiers/airmen/marines/sailors are typically required. The biggest qualification: YOU MUST ALREADY KNOW HOW TO DO YOUR JOB. You must already have all the training to perform your craft, save for workshops and whatnot. It requires years of honing your knowledge and skills, before you even get to the point of auditioning. Many auditionees hold undergraduate degrees in music performance, and often even higher levels than that. THAT is why they can be E-6s from the get-go; the service doesn't have to teach them the basic skills of their jobs and they are expected to hold a maturity level above your standard service member.

Normal for trained musicians. Navy is the same way, all they do is play music, usually at command functions. Similar to the medical/dental program for officers except they are enlisted of course. IIRC, the Navy ones go through boot as E3s and put on their actual rank at/after graduation.

Thanks for raising your right hand and deciding to serve in your own way.

E-6 is automatic for the premier service bands in Washington DC. There are often over 100 applicants for one spot. These folks are the best of the best and are trained and qualified before enlisting, unlike most other service members. Mostband members have at least a bachelor's degree and many come with master's and doctoral degrees. It is unusual for a 19 year old to be accepted, but I tip my hat to her for this accomplishment.

Mike McDonald,
Master Chief Musician (ret)
U.S. Navy Band

The answers to these questions are located in the specific regulations or instructions.
AFI36-2502 Chapter 5
PREMIER BAND ENLISTED PROMOTION AND PROPRIETY REVIEW PROCESS
5.2. Background. To support CONUS and worldwide mission requirements, Premier Bands access fully qualified professional musicians. Premier Band members are by-pass specialists who do not enter into formal upgrade training to attain craftsman (7-skill level) designation. Air Force Premier Bands compete with the other services' premier bands and the civilian sector in recruiting fully qualified professional musicians. While assigned to an Air Force Premier Band, members are deferred from rotational PCS moves. Special enlisted promotion authority is granted only for band members assigned to Premier Bands because:
5.2.1. Recruiting fully qualified professional musicians saves training costs and time.
5.2.2. Recruiting and retaining fully qualified professional musicians to Premier Bands requires an incentive.
5.2.3. Members are deferred from rotational PCS moves and must compete for promotion to internal vacancies rather than external quotas.
5.4.1. Due to the highly specialized nature of positions in the Premier Bands, The USAF Band and The USAFA Band conduct separate promotion processes based on internal unit vacancies. Promotion to TSgt is effective upon the day the member first reports for duty with a Premier Band and requires the approval of the promotion authority or their designated representative. There are no TIS or TIG requirements.

It's important to note this is the Air Force band. If she were to go to the real airforce (all jokes aside), she would lose that rank. This is simply market pay compensation for skill.

Even the Marine Corps has a professional musician hiring process that had promotion authority independent of the system. Its unique to that program. This appears to be that type of situation.

No this is not typical. I don't care what the AFSC is. I would have a hard time taking orders. I would but she has done nothing to earn the respect and authority that rank holds. Complete disrespect to all who legitimately earned it.

I'm pretty offended by the people bitching about rapid promotions. I went in the Navy as a nuke. Pretty much everyone I knew was E5 out of nuke school...and though I ended up getting a medical discharge...I'm sure plenty of them made their E6 by the end of prototype...which if their timing worked out right would easily have made it just as fast or faster. We all worked our asses off getting through school. Every one of them deserved at least that. Most of them left after their initial 6 because it was more profitable to take that hard work and double or triple their pay in the private sector. Anyone that has a problem with people that can qualify for a fast progression because of skills, education, need of the service or whatever can all pretty much go fuck themselves.