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.

Airman Loomis, ANYTHING is possible my friend! I was able to make E-5 in less than 3 years during my first 4years. The best advice I can provide you is that which was provided to me by some amazing men/women...

1-Focus on what you can control; your commitment to your training, your commitment to your job, and your commitment to your mission.
2-Pursue consistency not perfection; consistency in and out of uniform, consistency on and off base, and consistency in your conduct.
3-Embrace the intention behind the AF core values; don’t just recite them... LIVE THEM

4-And this is the most important, your ATTITUDE is everything. If A=1 and B=2 and so on, ATTITUDE adds up to 100. GIVE 100% everyday without expectation of anything and GREAT things will follow!!!

Thank You for your commitment to serve ... you have NO LIMITS!

I made Ssgt in my first four year hitch. 1974. I was told at the time that only 3000 made it that year in their first enlistment. Of course four months later the AF was giving bonuses to get the heck out as Vietnam was done. So I got out and joined the Army Reserve Guard and served another twenty years. Would have gone in the Air Guard but way too far to drive to the nearest unit. Still miss the Air Force.

Unfortunately I am only Active and just a high school grad. But i do appreciate the honest response

I did it in three but that was a long long time ago. 1971 I think.
It put me in a funny spot. The first termers didn't trust me because I had what was then called a lifer rank, but the career types didn't like a first termer in their NCO club and what not either.
Lucky for me I was loaned out to the then brand new Defense Mapping Agency for a three year frozen tour where rank wasn't paid much attention to. Rank didn't matter much, we were all much too busy working our behinds off. I lived out of a B4 bag for that three years. DMA is no more. It morphed into what is today the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency via NIMA.

I did, but that was back in 1973 and Vietnam time. That is when you had to test in your career field for promotion. I don't know the requirements now.

Just like all the responses it isn't impossible but it is tough. Since it looks like you will be a hard charger already my biggest piece of advice is to learn, and stay humble. Learn what to do from the good leaders and what not to do from the bad.

Yes, not easy but it can be done. Make SrA below the zone . Make Staff 1st time testing. Need all 9 APRs. Study for the WAPS testing.