Army Attack helicopter pilots moving up ranks?

Question

How fast do Army Aviation officers, especially the combat aviation variety, move up the ranks? Say how long until colonel or brigadier general? Do they move up as slow as combat support officers and less combat related officers?

I should explain I'm just curious.

Answer 1

For the first 3 rank up to captain, are pretty much automatic, you will get promtoed as long you not in serious trouble.  After than, is up the board of selection, is up to many things like job assignment, your evaluation from your commander or executive officer, your PT performance, what award your earn etc.. but the evalution is the most important, is like a report card, however unlike school, not everyone gonna get A or high mark, is by % is like top 20% can get the high mark.

Answer 2

Just a side note. Most army helicopter pilots are warrant officers not regular officers. In other words you can be an army pilot and officer but your rank structure woulb be warrant officer thru chief warrant officer 5.

Answer 3

I cannot say about modern times. However, I was in an attack helicopter company in Viet-Nam in 1967-1969. Rank seemed to come slowly for those guys. One of our COs ran us on some extra missions and got himself a "Legion of Merit" and a step to LtCol. Major seemed to max them out though. Of course, many more got killed as WO1s than other branches or services I think. Flying slicks in indian country could be a dangerous undertaking. At least on assault missions, you had more fire support. The resupply runs could get hairy too.