How long does it take to earn a promotions in the service? -

I am planning to join the Air Force this spring. I ve been trying to figure out a sort of budget, so i can do some financial planning for the year ahead (as I have substantial student loan debt). I was trying to figure out how much money i might earn annually while serving active duty, and its hard with only the pay scale, and no real idea how long it takes to earn a promotion. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank You! For example: If I was to enlist as an E-1 or E-2, what rank might I find myself after my 1st year of service? after my 2nd?|::::|If you enlist in the Air Force as an E-1, your promotion cycle would be: E-2, 6 months time grade as an E-1. E-3 , 10 months time in grade as an E-2 E-4 , 28 months time in grade as an E-3 or 36 months time in service. Which ever comes first. You can test for E-5 after 36 months time in service.|::::|There is no set promotion schedule. You enter as an E1, and if you are steady, hard working, and doing a good job, you could see several promotions a year. If you slack off, are disrespectful, or just marking time until discharge, you could still be an E1 years later. - Stuart|::::|They will try to sell you bonds when you get in the military. Tell them that you are a day trader, and access to an internet koisk would greatly ease your mind.|::::|8 months from E-2 to E-3. 28 months from E-3 to E-4. After E-4 you have to take written promotion test to advance.|::::|Im in the Air Force and I can tell you that we are the slowest promoted branch. I came in as a 6 year enlistee which, after basic, I was an E-3 but now to be an E-4, I have to wait 3 years. If you get below the zone, its 2 1/2 years. My boyfriend is a Marine, he s now an E-4 and he s been in about the same time as me. My friend who is in the Navy got Petty officer third class(E-4) and he s been in for like a year. Pretty much, Air Force promotes the slowest, Army the fastest, Marines(depending how sh*t hot you are), and the Navy is about the same.|::::|You can enlist and enter at a rank higher than E1. I ship to basic for the Navy tomorrow and I m gonna be paid as an E3 as soon as I get there because of my college credits and the fact that I signed on as a nuke. I get E4 as soon as I finish A-school. After nuclear power school and prototype, if I decide to extend my enlistment from 6 years to 8 years, I can get automatic E5 and a big *** bonus. So that would be E5 in about two years. That s pretty much as fast as it gets in the Navy. It s my personal career track. That doesn t apply to anyone but Navy nukes. It all really depends on your job and your performance. From what I hear it is harder to get promoted in the Air Force than any other branch simply because they are the most over-manned. The number of promotions given is based on the need to fill those ranks.