Salute!

In 1967, we saw 4 year groups from USAFA move from Lt to Captain within 18 months. The U.S. Army moved folks from 2 Lt to Captain in less thn two years, and my brothet-in-law was one.

So the normal 4 and a half years to reach the rank of captain became 3 and a half for my class. The class ahead was moved up a half year and the class behind mine was moved up to 3 years. My roomie at Bien Hoa pinned on his railroad tracks in June of 1968 and he was a 1965 grad. I pinned on mine in January that year. Class of 62 was Jan of 67, 63 was July of 67.

+++++

If we roll back the clock a long ways then we see Ike moving from a lite colonel to a 5 star in as many years.

Gums sends...

Gums,

The US Army grew just a bit in those five years as yo remember!

The Army Air Corps had Colonels who had no need for a razor they were so young....and attrition in the Eighth Air Force made for rapid promotions as the losses had to be made up when leaders were killed, wounded, captured, or went missing-in-action.

Nothing new about this. The USAF did this a few years ago too. Guys go back into desk jobs requiring a rated officer. A friend of mine had recently gotten out and hired at Continental. Being junior sucked so he went back on active duty for 3 years and added to his retirement. He then came back to United much less junior.
This is definitely a bad deal for airlines desperate for experienced pilots though.

Yet another update:

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/y...ructors-staff/

Glad to see what the actual content of this thread concerns, since the title led me to believe that, as with our own motorized transport, there was a factory defect and the USAF was recalling all of its pilots until the defects were repaired. :E
As you were.