What's the most unusual way you have seen someone receive notification of promotion?

Text from 1SG:

1SG: You have courtesy patrol at the barracks this weekend

Me: But that duty is for E6Ps and above

1SG: yes it is...

I received a text message to call my CO ASAP, I called immediately and the Skipper went on to explain to me that I was reported on for being out of Uniform. I was a Career Recruiter and very conscientious about my appearance because of being in public eye all the time. It wasn't unusual to get calls from Government Officials if they see a Service Member looking taced. On that day it just so happened that I was in NYC attending a Major Recruiting event with some local officials in attendance so needless to say I had some serious concerns. I thought I was sharp as can be, what was it? Long story short, He told me my collar devices were wrong and that I should have on Anchors with Stars on them. Congratulations "Senior Chief"

I was deployed to Iraq. Got a message that the first sergeant was looking for me and I needed to make contact with him. My first thought was that something had happened to my family. Nobody would budge and tell me what was going on when I asked if my family was okay. Figured it out when I arrived at the dfac and me and a couple of other guys were forced into an impromptu mentorship session. Lost all respect for everyone involved....make me suffer for two hours thinking my wife or newborn son might have been in jeopardy.

In the jet, fingertip formation from the flight lead.

Well when I made AO1(E6 in Navy) in'04 my LPO (Leading Petty Officer) AO1 Jostad had called me at home and was asking a bunch of questions about the previous nights passdown log, work and paperwork that been completed fucked up and why the RSL (Ready Service Locker) was messed and bunch of the other things she keep saying what should I do with that AO1 who messed up my shit and keeped asking what should she do with Nightshift AO1, it took me about 15 minutes to realize I made AO1 and was told by my fellow AO1. That was a proud moment then.

I was notified by fax, in my Office, from the states when I promoted to E-6. Apparently what had happened was the servicing PSB made a mistake on my points and my losing PSB say that I was not on the promotion list, which caused the promotions clerk to have another recomp done and ensured my correct points. I took the fax to the commander's office and I was promoted that afternoon..

I moved from Castle AFB CA to Minot AFB ND between testing for MSgt and line numbers. I studied my ass off and I blew through both tests. No doubt in my mind that MSgt was simply a matter of waiting for the line numbers to come out. I was not shy about my opinion over it. When line numbers came out I was on leave. When I returned the NCOIC, MSgt David Wilson, we did not like each other at all, could not let it go that I did not get a line number. I told him, I made it, the line number notice just didn't make it here. I then walked over to the squadron admin office and asked that they do a check for me. They could not get to it right then, but said they would call me. About hour and a half later the everyone in the shop starts coming in from the flight line. Admin had called and told MSgt Wilson to gather his troops, he was on his way over and wanted to speak to them. Commander comes over to the shop and hands me a pair of stripes. He apologizes for the mistake, but there were no hard feelings.
I had two David Wilsons for NCOICs while in the AF.

January 13th 1984, I was walking back to the shop after breakfast. The shop had taken me to the NCO club because it was my birthday. Admin jeep pulls up beside us and tells me to get in; commander wants to see me. I thought I was in trouble, but he had E-5 stripes for me; on my freaking 21st birthday.

I was in Baumholder Germany in 1973-76. I was a SPC and everyday I would knock on the 1SG door and ask when I was going to the NCO Academy...I did this for about 2 months and on a Friday I knocked, and he yelled through the door, If that is Krutzsch, you are going Monday! Holy crap, now I have to prepare. Went to the NCO Academy in Baumholder, I was one of 2 or 3 SPC attending (At that time E4 t0 E7 attended the same academy) I was awarded honor graduate and the Leadership award, and when they gave them to me the CG, General Joseph McDonough came up and pinned my SGT stripes on, I had no clue

Posthumously

I was a SSgt stationed at RAF Fairford, 424th ABS, in 1999, when at a Commanders Call, just after a successful Kosovo operation, the 100th Wing Commander, then Colonel Glenn Spears (retired as Lt General), was giving kudos and praising our squadron for the tremendous support that was provided to the B-52s that had temporarily been stationed at our location. He spoke to each of the sections and to the work they had accomplished, starting with our AMMO flight. As you might have guessed, the AMMO troops shouted out “If you ain’t AMMO, you ain’t shit”, there was such uproar. Next, Colonel Glenn started to speak of our legal office and our contributions, and of course being the only Paralegal assigned to the base, I shouted out “If you ain’t Legal, you ain’t shit”. The place broke out in hysteria. The SJA, Major Gill and I were the Legal Office for RAF Fairford during that time frame and so everyone knew us. It was then that Colonel Glenn proceeded to call me up front and along with Command CMSgt Miller promoted me to TSgt under the STEP program. Needless to say I was taken back, but thrilled. It was also after that assignment that I was awarded an MSM as a TSgt. As I look back, it was a GREAT assignment.