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

Why? Just.....why?

At the age of 19, I enlisted in the Army (11B) as an E-1 in May and made E-5 in September of the same year.

Band members get Even pay. When their term is up they go to a board and they will review witch rank they go to, typically E3-E4. Do I like this system, not really as I don't think a 4month airman is capable of filling a E6's role, but she is a higher rank and I will respect that.

You need to earn your rank and position, not just handed to you. With rank comes responsibility and discision making reguardless!!!

This is going on and we're cutting Airmen from our work force that are solid contributors, from across the board. I don't have an issue with band members ranking quickly, but it is certainly a slap in the face to folks that do more than "boost morale" and get laid off. I wouldn't trust any band member in the field with a weapon if it came down to military survival. Why is the band a career field? Make it a special duty. Sure the quality will suffer a bit, but it would take care of the rank issue and save the AF a lot of money I'd imagine.

WTF

At WPAFB the band NCOs and Amn used to win ALS and NCOA awards and DG with regularity. As well you have musicians w/ Bachelor degrees in Music but can't be Officers in the band.

I belive in points for potential, but no judging, I think their could have been quite a few singers throughout the service with a fantastic voice who are already Tech Sergeants. It does raise eye brows and ire to take a 19 yr old with only a voice and promote her. So now what is her promotion potential. How soon until she is eligible for the next grade.

Probably meant 29 year old E-6. I'm going for typo

She's still equivalent to a LCPL(E3) in the Marines. She gets the rank but never the respect or the trust. Rank is personal development, she doesn't have the mindset or knowledge as a E6 should have.