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Time in service, time in grade and MOS were the determining factors in enlisted rank, and to a lesser extent Occifer rank, advancement.
If a person had less than 2+ yrs time in service and they advanced beyond E-3, PFC, then it was a rare case of their having the MOS, usually Infantry, that allowed that to occur. It was done on the rare occasion to fill a slot that needed filled in a hurry and meant that no suitable replacement could be shuffled into the slot. OR the person being advanced possessed 'certain skills' needed for the slot.
In the mid-70s I knew of some enlistees getting credit for civilian skills that were needed in the Army who were brought in as PFC, advanced to Spc 4 after basic and after doing a series of MOS qualifier test. They then spent the remainder of their 1st year as Spec 4 and were advanced to Spec 5's after their 2nd year. But these were rare cases.
But then again, here we are speaking of a 'rare case' that did involve outside ..."encouragement."

I went in on a two year enlistment and made E-4 in less than a year, I was promoted in late 1972 or maybe the first month of 1973. I don’t recall it being a big deal or unusual and I was in the artillery, all these years I have felt that a racist black NCO kept me from becoming an E-5 before I got out, in fact my best friend that went in at the same time as me did make E-5 before his enlistment was up and he was a medic.

They also wanted me to go to OCS which I was fine with until it came time to go before the board that followed all the tests and I decided that it was just too much trouble and investment for someone that wasn’t going to be in long, I don’t remember if an enlistment extension was required.

At the time it was also explained by SF that if I went Special Forces I would have to extend for 8 months but I think they said that you are made an E-5 for training.

I just don’t remember the 2 year enlistment being a big hindrance to anything and definitely not a hindrance to reaching E-4.