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

I recall the way I was notified of being promoted to E5. I wasn't. I noticed my LES said I was an E5 and I pinned it on without any drama. The same thing happened later when I was promoted to CW2. The orders showed up in an email some time after DFAS had already known and had been paying me. I had to advise my OIC he needed to swear me in to make it a legal commission and submit the form to personnel. As I recall, that same OIC was an O4 at the time. When he was promoted to O5, there was no notification or fanfare. He grabbed a sharpie and blackened in his gold leafs. Absolutely true story.

Everyone was looking at hilighted army times promoting me to SSG

My whole company were told to read a new policy on our daily board in hallway of hq. I came in wondering what

No one in my unit told me about my promotion to (at that time) E-4 (Cpl). Found out on my paystub and asked the CO of my unit...

I was a 2Lt, assigned to an artillery battalion in Hanau Germany, my major additional duty was as battery motor officer. One day I am in the motor pool when a runner comes down saying that the Battalion Commander wanted to see me ASAP.

I am a little perplexed, as I head up to the headquarters building. I asked the S1 on the way what was going on, he said he didn’t know but the “old man” was upset and I needed to report to him. I am a little anxious. I report to the LTC, he looks at me for a moment and starts chewing me out for nothing… You’ve been seen in the motor pool wearing mechanics coveralls, etc. Mind you I am still standing at attention in front of his desk. After a few minutes of this he gets out of his chair, pulls a knife out of his pocket and cuts the sewn on rank off my collar. I am stunned, have no idea what just happened. Then from behind me the S1 reads “Attention to Orders”…

Called into the skippers office, told to remove the 'fouled anchors” on my coller, thought I was being busted from Chief Petty offiicer. Very confused, thought I had been caught doing something shady, or bending the rules too much, something a Chief would never do. . The skipper looked me streight in the eye said welcome aboard Ensign Riddle, pinned two gold bars on my collors.

So a couple of years ago, my unit was getting ready to head to FT McCoy for some training. About a day prior to departure, one of my Specialists was also working on getting his SGT Promotion packet built. He was going thru his iPerms to find his 4178s advancements to PFC and SPC. He saw a new document, and it was his orders for SGT. Turns out, BN S1 had those orders for a month and never notified the unit.

Buddy of mine got a text from the admin NCO with a link to the song “You’re Welcome” from Moana. A follow up text said “check your email.” The email had his promotion order attached.

A good friend of mine played trick on me when becoming an NCO (PO3) a cycle before. His LPO and I are pretty close so once we found out he picked up PO3, I got his LPO to play along to make it sound like he was involved with the wall punch incidents at the barracks 2 weeks before. (Perfect timing) Got his LPO to chew him out over the phone (friend worked 2nd shift at the time) and told him to get his dress whites ready.
The LPO also got the CMC involved so it was going to be awesome!
However,
The CO was making his rounds congratulating everyone and the prank was ruined.... So the LPO and I were trying to get the CO to go somewhere else so we could have fun with our friend before the great news.... Yet he comes running in with his uniform somewhat messed up right to the CO... (Dammit)
The CO says, "SN Exxxx, I am so disappointed in you, I thought you were a great sailor who contributes to our command but how could you?" (His LPO and I have a blank shakedown with each other)
CO continues, "and look at your uniform, its a mess AND most importantly you're out of uniform... Congratulations on making 3rd class" That face expression on him, priceless.... (So the CMC actually let the CO know about our ploy and decided to play along) Where you at John? This story is for you hahhah

When I made PO2, I got called on the carpet by the Chief about being "out of uniform". I didn't even know that the exam results were out, or that the list had been generated, but they showed me, and there I was in the first increment. I was also immediately informed that I was delinquent in my qualifications as a Sonar Supervisor. The second Chevron went on the next day, and I took care of the other within the month.