Anyone who is above average should come out of basic as at least an E-2.
Well, it's been a while since I went to USAF BMT, but you could only get a stripe or two for: College credits, Jr. ROTC, or Sign up for 6 years.
Otherwise, you come out with a slick sleeve.
Do you dispute that there is a USAF rank of E-1, AB, that is a slick sleeve?
No, there isn’t a dispute that E-1s don’t have stripes, but that E-2 is frequently given once you finish, probably at your next station.
I just don’t remember many guys with no stripes for very long.