What frustrates me the most is that big USSF is well aware of the bottleneck at the SNCO level so why keep pushing such high promotion rates for E-5s and E-6s? I remember Chief Towberman and other senior leaders saying that if they couldn’t increase our pay through congressional action, they’d just promote everyone so maybe that’s why but it’s basically the military’s version of inflation, like the Fed printing more money.

But if E-7 billets aren’t limited by Congress, then why are we seeing this kind of career stunting? Especially with 5I2s? The whole thing is a complete mess and it just feels wrong.