Question about military pay?

Question

On the pay tables it has an entry for under two years of service for up to E-7 and also an entry for up to O-8. My question is, if its on the pay tables it is possible to attain the rank in that time correct? In what case would it be possible to get such high rank so quickly?

Please don't answer unless you have some clue what you're talking about. E-7 is an enlisted grade(in the army, SFC) O-8 Is an officer grade(2 Star General which I see being highly improbably with less than 2 years of service)

When you enter as an officer, you generally start out as an O-1, second Lt, and it usually takes over 2 years to even make O-3.

On the enlisted side you come in between E-1 to E-4. To even be elligible to make E-6(under normal circumstances) it takes at least 4 years(in the army anyway). E-7 in under 2 seems ridiculous. Anyone in the military that has any idea what scenario would allow for this?

Note: Time in service doesn't just count for one branch, its total military service, so if you had a few years in another service and transfered, you're time in that service would still count towards your pay, so you'd still have over 2 years in.

Answer 1

Because in a total war situation.

IE: WW ll

Civilans are brought into the military at advanced pay grades.

During WW ll, there were alot of specialist and non specialist given advanced rank.

Alot of the Navy's ship captains, were commissioned as Commanders and commanded destroyers, frigates etc, straight from the civilan ranks.

They would have a regular naval officer as XO, who was just to young to be given command.

The seabees also brought in alot of specialist who were made instant Chiefs.

Communication specialist were commissioned by the Army and made instant Col's.

There were even a couple of instant Generals commissioned.

Heck, my dad ( retired Army CSM ) told me about a SF buck sgt, who went to vietnam as a E-5 and came home a Lt. Col.

Of course he was busted back to a SSGT after he got back.

But in war, weird things happen.

Note: My dad had the guy tell him this and thinking he was being bullshi*ted, made some phone calls and verified the story. Whats funny, is the unbelievable part of the guys story was true, but the believable parts ended up being madeup.
The guy was trying to get a test pilot flying job for a civilan contractor doing work for the 160th.

Answer 2

That would amount to idiocy and an utter lack of knowledge of how corporate works. Yes, I remember having this argument with Untamed an year ago when she called me a loser for saying it shouldn't be like the military. From your response in the other question : "Every rank gets the same amount of money no matter how much or little you work. You get the same amount every month and year if you worked a 40 hour week or a 90 hour week. You rise in rank due to time and very rarely due to ability. Clothing, food, housing, electricity, etc is all provided and paid for." It works for the military and we all know it does. But corporate doesn't work that way. Corporate is a business with ROI goals and that means corporations also negotiate the pay that they are going to dole out to their employees. Growth and pay hikes in corporate are based on performance. It doesn't bode well for the companies to stick their employees pay statements in the cafeteria wall. That would fail. Edit : I do realize the BIG difference you talk about, but looks like you didn't read my answer because you're probably upset with my honesty. Civilian pay is common knowledge. Give me a profile, and we can tell what their market rate is, in general, even if it's not accurate. Given that the pay in a corporate is dependent on many factors and that it could also reflect an employees performance among other things, I don't see the logic behind your saying 'civilian pay being more open and available to the public'. Add that to your statement "The military is very open about how much people are getting paid and who's getting what pay." But of course, you and your military employed Feminist comrades wouldn't agree, even if you understand it. Edit : And of course, you say 'civilian pay being more open and available to the public' and you later change it to 'simply the pay amount being available to employees'. BIG difference there as well.

Answer 3

No, you can not attain those ranks in that quick of a time. There are specific time in service and time in grade requirements for enlisted promotions and a drawn out career path for officers. You must meet those requirements before your packet even goes before a promotion board for the next higher rank. The only cases of skipping ranks involve enlisted with JROTC, college credits, or a special skill (allow to enlist at up to E-4), or doctors (commission as O-3).
I was once told that if there is a need for a civilian to hold a military job, done for someone with special skills or as a manpower necessity, and they do not fall into the GS scale, then they can be paid for the military rank of the position they hold. In that case they will receive <2 years pay. I do not know if that is entirely true, but it sounded logical to me.

Answer 4

Old school war is all I can think of. My Grandfather enlisted the Army in February of 1942 as a private. He was discharged a Sergeant First Class in September of 1945 (he sewed on the stripes in November of 1944). That was about 2 years. I don't think it could happen today, but they probably just keep updating the old pay tables without thinking how stupid it looks. But, that is how the military works, you never know. If we got into a full out ground war with China or something, with a draft and the massive casualties that that would cause, maybe then we would get 2 year E-7s again, just through attrition.

Answer 5

Adjutant General for each state (the head of the states National Guard) is a 2 star Appointed by the Governor. Although rare they could appoint someone with no military service.

Also for some Projects they may want a highly trained or educated specialist (Doctor, Scientist or something) to be in the military and not a contractor.

They will not lead troops but they preform a function.

Answer 6

i seen that also on the tables good question how would some one come in as a SFC under 2 years but it is not heard of Teddy Roosevelt was a in an political office then transfered to the rank of COL in the spanish american war so maybe that would be the kinda case like that

Answer 7

The only way you could get E7 with under two years of service is if you came in as an officer and then got demoted. 0-8 would be the same, although I can't see anyone getting to 0-9 that quickly, no matter what. The thing to remember is, the statisticians who made the chart just figured the pay rates for every slot across the chart...this does not mean these ranks are obtainable in that time frame..it is just the way the chart was formed. Most folks will need at least 10-12 years in to hit E-7 and that would be with making rank the first time and or getting a "below the zone" promotion (promoted early and out of cycle for outstanding contributions to your unit).

Answer 8

on the enlisted side, it IS possible to enlist as an E6, although this is extremely rare, such as MUs in the Navy.. they literally have to be Master's/Professional Level musicians.

during WW1, 2 and even to a lesser extent in Korea and Viet Nam, people would be getting field promotions much easier, without TIG considerations.. it was indeed possible to make E7 in under 2 years.

Today, however, not so much.

Answer 9

Good question. It might be for individuals who transfer from one service to another, for whatever reason, like the blue to green program between the army and the airforce and navy in which persons from the airforce and navy can switch services before their current tour is up. I'm not sure if that is applicable for some of the higher ranks though.

Answer 10

Its unlikly but it you go in with lots of Education you can make rank faster. If you go in with a BA or a Masters they may make you an E-5 or so if you dont want officer. Then I know with the Navy you just test and depending on the rate and where are you stationed you can advance fast. And if you are capped on a ship then you can make to rank in no time depending on the rate and advancement rate.