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

I attended a board for Meritorious Sgt., then I went away to cold weather training for a couple of weeks. When I returned my First Sgt. told me I was out of uniform. Being squared away as usual, I was concerned until he handed me my Sgt. insignia. I had just got all of my chevrons sewn on for Corporal, but it was worth the extra cost to make the exchange.

I was driving Bobcat filling HESCOs at Jalalabad PRT.
When I put the bucket down the Commander was standing there with a big smile on his face.
When I asked what was up he simply said Congrats Ron you did it.
I was like "Did what" ....i've been filling these damn HESCOs for two weeks......
He laughed and said "no you made Master" and started laughing.
He shook my hand we smoked a cigar and then it was back to work.

What made this unusual to me was that it was just him....no first shirt, no rent a crown....just him and an open honest congratulations....Was the best news I ever received down range (other than getting a firm return date of course) ...side note best commander i ever worked for...

SMSgt Tony Barnes can you tell me where you found the photo that you used? I took this picture in Iraq back in 2009.

My squadron commander used to bring the cops in and have them standing in the room when Airman xxx was told the commander wanted to see him. Most of them looked like they were going to faint just before the commander gave them their new stripes.

I found out I was promoted to SPC a month before being "pinned." I was one of the first soldiers with ACUs in my unit. 1stSgt was pissed because I was already wearing the sham shield.

well, nothing as elaborate as some of the stories that I've read here. We were having our annual squadron picnic. I'm as per the CC's request in civilian attire. I was holding my 4th "adult beverage" when the Commander called us all to attention. He said that he had a very important memo that came out after he had released us from duty that afternoon, he then called several members up front to give them some award or something. He then called me (still holding my beer). I did have enough common sense to put my beer down on the closest table, when I approached him, wearing a pair of shorts and t-shirt (it was an after hours picnic after-all) when he handed me my TSgt stripes. Now of course I saluted, thanked him and all the other good things one should do, but I'm still not 100% if I followed the correct protocol for receiving a promotion in shorts, Metallica t-shirt and with the beginnings of a light buzz going on.

When I got my PFC, my section sergeant came into our room yelling "I couldn't stop it!"

That Popeye

There was a group of applicants to become Ecuadorian Army Soldiers who received their notification of promotion while they were in the jungle, fighting against the Peruvian Army in a non declared war between both countries, it happened in 1995.

My Soldier checking his LES