I surmisethat the author of this article may have been enrolled in the ROTC courses for his first two years of college. If, as I recall from the '50s, it is the last two years as undergraduate that one must enlist and be sworn in to go further (with pay) in ROTC to receive a commission if graduated with a Bachelor or advanced degreem; or serve as enlisted (NCO for mastery of the ROTC courses?) if not.
That would clarify the situation of how to skip basic training and time-in-grade for E-2 and E-2 to be E-4 Spec3 or Cpl at induction (?) and rapid advance thereafter if proficient and diligent.
Thanks for saying so-by the way, I love your Freepname...Excellent!