Memorable promotion

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. James Hill stands beside his mother, Maj. Cindy Lord, after her promotion ceremony Nov. 1 at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. Corporal Hill flew in from Combat Outpost Geronimo, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, via helicopter to be present for the ceremony. Major Lord is assigned to the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and Corporal Hill is assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. John Ramos)

Family reunited for promotion ceremony

Published Nov. 5, 2010
451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan -- Maj. Cindy Lord, 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron officer in charge of the HC-130P King aircraft maintenance unit, and her son, U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. James Hill, infantryman with the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, were reunited Nov. 1 at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, for a memorable promotion ceremony.

Corporal Hill was flown in from southern Helmand Province via helicopter to make this event historic: a first at the Bastion forward operating base with a mother and son from different services witnessing one or the other's promotion ceremony. The two have not seen each other in two years since Corporal Hill's graduation from Marine Recruit Training.

Major Lord thought it was surreal having her son attend her ceremony and thanked her son's superiors for allowing his attendance of the occasion. "It is military tradition to celebrate achievements, whether they are part of a team or an individual event."

Lt. Col. John Ramos, 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander, officiated the promotion ceremony. Regarding the newly pinned major he expressed, "Hard work and sacrifice ... Major Lord paid the price. Her promotion reinforces the idea that these efforts are not in vain and we encourage her to continue to excel and strive for the next grade."

Major Lord's home station is the 23rd Maintenance Group, Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Corporal Hill is stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii and has been deployed to Combat Outpost Geronimo, Helmand Province, Afghanistan for the past six months.