Cool. I am casual friends with a retired AF Colonel, a super guy, once a meteorologist in the AF. Anyway, the only time this topic ever came up with him, he basically said you can get to Lt. Col/Col on merit and time, if you are any good. I think his era was the 1970s.
Anyway he wasn't explicit but spoke dismissively about officer promotion above that rank. I figured he just wasn't in the 'clique' and the politics in play would make it a real feat to rise above his rank. He retired, and enjoyed other careers after that.
As for me, I am more of an enlisted man type, I think, so I was always identified more with the guys with stripes. If I would have ever enlisted in any branch of service, peacetime or wartime, it would have been the USAF as an enlisted man. I strongly considered that in 1986 when I turned 18, but opted instead for College and then Law School. I don't think I would have been career, though.
Also somewhat related, the first thing I noticed about that pic of Kerry pointing his finger at the young Marine (the Marine looked to me like he wanted to slug him), was that the quiet dynamic of the scene was an 'Officer' (granted 30+ years post-service) talking to 'Stripes' - I think the young man was Sgt. Anyway, for what it was worth (and in no way flattering myself since I can't shine a US Marine's shoes), I was naturally identifying with the Sgt in the pic. Those are my kinda guys!