Since I'm on a 4 year contract, would it be possible to make Staff Sergeant within that time frame?

Read through some of 36-2502 and 36-2406. As an AB, I am not sure if the TIG/TIS requirements will become a roadblock.

I enlisted in 2014 on a six-year contract that established my Date of Rank as an A1C on the day that I went to basic training. I made BTZ and missed WAPS testing in 2016 by 28 days. When I tested for Staff I had almost a full year TIG as an SrA. I made it during the 17E5 cycle and was line number 8027 (right in the middle). I just sewed on this month (March 2018), and I will hit my 4 year TIS mark in April 2018.

In my circumstance, it was possible. Like I said, familiarize yourself with those two AFI's and you can calculate the time.

Don't hold your breath. Highly unlikely given the TIG/TIS requirements but not impossible. If you are an across the board 9 on APRs (That's old school performance reports) and given they have what we use to call spot promotions, you might snatch that one out of your back side. Realistically, you are looking at E-4 at 4 years. In the best of all possible scenarios, E-4 by 3 years, E-5 at 5 and E-6 at 7-9 years. As SSgt Addison R noted, Guard and Reserve are different animals completely. Back in the early 90s I met a Reservist pulling active duty time. She made E-9 in 14 years. Good luck to you, young Airman!

I was on the promotion list for staff sgt. at the end of my four years, but would have to re-enlist to sew it on. Don't know how it is today.