Also i thought of a new question: Say I make it to officer in three years(two is possible but i don't want to set my goals to high) in a twenty year term, working my butt off, what rank would I get out at?
So lets assume you get picked up at your three year point.....now you go off to school for 4 years....putting you at 7 years of service when you get commissioned as an Ensign.
After you get commissioned (as an Ensign), you get promoted to LTJG exactly two years later. Then, you get promoted to LT two years after that. Now, it gets a little tricky....
You have to be selected by a board to make LCDR. For simplicity, lets just assume you get promoted to LCDR at your ten years of commissioned service point (most likely will be closer to 10.5 years though). Making CDR is the same thing.....but assume you can pin it on around the 15 YCS point for simplicity.
So, you are likely to be a LCDR knocking on the door of CDR at your twenty years of service point.
Suffice it to say....you aren't making 4 star in a twenty year career. You're not even making 05 if you start off enlisted and pursue the path you outline.
Cheers,
GC