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

They are always certain specialized fields in the Military that have a faster advancement system than the rest of us. In the Navy it was the Nuclear Community. Always got a kick out of seeing an E-7 with only 2 hash marks.

I'm an Air Force Recruiter and the premier band program does authorize their members the pay grade of E-6 AFTER the completion of BMT. Majority of these individuals possess Master's Degrees and are required to go through a rigorous audition process. Just like Officers who posses certain educational and professional skills that are highly sought after in the civilian sector, rank upgrades can be used as a tool to compensate their financial loss if commissioned at the lowest rank: This a similar situation, except the band does not have Officers.

All AF Premier Band members join at E6. People crying and hating about rank...call the waaambulance! You know how much fraud waste and abuse occurs above and beyond around the DoD and government. Pleeeeaaaase...

People only despise her making rank so quickly because they didn't.

With some rare MOS's that are hard to fill or it is cheaper to retain people then train new ones is likely the reason the powers that be allow fast track promotions. Back in the day you had technical ranks that got the same pay as there hard stripe counter parts but they did not have the same authority. Then came the SPC5 and SPC6 ranks after that, and once again they got the pay but not the power. If those options were still available I think people in bands and high tech MOS's would likely be wearing SPC5 / 6 ranks or there service equivalent. Instead of the E-4 mafia you would have the SPC mafia! CC: SMSgt Tony Barnes

It is not for anyone to judge or try to justify why this happens. All branches and service jobs have predetermined criteria. For example Dr's , upon graduation are immediately 0-3 entering service, or Army Warrant Pilots, which could be as young as 18 , after about 6 weeks of WOCS, are officially WO1's. I knew the second youngest WO1 pilot , he was 19. What doesn't make sense to the majority , makes perfect sense to the minority. As I have seen posted already if we took the time to read the regs then it would be clear to all why this 19 year old made E-6 in the AF Band.

She's a part of the premier band in DC. They are automatically brought in as E-6. Regional bands (All other bands) are brought in (generally) as E-3, because the majority of us come in already having a degree in our field. TSgt. Quintello was not step promoted or anything, she was hired directly in as a E-6. The band field is different in that we hold auditions and personnel are interviewed, tested and hired vs the mass majority of the Air Force.

Everything is contentious these days. Even asking questions get thumbs down while we get Obama threads as if Obama is not getting enough attention. Bush gets more positives in spite of liberals attempts to marginalize, same with Coulter..

The band is a whole different beast, while I doubt she has an advanced degree. It is totally possible she has spent a majority of her training as a musician and was probably a professional musician or at least a very accomplished musician which is totally possible. I do believe that band resources could be better allocated to units more deserving. I have known several band members all decent people in their own regard but many have a "roock star " mentality and many don't believe or accept they are in indeed in service to their country.

As others have said: pay recruits talent. If the Air Force, or any service for that matter, started musicians at junior enlisted rates they would attract junior talent. Have you ever watched one of these shows while deployed or while overseas? It can be a real morale booster to see talented people performing while wearing the uniform. If the military started folks out at the base, then the bands would sound and look like a high school talent show because that is the level of talent they would be able to recruit. Would a lousy performance boost your morale or make you just feel worse? Worse I am sure. Plus, it would just make the military services look like a bunch of amateurs. Imagine the band sounding like a bunch of middle schoolers during a formal cermony like a change of command or a parade. How do you think their terrible performance would reflect on you in the eyes of the public? Professional performers cost money because they attract attention and serve as a face of the organization. I believe the military is right to offer them special pay rates just as we do for medics, nurses, doctors, lawyers, and other specialty professions. Just feel proud of your own accomplishments and drive on.