Moody major reunited with son for downrange promotion ceremony

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  • 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan --  A Moody Airman was recently promoted while downrange and had a special guest: her son.

Maj. Cindy Lord, 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron officer in charge of the HC-130P King aircraft maintenance unit, is originally from the 23rd Maintenance Group. Her son, U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. James Hill, is an infantryman with the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and the two 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.

Lt. Col. John Ramos, 451st EAMXS 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 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," she said.