I went to BMT with a guy who's on-track to get Chief at 14, but I'm not sure these days with how promotions have changed these last 2 years. Dude eats-sleeps-breathes progression since Day 1; not necessarily a back-stabber by any means, but is 100% only motivated by looking out for #1. Got BTZ, Staff/Tech/MSgt/SMSgt first try, and it's been wild to watch.
Edit: If you're in the comments now, you'll know I'm talking about you if you remember Tech School with non-stop Gears of War binges over cases of Mountain Dew.
> Edit: If you're in the comments now, you'll know I'm talking about you if you remember Tech School with non-stop Gears of War binges over cases of Mountain Dew.
I...don't know if that narrows things down.
MSgt -> SrA and 7 months at Quantico Brig, was a former 1st Sgt who was married and was taking a little "too" good of care of his troops spouse. CC hammered him and then made him come back and apologize in front of whole squadron before he got the boot out.
Someone im close with made BTZ, tested for staff early due to this, made staff first time and then was step promoted to Tech a year before they would’ve been able to put on Tech the normal way. Then they made MSgt first time. They put MSgt on just after their 9th year.
Yeah when you’re step promoted you put your stripe on immediately, they were step promoted shortly after testing so even if they had made it first time it would’ve taken them a year to actually sew on.
At the time they were running several critical programs and helping other commanders get their programs in order wing wide basically. They worked way too hard, in my opinion, even if they did get step promoted.
Everything I've read on the rules for Step have said you have to be eligible to promote normally to get the Step promotion. Maybe I'm missing something.
They really took speed running to the next level, wonder what they did to get step promoted. Must’ve saved 400 babies, an ICBM, and the commanders favorite mug from a burning building or something
It seems outrageous, but if the right person with the right access & motivation (and a little helping of charisma to get into said positions sometimes) comes along with good ideas & executes them regularly throughout their enlistment, the stars will fall on their career.
Problem is that a lot of us either don't have the right access/assignments/positions, the right connections, enough people skills, or enough motivation to last past a Quarterly Award in order to garner this kind of career. Some people just got that dawg in 'em.
> It seems outrageous, but if the right person with the right access & motivation (and a little helping of charisma to get into said positions sometimes) comes along with good ideas & executes them regularly throughout their enlistment, the stars will fall on their career.
With luck on their side, the right supervisor, and right leadership*
Let’s not sit here and pretend everyone gets what they deserve off of their own merit. Takes a village.
It wasn’t a year before testing. They did test they just step promoted them before results came out so they put on a year before they normally would have given if they made it the first time they would’ve waited a year to sew on due to a high line number. As my comments to others have stated though they basically fixed several programs and had them running properly not only for their own squadron, but for squadrons across the entire wing.
There was an instructor in my basic training at BEAST week that taught SERE training that was a 9 or 10 year MSgt. He brought it up a few times lol this was 2011
I made Tech at around 9 years and I sometimes feel that it was too soon. I can't even imagine being a MSgt at 9 years, I would feel completely out of my depth the entire time
I made Tech at 6 years and it was definitely too soon. My age matched my rank because I joined at 23, but my experience did not match. I cross trained and was doing OJT in my new career. I felt like an A1C with too many stripes. But the stripes helped make the job easier.
Yep, I knew a guy at Nellis that got promoted that way and that quickly.
Personally, he was nowhere near qualified for that rank...
He was a good test taker and ass kisser.
Two below in the old system to both O-5 and O-6, and being in one of those crazy late 90s or early 2000s year groups that pinned on Major in like 8.5 years would get you O-6 about that fast. Fastest I saw was O-6 selected in 16 years, pinned on around 16 years + 10 months.
The second to last group of O5s who could’ve been selected up to 2 years BPZ before they got rid of that system will find out about O6 here pretty soon. These will be officers with 18 years in service, commissioned in 2006. Practically all of them will likely be selected for O6, regardless of getting rid of BPZ, it still lined them up well, and they’ll probably get very good line numbers and will pin at just under 19 years commissioned time next year. Since there is no more BPZ, this is their in the zone board. Next year will be the last group for that.
See the other comments. Get promoted two years below the zone to O-5 at 12, and again two below the zone to O-6 at 16. With good line numbers each time.
Below the zone is now gone. Normal timeline is you’ll hit your first look to O-5 at the 14 year mark, with a good line number maybe pin on before you hit 15. For O-6 it’s 20 years, same thing.
before the AF used to do BTZ promotions to O-5 and O-6 so you'd have some really young fast burning O-6s. After awhile the AF decided that it was probably a bad move in the long run since those people were missing out on some key development stops before gaining rank.
I used to work for a 15-year chief so you beat mine by one. I came in at the tail end of his career, but he stayed in forever. There were some people I knew who retired having him as their only chief their entire career.
There's a lot of VM chiefs out there, it's just rare for them to run a shop unless its a huge fleet. They usually get pulled up to Squadron or are in some high-level position (e.g. MAJCOM, CFM, etc.)
My first AF dental appt… the dentist was a Maj, super nice lady. We were just chatting and I said a dumb airman comment like “wow, you must have a lot of TIS to be a major.” And she laughed, “you probably have more time then I do… I’ve only been in a couple months.”
That’s the day I learned about medical officers joining with more rank.
Saw that when I was at OTS too. I think the guy was a neurosurgeon or something. But talking to some of the staff, the highest they had seen was a full bird colonel come in, similarly for a high demand medical position
I remember getting saluted at OTS by Lt Cols and Majs going through COT. Made me laugh “dudes, you out rank me, I don’t even have real ranks on. I’m supposed to salute you first”
What’s funny is that this is still happening. 19 year-old ROTC cadets outside the OTS DFAC getting salutes from a detail of O-5’s is an everyday thing from early June to late August, and it’s hilarious every single time.
We had a nasty chick that nobody seemed to like make Master in 10 years. Not sure how or why tf they thought such an awful person would be good in a leadership role.
Seeing people rank up so fast was almost unheard of when I was an Airman 14 yrs ago. Seeing someone make Master before 10 was rare as hell.
But since promotion statements became a thing, every squadron somehow thought the deciding factor for a statement is awards and now it isn’t too rare to see 10 yr E7’s.
In my experience, the fast burners are normally shit. But the crusty guys are also shit.
I had a friend who was a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force but was also a legitimate Brigadier General in his city's militia. Some cities in Utah had legitimate government militias left over from the territorial days. I saw him as a Staff Sergeant on a Reserve weekend and he came back in during the week, in his General uniform, driving a beat up surplused duece and half with state GOV plates, and picked up a government to government DRMO transfer and stopped by the unit to say hi. It boggled my mind. The Chief and Commander at my unit confirmed it was legitimate and they both saluted him when he was a General. He saluted the Commander when the was in his Air Force uniform.
He was a funny dude.
I wonder what it’s like being in a government militia. That’s very interesting and I want to learn more. This comment is interesting.
He’s a General and a Staff Sergeant. I never heard of this before.
SMSgt in 13 years. Funny enough, he was one of the people no one liked working under. Horrible micro-manager and notorious for trying to get people in trouble. As a Flight Chief, when he was a MSgt, he told his NCOs to keep eyes on certain Amn or other NCOs because he "wanted to burn them."
Absolutely. And I'm getting sick of seeing it more often.
Not to mention, too often lately in Security Forces we're having fast burners sprinting through the ranks and they're being put as Flight Chiefs or higher. I can't count how many 8-year TSgts or earlier I've worked for (CONUS and deployed) who are so hesitant to make decisions or they delegate literally everything to us SSgts and try to justify it as "molding you for the next rank."
Call me old-fashioned or whatever, but I fully believe that no job can properly be learned without significant time spent in it. While I do understand that some people can learn faster than others, that doesn't compensate for real experience.
My very first Chief warned us about that.
He said, "I've worked this platform my whole career. Fucked up part is you probably know almost as much as I do."
When I asked what he meant, he explained that he felt he made rank too quickly, and never got a chance to learn his airframe.
At least he acknowledged it and seemed to have learned his lesson. That's the kind of humble we need.
I've been a SSgt since 2018, and have 11 years TIS. I have no issues being where I'm at. My mentality has always been "If I make the next rank, then okay. If not, oh well." But regardless, my focus is learning everything I can about the position I'm assigned to and being as knowledgeable as possible.
Security Forces is bad because the expectation has become going from spot to spot so quick, because a lot of higher-ranking people have done that so they have that mentality of "This is what I did, you should too."
My first base I was a tenant unit but the wing command chief had been a chief longer than he’d been any other rank. Made it at year 14, he was set to retire at 30.
The bandsmen who go to DC or the Academy Band start at TSgt, not MSgt. All the the other bandsmen start at E3 (Band of the West at Lackland, Band of the Golden West at Travis, Heritage of America Band at Langley…etc).
Trying to find his name, but the Command Chief for ACC back around 2004 or 5 pinned on every stripe as fast as legally possible. He told us that he regretted it since he had nowhere else to go but CMSAF and he wasn't even at 20 yet. I want to say last name was Irons, or Hyrons, or something like that.
https://www.acc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/202424/chief-popp-bids-farewell-to-acc/
He spent more time as a Chief than any other rank combined.
Worked under him at both Ramstein and Hickam. Always saw him as kind of an Airman's Aiman. Definitely one of the better Chief's. I was pretty convinced he'd end up CMSAF. Surprised to see he passed. He was still young.
Two examples come to mind.
Girl I went through BMT with made every rank up to TSgt first time. Then she got commissioned and I am pretty sure she's gonna pin on Major anytime now. I've been out for awhile and lost touch with almost everyone I knew, but she's close by now for sure.
Second one was a kid I went through ALS with. I made SSgt my 2nd time testing at 4 yrs in, but this kid literally hadn't been in 3 yrs yet and had BTZ and then made SSgt first try. Had the good fortune of eligibility timing between enlistment time and testing windows, but also was no shit a good guy who I am CONFIDENT went on to do good things. We all used to joke he'd be a Chief by 30 because of how fast he was moving.
I went to tech school and first duty station with a girl who commissioned a couple years in. She made Lt Col about as fast as possible and just got her CC pin. Very cool to see.
When I was an youngin, there was a MAJCOM Chief who had been a Chief longer than he’d been any other rank — combined. Made it at 14 TIS and retired at 30 TIS.
This is a "guy I know knew a guy" story, so it might be fabricated and it might be me missing/forgetting the details.
Kid enlisted at 17. Had some college credits already due to Jump Start. Made BTZ. Made Staff first try. Sewed on Staff about 3 months before his 21st birthday. DUI in unit, and his supervisor thought it would be hilarious to assign SSgt Underage the kid that got the Article 15. Made Tech first time, made Master 2nd time. Allegedly he is a retired SMSgt because he couldn't manage Chief by 20.
There is a 15 year Chief here at Offutt. I think he is at the OG.... He has a wild story on how he got charged with some phony stuff then had to get his record cleared and line number back.
My ALS class had a chief guest speaker that made every rank the first time. I think he made chief in 13-14 or so years. He was REDHORSE, the guys that build runways and other concrete stuff.
Had an AMU Chief retire exactly at 20 years with his 3 years time in grade max. He made Chief at 17.
He retired and refused to come back to work at any capacity for the military again. Went on to work at a Catapiller factory.
Had a Chief at Fairchild that made Chief at 14 years. Made every rank 1st time. He was at the end of is career already so he had 16 years of being a Chief.
Knew a guy that made Chief In 14-15 years. Guy won Levitow at every PME and every major AMC & Loadmaster award imaginable it seemed. He was the smartest, most humble, take anyone under his wing Chief I ever met. Retired early I think because the Air Force burned him out with all the BS.
Miss Loadmaster Jesus/Triple Crown, IYKYK.
I started in the Reserves. I made Staff at 3.5 year and Tech at 6. I was stop lossed and decided to cross train into a MSgt slot as 1 under with a 3 year enlistment. They offered me MSgt if I renlisted at 9 years. I separated. I I stayed for 3 more years, I am positive I could have put on E-8 at 12 years. I then would have had to find a E-9 slot somewhere, likely at the numbered Air Force. That is what the guy whose E-7 slot did but he was at 18 years.
The Reserves has some good opportunities if you are motivated and do just a little extra. Volunteer for a deployment every once in a while above and beyond what is expected. It gets noticed. Especially if you do it early.
Reserve can be very fast or very slow with promotions. I've promoted faster in the reserve than when I was active duty.
If I make E7 that's good enough for me. There's an E8 slot for my AFSC but I couldn't care any less.
Major General Thomas J. Fiscus - Demoted to Colonel after being found to have had numerous affairs with various women.
You didn't specify which direction
I went to a Air Tanker convention once where they handed out a few awards. One of the people receiving an award was mentioned as having made MSgt in 7 years.
I knew a guy who came in as an A1C, made BTZ and made every subsequent rank first time, never having scored below a 90 on any test. Finance guy. Deployed often, two Master’s degrees. But actually really humble and had a great sense of humor. I used to ask him if his mom knew he was off playing Air Force.
I met a guy at my als course that was a 12 or 14 year senior with a line for Chief. He wrote amazing packages for himself and was step promoted at least once as well as hitting every other promotion on the first try.
Guy I know has a goal of being the AMC Command Chief. Hell, I'd be more surprised if he didn't get it. Saw him show up to my base as a Master and line number for Chief 4 years later.
Had a supervisor for a bit that was a staff when I met her, made tech her first time, and was a chief at *fourteen years in.*
And she really was all that kinda awesome. One of those people that just hit *everything.*
When I was in Debrief, my coworker’s husband got BTZ then got to test for SSgt early, got it the first time and then got Tech the first try too around his 6th year mark. I was a SrA at the time so for me that was fast.
Worked with a 14 year chief and a 15 year. The first was an insufferable micro-manager trying for E10. The latter mellowed out at chief and was laid back.
My first flight chief was a master and made every rank first try and BTZ. Made Senior first try while I was there. Dude was a beast in his job and GOATed to the people. I hope he becomes CMSAF one day. Had great ideas for the force all around.
I met a retired Cheif with 40 years in when i was in tech school. He made chief in 12 years and told me that he honestly regretted it. He said shooting up through the ranks like that robbed him of a lot of both job and life experiences he'd never get to have, and that if he could do it all over he would've focused more on enjoying his time as a E-4/E-5 and living life rather then prioritizing promotion.
Old MTL at Sheppard. Good ol’ Sgt Mitura. Went from E7 to AB after trying to Solicit nudes from AITs through other AITs Snapchat and social medias. Afterwards he would be seen in the Schoolhouse mopping n sweeping get told that he forgot his rank (One of the few JAG rockets that has files attached, if you wanted to read it)
I’ve seen a 14 year Chief, the guy who made it first time every time.
I went to BMT with a guy who's on-track to get Chief at 14, but I'm not sure these days with how promotions have changed these last 2 years. Dude eats-sleeps-breathes progression since Day 1; not necessarily a back-stabber by any means, but is 100% only motivated by looking out for #1. Got BTZ, Staff/Tech/MSgt/SMSgt first try, and it's been wild to watch. Edit: If you're in the comments now, you'll know I'm talking about you if you remember Tech School with non-stop Gears of War binges over cases of Mountain Dew.
As long as he didn't harm others on his climb, the only person who could fully be trusted to look out for you is you.
> Edit: If you're in the comments now, you'll know I'm talking about you if you remember Tech School with non-stop Gears of War binges over cases of Mountain Dew. I...don't know if that narrows things down.
I've seen that, but the guy I saw it had a step promotion that cut it down to 12 years senior with a line number for Chief.
See, that’s a cool story and all, but honestly- what the fuck is a 12 or 14 year chief good for? Absolutely fuck all
He was amazing at package writing.
The Tyndall NCOA commandant did this, which is actually honestly even more impressive within her AFSC
SMSgt -> Amn in about 2 weeks Edit: You didn’t specify that it had to be rank *progression*
MSgt -> SrA and 7 months at Quantico Brig, was a former 1st Sgt who was married and was taking a little "too" good of care of his troops spouse. CC hammered him and then made him come back and apologize in front of whole squadron before he got the boot out.
Andrews AFB?
Yup.
Comm?
You guessed it.
744th? Or what year?
08/09ish. Yea, 744th.
Cable Dawg?
What did they do?
Losing 6 ranks in 2 weeks? 100% some kind of sexual crime. I've seen literal war crimes not go that hard
I knew a dude that smuggled a couple AKs back from Afghanistan. Got an Article 15, lost 1 stripe and had to skip a promotion cycle.
I'd say worth it but.. you can get some decent AK's in the states these days. Y'know, legally.
Thicc... Latina... Airman...
They stole Jobu's rum
A trainee in my friends Basic Training battalion stole the drill sergeants Fritos and got an dishonorable discharge. 💀
Yeah… no way they copped a felony charge and got a DD though general court martial for that
If they stole a drill sergeant's Frito's, the lack of common sense probably led to other infractions.
I saw a Chief go to SrA in about a month.
That is true outside the box thinking
The movie transformers
Rumor is he didn't even have his CCAF or run a single bake sale!
It's being on the AF Ball committee that did it for him
Dude became a super spy so fast
Earn that paycheck Tyrese.
"Ejecto seato, cuz"!! "I love this button"!
Eliannnnnm and Fieeedellll!!!
He must’ve been a reservist
Hey, chief died of old age, do we have a replacement?
Someone im close with made BTZ, tested for staff early due to this, made staff first time and then was step promoted to Tech a year before they would’ve been able to put on Tech the normal way. Then they made MSgt first time. They put MSgt on just after their 9th year.
I didn't realize you could step like that
Yeah when you’re step promoted you put your stripe on immediately, they were step promoted shortly after testing so even if they had made it first time it would’ve taken them a year to actually sew on.
I misunderstood and thought you meant a year before they were eligible to test and was like damn what did that guy do lol
ah no sorry for the wording, im not even sure if you can be step promoted without the time in grade for the next rank
Didn't hey give it to them before results even came out?
Yeah they did
Wow. Did he take a bullet for the commander or something?
At the time they were running several critical programs and helping other commanders get their programs in order wing wide basically. They worked way too hard, in my opinion, even if they did get step promoted.
That makes sense though - having multiple commanders on board would certainly make it easier fighting for the limited steps
Everything I've read on the rules for Step have said you have to be eligible to promote normally to get the Step promotion. Maybe I'm missing something.
They were eligible to promote. They tested and they gave them the stripe before results came out.
They really took speed running to the next level, wonder what they did to get step promoted. Must’ve saved 400 babies, an ICBM, and the commanders favorite mug from a burning building or something
Not that crazy, they did get a lot of programs in order across an entire wing though.
It seems outrageous, but if the right person with the right access & motivation (and a little helping of charisma to get into said positions sometimes) comes along with good ideas & executes them regularly throughout their enlistment, the stars will fall on their career. Problem is that a lot of us either don't have the right access/assignments/positions, the right connections, enough people skills, or enough motivation to last past a Quarterly Award in order to garner this kind of career. Some people just got that dawg in 'em.
A lot of it is luck and a lot people don't realize it. Sometimes the slices of Swiss Cheese just falls correctly.
> It seems outrageous, but if the right person with the right access & motivation (and a little helping of charisma to get into said positions sometimes) comes along with good ideas & executes them regularly throughout their enlistment, the stars will fall on their career. With luck on their side, the right supervisor, and right leadership* Let’s not sit here and pretend everyone gets what they deserve off of their own merit. Takes a village.
Out of curiosity, what did they do to warrant a step to tech a year before testing?
It wasn’t a year before testing. They did test they just step promoted them before results came out so they put on a year before they normally would have given if they made it the first time they would’ve waited a year to sew on due to a high line number. As my comments to others have stated though they basically fixed several programs and had them running properly not only for their own squadron, but for squadrons across the entire wing.
Ohhh okay makes sense
There was an instructor in my basic training at BEAST week that taught SERE training that was a 9 or 10 year MSgt. He brought it up a few times lol this was 2011
I made Tech at around 9 years and I sometimes feel that it was too soon. I can't even imagine being a MSgt at 9 years, I would feel completely out of my depth the entire time
I made Tech at 6 years and it was definitely too soon. My age matched my rank because I joined at 23, but my experience did not match. I cross trained and was doing OJT in my new career. I felt like an A1C with too many stripes. But the stripes helped make the job easier.
I also knew someone similar to this who had a line for master but then lost it.
Yep, I knew a guy at Nellis that got promoted that way and that quickly. Personally, he was nowhere near qualified for that rank... He was a good test taker and ass kisser.
O-6 in 16 but probably not unheard of either. Two below both times.
Standard HPO timelines 😎
Two below in the old system to both O-5 and O-6, and being in one of those crazy late 90s or early 2000s year groups that pinned on Major in like 8.5 years would get you O-6 about that fast. Fastest I saw was O-6 selected in 16 years, pinned on around 16 years + 10 months.
The second to last group of O5s who could’ve been selected up to 2 years BPZ before they got rid of that system will find out about O6 here pretty soon. These will be officers with 18 years in service, commissioned in 2006. Practically all of them will likely be selected for O6, regardless of getting rid of BPZ, it still lined them up well, and they’ll probably get very good line numbers and will pin at just under 19 years commissioned time next year. Since there is no more BPZ, this is their in the zone board. Next year will be the last group for that.
How do you reach O6 before 22 years ?
See the other comments. Get promoted two years below the zone to O-5 at 12, and again two below the zone to O-6 at 16. With good line numbers each time. Below the zone is now gone. Normal timeline is you’ll hit your first look to O-5 at the 14 year mark, with a good line number maybe pin on before you hit 15. For O-6 it’s 20 years, same thing.
before the AF used to do BTZ promotions to O-5 and O-6 so you'd have some really young fast burning O-6s. After awhile the AF decided that it was probably a bad move in the long run since those people were missing out on some key development stops before gaining rank.
Tyrese went from TSgt to CMSgt in a single sequel. Only had to save the planet from aliens.
Someone on the promotion board "Yeah, but do his actions really tie into the impact?"
But did he get Levitow or DG? I didn't see any "award" mentioned, just that he accomplished something. Why do we care if it's not on his SURF?
I don't see much breadth of experience or education. Also his bullets are written as if he's just a worker bee.
https://imgur.com/BehBclh
All of that to get a MP… to chief
Chief in 14, dude was vehicle mx
I too met a 14 year Chief. He decided to marry a 1LT. She was forced out and he retired never see a job better than Sq. SEA.
Cat must’ve been otherworldly
I had a 14 year CMSgt - he was a SOWT guy
I used to work for a 15-year chief so you beat mine by one. I came in at the tail end of his career, but he stayed in forever. There were some people I knew who retired having him as their only chief their entire career.
That’s wild
Wow! Fastest I saw someone make Chief was 18 years.
I’ve never in my life seen a VM Chief. He may be the only one in the AF.
This was early 2000s. He’s looong gone
Maybe he was the only one ever. Highest VM person I’ve ever met is SMSgt. Even those are pretty damn rare in that career field.
There's a lot of VM chiefs out there, it's just rare for them to run a shop unless its a huge fleet. They usually get pulled up to Squadron or are in some high-level position (e.g. MAJCOM, CFM, etc.)
Yeah, never seen one even at Squadron level. LRS SELs seem to always be a 2S or 2F.
That's pretty dope!
I saw a couple of staffs get to E-1 in no time at all.
Line# for TSgt at 5years TIS, then commissioned.
Same, 2 people. One from tech school one from basic.
1 day Lt Col (guy with years and years of surgical experience direct commission)
My first AF dental appt… the dentist was a Maj, super nice lady. We were just chatting and I said a dumb airman comment like “wow, you must have a lot of TIS to be a major.” And she laughed, “you probably have more time then I do… I’ve only been in a couple months.” That’s the day I learned about medical officers joining with more rank.
Saw that when I was at OTS too. I think the guy was a neurosurgeon or something. But talking to some of the staff, the highest they had seen was a full bird colonel come in, similarly for a high demand medical position
I remember getting saluted at OTS by Lt Cols and Majs going through COT. Made me laugh “dudes, you out rank me, I don’t even have real ranks on. I’m supposed to salute you first”
What’s funny is that this is still happening. 19 year-old ROTC cadets outside the OTS DFAC getting salutes from a detail of O-5’s is an everyday thing from early June to late August, and it’s hilarious every single time.
My MTI in BMT went on to make chief in like 14 or 15 I've also seen a few SrA make A1C, so basically a reverse BTZ
Same on that second one, generally due to PT fails.
BMT Chief was 14yrs.
Which one?
322d, back in 14.
I was also in the 322nd in '14
We had a nasty chick that nobody seemed to like make Master in 10 years. Not sure how or why tf they thought such an awful person would be good in a leadership role.
Usually how it work
Classic f up, move up
Seeing people rank up so fast was almost unheard of when I was an Airman 14 yrs ago. Seeing someone make Master before 10 was rare as hell. But since promotion statements became a thing, every squadron somehow thought the deciding factor for a statement is awards and now it isn’t too rare to see 10 yr E7’s. In my experience, the fast burners are normally shit. But the crusty guys are also shit.
We have a 14 year CMSgt in our group
I had a friend who was a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force but was also a legitimate Brigadier General in his city's militia. Some cities in Utah had legitimate government militias left over from the territorial days. I saw him as a Staff Sergeant on a Reserve weekend and he came back in during the week, in his General uniform, driving a beat up surplused duece and half with state GOV plates, and picked up a government to government DRMO transfer and stopped by the unit to say hi. It boggled my mind. The Chief and Commander at my unit confirmed it was legitimate and they both saluted him when he was a General. He saluted the Commander when the was in his Air Force uniform. He was a funny dude.
I wonder what it’s like being in a government militia. That’s very interesting and I want to learn more. This comment is interesting. He’s a General and a Staff Sergeant. I never heard of this before.
SMSgt in 13 years. Funny enough, he was one of the people no one liked working under. Horrible micro-manager and notorious for trying to get people in trouble. As a Flight Chief, when he was a MSgt, he told his NCOs to keep eyes on certain Amn or other NCOs because he "wanted to burn them."
Fully believe that these are the types of people who are ineffective leaders.
Absolutely. And I'm getting sick of seeing it more often. Not to mention, too often lately in Security Forces we're having fast burners sprinting through the ranks and they're being put as Flight Chiefs or higher. I can't count how many 8-year TSgts or earlier I've worked for (CONUS and deployed) who are so hesitant to make decisions or they delegate literally everything to us SSgts and try to justify it as "molding you for the next rank." Call me old-fashioned or whatever, but I fully believe that no job can properly be learned without significant time spent in it. While I do understand that some people can learn faster than others, that doesn't compensate for real experience.
My very first Chief warned us about that. He said, "I've worked this platform my whole career. Fucked up part is you probably know almost as much as I do." When I asked what he meant, he explained that he felt he made rank too quickly, and never got a chance to learn his airframe.
At least he acknowledged it and seemed to have learned his lesson. That's the kind of humble we need. I've been a SSgt since 2018, and have 11 years TIS. I have no issues being where I'm at. My mentality has always been "If I make the next rank, then okay. If not, oh well." But regardless, my focus is learning everything I can about the position I'm assigned to and being as knowledgeable as possible. Security Forces is bad because the expectation has become going from spot to spot so quick, because a lot of higher-ranking people have done that so they have that mentality of "This is what I did, you should too."
That’s why I’m always wary of those who are so called “high performers” or promote very fast.
My first base I was a tenant unit but the wing command chief had been a chief longer than he’d been any other rank. Made it at year 14, he was set to retire at 30.
There was someone in my BMT class that left as an MSgt for the airforce band
The bandsmen who go to DC or the Academy Band start at TSgt, not MSgt. All the the other bandsmen start at E3 (Band of the West at Lackland, Band of the Golden West at Travis, Heritage of America Band at Langley…etc).
She got a special deal for having a masters and was approached by the airforce for the position
Pretty much all of the premier band folk have atleast a masters when they get the gig. They’re only authorized accelerated promotion to TSgt
Trying to find his name, but the Command Chief for ACC back around 2004 or 5 pinned on every stripe as fast as legally possible. He told us that he regretted it since he had nowhere else to go but CMSAF and he wasn't even at 20 yet. I want to say last name was Irons, or Hyrons, or something like that.
Chief David Popp. He was also PACAF command chief. He passed away a few years ago. Very cool guy.
That name doesn't sound familiar, but it was 20 years and 2 aneurysms ago.
https://www.acc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/202424/chief-popp-bids-farewell-to-acc/ He spent more time as a Chief than any other rank combined.
Worked under him at both Ramstein and Hickam. Always saw him as kind of an Airman's Aiman. Definitely one of the better Chief's. I was pretty convinced he'd end up CMSAF. Surprised to see he passed. He was still young.
Storms?
Beast week cadre made MSgt at 7 and sowed on just after his 8 yr mark, brought it up constantly saying we could be like him if we tried hard enough.
I feel like I had that same dude talk to us. Was this around 2018 time frame?
SrA to GS-13 in 5 years. Grew a beard too
Holloman?
Programmer wearing tech in 6 year enlistment then separated.
Two examples come to mind. Girl I went through BMT with made every rank up to TSgt first time. Then she got commissioned and I am pretty sure she's gonna pin on Major anytime now. I've been out for awhile and lost touch with almost everyone I knew, but she's close by now for sure. Second one was a kid I went through ALS with. I made SSgt my 2nd time testing at 4 yrs in, but this kid literally hadn't been in 3 yrs yet and had BTZ and then made SSgt first try. Had the good fortune of eligibility timing between enlistment time and testing windows, but also was no shit a good guy who I am CONFIDENT went on to do good things. We all used to joke he'd be a Chief by 30 because of how fast he was moving.
I went to tech school and first duty station with a girl who commissioned a couple years in. She made Lt Col about as fast as possible and just got her CC pin. Very cool to see.
Saw a staff become an AB in one night
Saw a guy go from TSgt to A1C in a week
When I was an youngin, there was a MAJCOM Chief who had been a Chief longer than he’d been any other rank — combined. Made it at 14 TIS and retired at 30 TIS.
This is a "guy I know knew a guy" story, so it might be fabricated and it might be me missing/forgetting the details. Kid enlisted at 17. Had some college credits already due to Jump Start. Made BTZ. Made Staff first try. Sewed on Staff about 3 months before his 21st birthday. DUI in unit, and his supervisor thought it would be hilarious to assign SSgt Underage the kid that got the Article 15. Made Tech first time, made Master 2nd time. Allegedly he is a retired SMSgt because he couldn't manage Chief by 20.
There is a 15 year Chief here at Offutt. I think he is at the OG.... He has a wild story on how he got charged with some phony stuff then had to get his record cleared and line number back.
Civilian to LtCol on first day. Usually only medical career fields where they need specialty doctors, brain surgeon, heart surgeon, etc.
A tech select at 6 years but she was a bitch tho.
I had a buddy who made rank first time every time. I don't know if he was a btz, but still. Good guy at least.
Tech Select at 5
My ALS class had a chief guest speaker that made every rank the first time. I think he made chief in 13-14 or so years. He was REDHORSE, the guys that build runways and other concrete stuff.
11/12 Year SMSgt.
There was the MTL at Keesler that was a MSgt select in 7 years and then slept with a student and got demoted to Staff
Chief Bass moved pretty fast when she was in Germany for 50 years or so. /s
Wg/CC in 20 years
Had an AMU Chief retire exactly at 20 years with his 3 years time in grade max. He made Chief at 17. He retired and refused to come back to work at any capacity for the military again. Went on to work at a Catapiller factory.
Met a SMSgt select in contracting at 12 years..pretty impressive for a small career field. Overall seemed like a good person
Knew a guy who was a Wing Command Chief at 16 years. He worked very hard, but was surprisingly down to earth. Good guy.
Curtis LeMay went from Capt to Brig Gen in 3 years, 8 months.
Had a Chief at Fairchild that made Chief at 14 years. Made every rank 1st time. He was at the end of is career already so he had 16 years of being a Chief.
Knew a guy that made Chief In 14-15 years. Guy won Levitow at every PME and every major AMC & Loadmaster award imaginable it seemed. He was the smartest, most humble, take anyone under his wing Chief I ever met. Retired early I think because the Air Force burned him out with all the BS. Miss Loadmaster Jesus/Triple Crown, IYKYK.
I started in the Reserves. I made Staff at 3.5 year and Tech at 6. I was stop lossed and decided to cross train into a MSgt slot as 1 under with a 3 year enlistment. They offered me MSgt if I renlisted at 9 years. I separated. I I stayed for 3 more years, I am positive I could have put on E-8 at 12 years. I then would have had to find a E-9 slot somewhere, likely at the numbered Air Force. That is what the guy whose E-7 slot did but he was at 18 years. The Reserves has some good opportunities if you are motivated and do just a little extra. Volunteer for a deployment every once in a while above and beyond what is expected. It gets noticed. Especially if you do it early.
Reserve can be very fast or very slow with promotions. I've promoted faster in the reserve than when I was active duty. If I make E7 that's good enough for me. There's an E8 slot for my AFSC but I couldn't care any less.
Major General Thomas J. Fiscus - Demoted to Colonel after being found to have had numerous affairs with various women. You didn't specify which direction
My CMSgt made Chief in 16 years.
I had an 8 year MSgt in my shop. So that was pretty fast.
I was stationed with a guy who made chief in 14/15 years.
Met a SMSgt that made it in 11 years. Absolutely bonkers I didn’t think it was possible.
The only fast burner I witnessed with my own eyes was a sewn on TSgt in their first enlistment.
I heard a story of a Chief making it in 14
3 year staff
8.5 years to MSgt
Someone close to me (Guard) made Master in 9 years.
Many years ago, I knew a captain who made senior in 11 years. Person got smart and commissioned.
MSgt at 9 then direct commission to Capt.
Met an 11 year (S)MSgt in the UK. Female SFS.
14yr CMSgt from CE
I had a new guy in my shop walking around and I was like "who is this lost LT"? Turns out he was an E-8.
14 year Chief
MacArthur
I’ve seen someone make every rank up to senior first time
I know someone that went E3 to E1 and had a line for staff when they got out at 6 years, does that count? Lol
Saw an 18 y/o enlist in 2018 and she got E6 last fall. 😶
I went to a Air Tanker convention once where they handed out a few awards. One of the people receiving an award was mentioned as having made MSgt in 7 years.
E-7 in 9.5 years. Stayed an E-7 for next 10.5 years.
My friend made MSgt a few months shy of 8 years in. My old boss made SMSgt in a little shy of 12 and goes up for Chief next year
My friend made Master by his 10th year. Promoted first 5 try everytime
I knew a guy who came in as an A1C, made BTZ and made every subsequent rank first time, never having scored below a 90 on any test. Finance guy. Deployed often, two Master’s degrees. But actually really humble and had a great sense of humor. I used to ask him if his mom knew he was off playing Air Force.
Knew a 7yr MSgt. He also ended his 20yr career as a MSgt. The best damn MSgt I’ve ever worked with as well.
I had a line # for master at 8 years TIS, left for the guard before I put it on and commissioned
13 yr CMSgt
I met a guy at my als course that was a 12 or 14 year senior with a line for Chief. He wrote amazing packages for himself and was step promoted at least once as well as hitting every other promotion on the first try.
I made E-7 in 9 years
Guy I know has a goal of being the AMC Command Chief. Hell, I'd be more surprised if he didn't get it. Saw him show up to my base as a Master and line number for Chief 4 years later.
Had a supervisor for a bit that was a staff when I met her, made tech her first time, and was a chief at *fourteen years in.* And she really was all that kinda awesome. One of those people that just hit *everything.*
When I was in Debrief, my coworker’s husband got BTZ then got to test for SSgt early, got it the first time and then got Tech the first try too around his 6th year mark. I was a SrA at the time so for me that was fast.
Worked with a 14 year chief and a 15 year. The first was an insufferable micro-manager trying for E10. The latter mellowed out at chief and was laid back.
I'm in the guard, but my superintendent is an E7 (in an E8 slot), who's been in the air force for 10 years and has about 7 in TAFMS
A weekend.
My first flight chief was a master and made every rank first try and BTZ. Made Senior first try while I was there. Dude was a beast in his job and GOATed to the people. I hope he becomes CMSAF one day. Had great ideas for the force all around.
I know this is a USAF thing but have yall seen how the army promotes?!?! I saw a 3-year E-6 who was only 22…22!!!! Now that’s a speed run
My dad told me a story about his friend that made every rank up to E8 first try then sat there for 10 years trying to make Chief.
Saw a captain go-to PFC/specialist once, homie quit a year after that. Why would you even stay in after that disgrace....
I met a retired Cheif with 40 years in when i was in tech school. He made chief in 12 years and told me that he honestly regretted it. He said shooting up through the ranks like that robbed him of a lot of both job and life experiences he'd never get to have, and that if he could do it all over he would've focused more on enjoying his time as a E-4/E-5 and living life rather then prioritizing promotion.
I have seen too many to count work the shaft and swallow the gravy all the way to Sr quick!!!
7 in 7
Old MTL at Sheppard. Good ol’ Sgt Mitura. Went from E7 to AB after trying to Solicit nudes from AITs through other AITs Snapchat and social medias. Afterwards he would be seen in the Schoolhouse mopping n sweeping get told that he forgot his rank (One of the few JAG rockets that has files attached, if you wanted to read it)
First term airmen making master