That is not what I was talking about.
4 years to E5 is not usual here, the first 4 years, that was my observation.
We had a system that if you had a trade the navy required you were promoted to Petty Officer after basic training bypassing Seaman, Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, we called them 90 day wonders, this ended after Vietnam.
I changed branch when I was a acting leading Seaman to a 'job' that selection was let's say , 'tight' and took 14 months , on this course we had a guy who was promoted to petty officer twice and refused it saying " I would rather be Leading Seaman doing this than a petty Officer in my old job".
Only a hand full passed, he was one. Respect, he earned it.
He paid off after 35 years as a Chief [in recruiting], very few Warrant Officers in our job, so it's not always about the rank.
I was talking about promotion to E 5 in very quick time.