Posted on Oct 3, 2015
What's the most unusual way you have seen someone receive notification of promotion?
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Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 326
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I had an PFC in my battery's commo shop. While we were in Iraq 2003-2004, he went on leave. When he returned, the commo sergeant and PSG told him he was in deep shit as there was an ANCD missing that he was signed for. I called the Battery to attention (yes we had a formation in Ramadi) and called him up front of the battery. While he was facing me, I said turn around, I can't stand to look at you right now. I turned it over to the commander who also said something about probably getting court martialed. The commander nodded to me and I read his promotion orders to SPC. He was totally unsuspecting. He still remembers this promotion to this day
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When I got STEP promoted to TSgt, I was called and told to come in immediately in my Dress Blues by my Chief. Said I had to see General Breedlove and they made it sound like I did something wrong. Was quite the shock when the General promoted me. Most memorable promotion of my career.
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I recall how I was notified of my promotion to SrA. My pay was high and I went to finance to find out why. Apparently I had been automatically promoted. No one in my unit knew or cared.
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I wouldn't call it unusual but my orders for E5 came into iPERMs before I was told. Once I had the orders, I went and got my ID card updated. Next drill my 1SG and Admin NCO told me that I will be getting my stripes soon. I played dump, then after 4 months, they finally promoted me in front of the BTRY to SGT. It was nice attending a couple of drills as a E4 but getting paid as a E5. I was told they would have pin me sooner but they decided to wait until we had a home station drill.
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I was working in G3 came into work opened my Email. There was 2 attachments there. One promoted me the other PCSed me. The unit had no idea of the promotion either. The DCG pinned me and said bye the same time.
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Watched a major get promoted to ltcol in Shannon Ireland airport by senator John McCain in August of 09
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SMSgt Tony Barnes I love senior NCOs... As every time I was promoted, I was called by an Army CSM... days before the list (promotion and command) was released, to congratulate me.... How do they know?
But, the most unusual... would be me... I was flagged by the DAIG for over 3 years based on false allegation against me... when it was finally cleared.... The VCSA (Vice Chief of Staff, Army) called me personally to tell me I was cleared, and I would have promotion orders in short order... It was in less than 5 minutes... and I was promoted 19 months late... with back pay..
But, the most unusual... would be me... I was flagged by the DAIG for over 3 years based on false allegation against me... when it was finally cleared.... The VCSA (Vice Chief of Staff, Army) called me personally to tell me I was cleared, and I would have promotion orders in short order... It was in less than 5 minutes... and I was promoted 19 months late... with back pay..
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For the first few years in the US Army I did not drink coffee....because everyone called it "Lifer Juice" and I was not staying in. I made E-5 right after I re-enlisted but did not realize it until I walked into the TO&E Room and saw a big steaming cup of Lifer Juice in a cup with my name painted on it.
I shouted out "Hot Damn, I made SGT..!!!"
I shouted out "Hot Damn, I made SGT..!!!"
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SFC Istvan Nagy
That was pretty cool, Mark! Mine is slightly different, but also a little unusual. It was Dec 1994 and we just moved from Ft Bragg to Ft Leonard Wood, MO to the Home of the Engineers, where I was assigned to the HHC, 169th En Bn with duty at the Engineer Center and School. It was Christmas time and everything was moving slowly, but I was able to see the 1SG and the CO at the company, while I was at the company I saw a manila folder with my name on it, but the 1SG nor the CO would give it to me. They told me that there will be a Christmas Party at my new work location (DTLE) and to be there. At the party awards were given out and promotions were done, and all of a sudden I've heard my name being called. I'm like...What?...So, I go up front and I saw the manila folder again. The DTLE Chief (Directorate of Tactics and Leadership) picked it up and opened it. He then said, I know this will take effect only in a few days but Santa has brought you this and he took out a copy of my promotion order to SFC and promoted me. That was the best Christmas gift, and party ever.
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SFC Mark Bailey
I made SFC in a very tight unit that believed in Dog Piles for any good event (Anniversary's, Birthday's, and well... any other excuse we could think of). My Platoon (3rd PLT Renegades) were infamous for remembering EVERYBODY's Dog Pile day. In keeping with this, my CO thought it only appropriate that the entire Company Honor my tradition on my promotion. I was pinned in the middle of the grass Quad area, and then left at Parade Rest while the entire Company was dismissed.
The 1SG out of pity brought me to attention and dismissed me seconds before the onslaught hit me as over 100 soldiers happily tried to Dog Pile me.... it was an EPIC day, especially considering in the confusion of the Dog Pile they accidentally pinned the wrong guy and I almost got away....
The 1SG out of pity brought me to attention and dismissed me seconds before the onslaught hit me as over 100 soldiers happily tried to Dog Pile me.... it was an EPIC day, especially considering in the confusion of the Dog Pile they accidentally pinned the wrong guy and I almost got away....
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SFC Istvan Nagy
That sound like "fun"...hahaha. My cousin was in the 75th Ranger Unit at Ft. Lewis, WA, and he used to tell me some funny/hardcore stories as in how they got promoted...Like during a jump...etc.
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I was notified of my fathers death on July 4th in 1996. With a heavy heart I flew home from Korea to attend the funeral. Since I was still a Buck Sgt and I entered service in 1986 I was due to separate a couple of weeks after my impending return. I argued with the First Sgt over the phone (respectfully). He insisted that I had to come back because I had used up all my leave time and they could not just give me an early out. So with only a couple of weeks left in the Service I flew back to Korea. The days went by slowly and one morning at Guard Mount after a very nervous night walking back from the ville, I was told that I was to have a important visitor on my post. I waited nervously and in walked the Commander, the First Sgt, the Superintendent, my Flight Sgt, and a Squad Ldr. They all crammed in the small room that I was posted in and I reported my post. After I was done with the statement the Commander said "What did you say your rank was SSgt Hadley." and pulled a set of SSgt stripes from behind his back. I lost all military bearing and basically took a deep bow!!!!
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
Walking back from the 'ville? MSG Jackson told 'us' to get the Hell out of there. We said, Yes Sergeant Jackson Sir! He drove off in his keep, leaving us to walk multiple klics to the MSR N of the Imjin.
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I knew a guy who was passed over twice for captain. He appealed an OER, but while the appeal was going through the system he had to start out processing from the Army. He was at post G-1 when the phone rang. His BN CO tracked him down and told him be needed to come back to battalion and do some outprocessing there that was overlooked.
When he arrived the entire staff and his wife were waiting. His appeal of the offending OER was approved and a special promotion board met. He was promoted to captain with an effective DOR from the first promotion board that passed him over along with all the back pay. He suddenly had DOR on his company commander and was the senior captain in the battalion.
When he arrived the entire staff and his wife were waiting. His appeal of the offending OER was approved and a special promotion board met. He was promoted to captain with an effective DOR from the first promotion board that passed him over along with all the back pay. He suddenly had DOR on his company commander and was the senior captain in the battalion.
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