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

Granted this is from a different time/ generation of Soldiers; my Uncle, a retired full bird who was around when the Army Air Corp. became the Air Force, who passed away a few years ago told me a story... he said he always told his subordinates to do what was asked of them and he would take care of them, never waste to his time. His acting SGM, an E8 was nearing his eligibility date for his 9 and walked into his office with a whole five minute speech, when he was finished my Uncle, who I thought was a nice man growing up, reminded him about not wasting his time, made him reach into a folder on his desk that contained his promotion orders and told him to tear them up! As an E7 in today’s Army I might have had a heart attack right there, but I guess that’s why they were part of the greatest generation, their discipline and attention to detail is something to be revered!

I received a letter from the testing center telling me that I was the only person in the Navy who passed the Senior Chief's exam for Lithographer. I was overjoyed until I read the rest of the letter. It clearly stated that I was not being promoted. It pointed out very clearly that because of AFFIRMATIVE ACTION it was going to someone else. A Lithographer is a fancy name for a Printer. The person it was going to was someone I knew who had not done anything in Printing for more than 15 years. He did have Korean War service which apparently topped my Vietnam Service and he was black. When they promoted him to Master Chief I expected to get his Senior Chief Billet. Wrong again. I contacted the testing center and was informed that there was no need for a Senior Chief Lithographer, so they discontinued the billet. I made Chief in Just under 11 years and spent the next 17 and one half years no getting a promotion. The final blow was when I was told that I needed to retitre because I was not advancing in my rate. So, rather than let me finish 1 and a half years to attain a 30 year retirement, I was out with 28 and one half years.

A few years back my Skipper wrote my promotion to Senior Chief on the back of a cocktail napkin and had his Yeoman Senior Chief take off his anchor and star for my promotion. I still have that framed napkin.

In February of 1973 I was working the night shift at the Comm Center when another Sgt came in bitching at me. "You young whipper snappers think you are so hot!" I asked him what he was talking about? He said I made SSgt and he was passed over again. I told him it must be someone else because I was 2 years away from being eligible for promotion. He insisted I was on the list so I had him take over things and I went over to see the OOD. The Captain on duty handed me the list and sure enough I was on it. Service number matched. I asked the Captain if he knew anything about the promotion process because I thought I was not eligible. Turned out his primary job was in Admin and he explained that 10% of the promotions came from the over-list from those that had been passed over before. 10% came from the under-zone. 80% came from the primary zone. He said it looked like I picked from the under-zone. In the Marines you also get a precedence number indicating your position on the list of those in your MOS. Mine was 65 which meant not only did I made SSgt, but I was promoted 6 weeks later. That Sgt that told me was pissed off Sgt. My OIC had to transfer him to another shift to keep the peace.

I was working nights, in the rack sawing logs. Platoon sgt woke me up, handed me orders, said I was now a Spc4. "Thanks, now leave me alone."

We were having an Org Day, and that day happened to be June 6th, 2014, the 70th Anniversary of D-Day.
It felt sort of odd that we were having fun, yet no one from leadership had mentioned D-Day at all. Oh well.
Later in the afternoon, we were called to formation, weird, then I saw an old commander of mine on one side of the formation, extra weird.
Attention to Orders, and then I am called to post.
I got pinned on the 70th Anniversary of D-Day, my old commander did the pinning and when I was asked to give the famous speech! Speech! Speech! I thanked the unit's leadership and my old commander for the surprise...and then proceeded to say a thing or two about D-Day and ended by asking everyone to observe a minute of silence for those that gave their lives on that day.

After everything was said and done, my Platoon Sergeant gave me a counseling for the D-Day speech. It was a positive counseling requested by my Commander. So double win!

Unfortunately my story isn't so nice. I was to be promoted to E-7 after completing my ANCOC course. 60 days went by and no promotion. I wasn't to worried about it- when it happened the promotion would be back dated to the day I graduated so I would receive my back pay as well. Finally the visiting Command Sargent Major stopped by and asked why I wasn't promoted. I told him I was going to give it another 30 days and then file a complaint (90 days would have passed). I was hoping they would wait for the Company Christmas party to promote me when my wife was there but it was not to be. They had me report for final formation and promoted me in November. I asked if it could wait until December and do it at Christmas but they said no. They then tried to pin some crappy old and BROKEN stripes on me. I took one look and tole the 1st Sargent to place them in my hand, not on my uniform. After the formation was over I walked up to the 1st Sargent's office and threw the busted up rank insignia onto his desk telling him "You really know how to hurt a guy". I informed him I was insulted and was planning on leaving the unit just as soon as I could. We argued and his buddy the OPS Sargent came in and told me with a smile it was his old rank. I walked out before it developed into a fist fight. About 6 months later the unit folded up and I went back to the Artillery where I belonged!

As the navigator on my second ship, Quartermasters (a term very different from the Army etc.) were the ones who maintained the charts, partnered and assisted in taking star and sublime shots, kept the underway ships logs and plots amongst other things. Key to all this is the leading petty officer. Our LPO was an outstanding older man who looked the part of an old salt but kept having a hard time just missing points necessary for CPO (E-7). So at the end of a very arduous deployment during the NVA 1972 Spring Offensive, his performance was recognized with a superb evaluation and a medal with an Admirals signature, not jus the ships CO.

So he goes through the CPO exam again and just stays true to his duties and we return to port and arrive in Long Beach within 30 seconds of planned arrival.

After our 30 day stand down we’re all onboard. I get the report of the Chiefs’ selection board and FINALLY he’s on the list. I’m in the admin office and ask the bridge to pass the word over the ship’s announcement system for him to lay to the admin office on the double...usually an indication of being in deep s—t.

The whole of the division which included admin and personnel and his quartermasters is in the crowded office. He arrives slightly out of breath, and I immediately asked him how he could have possibly done such a thing? He has that look of Oh God. And asks what did he do? “Damn it, you made Chief!” The time was precious and his smile lit up the office.

So after that, he got even with me. When a sailor makes Chief there is an initiation. In those days, presence of ladies is best not allowed and the alcohol consumption was enough to float a boat. The candidate for chief is subjected to “traditions” that he might recall after the hang over. The second worse treatment is visited upon his defense counsel. I was his counsel. Counsel is responsible for paying all his fines and to try to keep up with the swill.

Being part of his achievement and recognition by his shipmates is one of my best memories —such as they are through the fog of grog. He was given a VHS tape and guaranteed there wasn’t a copy.

For me, although it isn't unusual, ass-kissing is almost standard. At least when I was in. That is why I didn't become a "lifer". I was in an E-4 slot but the cook carried my rank while I was a PFC towing the 105 Howitzer. He was in basecamp, I was the one out in the field. He built a really nice TO&E board for the CO so he got my rank.

Back in 72 I was Depot Commanders Driver. Next day after being skipped over for E-4 I was driving him to a meeting and he asked how my day was going. I should have just said fine Sir but I was pissed so I told him That I had been skipped over for E-4 to a cook who had 6mo less time in service and grade. Next day I was called into Co hdqtrs and was met by the First Sgt after stating that if I had any problems his door was always open he then led me to Co's office and was once again told about his open door policy. He then handed me my E-4 promotion. After I got back to Depot Hdqtrs I was called up to the Sgt Major's office and received another open door message. Must have been a lot of ass chewing the day before. Never crossed my mind the Col would go to that extent for me.