I'm currently working for an Air Force Colonel and having to gotten to know him and his deputy (also a Col), they have both pinned on O-6 much faster than what I've ever seen in the Navy. Both guys are flyers (one's a nav, the other a pilot).
The first, the current commander, pinned on O-6 at his 19 year mark (was selected below zone twice) and the deputy pinned on at 21 years (selected below zone once). So that means they were selected at their 18 and 20 year mark, which is about 3-4 years early by comparison.
My total sample size is 3 (I know one other Colonel that had similar timelines) but I've never heard of a Navy pilot/nfo getting deep selected in a below-zone look and not get screwed on the next board.
I don't know what my question is, if I even have one. I guess I'm curious and somewhat amazed at how the Air Force, for all of their personnel problems, can identify fast track-high performing guys and promote them so early while also not screwing the rest of their career.
The first, the current commander, pinned on O-6 at his 19 year mark (was selected below zone twice) and the deputy pinned on at 21 years (selected below zone once). So that means they were selected at their 18 and 20 year mark, which is about 3-4 years early by comparison.
My total sample size is 3 (I know one other Colonel that had similar timelines) but I've never heard of a Navy pilot/nfo getting deep selected in a below-zone look and not get screwed on the next board.
I don't know what my question is, if I even have one. I guess I'm curious and somewhat amazed at how the Air Force, for all of their personnel problems, can identify fast track-high performing guys and promote them so early while also not screwing the rest of their career.