You have older NCOs in the military as well as senior officers, but for the most part rank and seniority is a pyramid in the military.
More so than in civilian life. The US military has a formal "up or out" policy and a schedule: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Year_Tenure . That's for enlisted men. For officers, it's tougher, although more complicated; if you're passed over for promotion twice, you're usually out.
Comments
You have older NCOs in the military as well as senior officers, but for the most part rank and seniority is a pyramid in the military.
More so than in civilian life. The US military has a formal "up or out" policy and a schedule: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Year_Tenure . That's for enlisted men. For officers, it's tougher, although more complicated; if you're passed over for promotion twice, you're usually out.