ericferret wrote (
inter alia
Cannot speak for whay happens today but at one time promotion to corporal in the air force was slow and to sergeant was dead mans shoes.
I don't know what period Eric is referring to. As a direct entry fitter fairy in the 1960s, signing on for 9 years service (the minimum period for highest pay scale) I was a Corporal in less than 4 years from attestation and a Sergeant less than 8 years, completing my last 18 months service as an SNCO. Trade promotion was automatic if one passed the necessary exams and had at least average assessments. Although normal practice was to move one on promotion to Sergeant (if only to a different Squadron on the same station) I was left where I was, as I was effectively running the section for large periods of time anyway.