Master Chief Hospital Corpsman (Surface Warfare/Air Warfare/Fleet Marine Force) James G. Parlier,  enlisted in the United States Navy on April 21^st 1978. On April 28^th he reported for basic training at Recruit Training Command, Naval Training Center, Orlando Florida Company 155. In July 1978 he was assigned for training at Hospital Corps "A" School. He reported to his first duty station at Naval Regional Medical Center, Great Lakes, Illinois in October 1978.

After two years of duty then, HM3 Parlier was transferred to Field Medical Service School, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and promoted to HM2 upon completion in September 1980. In October 1980 he was assigned to the 2^nd Battalion, 2^nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where he served completing various deployments with the Marines from Cold Weather Operations in the Northern Atlantic to supporting operations in Lebanon in the Mediterranean.

Following this assignment in October 1982 he received orders to Naval Hospital, Orlando Florida. In October 1985 HM2 Parlier attended the Naval Aerospace Medical Technician School in Pensacola, Florida. After completion in December 1985, he was assigned to Fighter Squadron Forty-One where he deployed with the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) on it’s last Mediterranean deployment and sailed around the world to finish the cruise. During this assignment he was promoted to Petty Officer First Class. He then deployed onboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) on its maiden voyage.

In May 1989 he attended the Independent Duty Corpsman School, Naval School of Health Sciences Portsmouth, Virginia and graduated with honors in May 1990. HM1 Parlier was then assigned to the USS Leader(MSO-490) in June 1990. After reporting he was advanced to Chief Petty Officer. He deployed to the Persian Gulf during Operations Desert Shield/Storm. He decommissioned the ship in December 1991 and was immediately assigned to the 8^th Engineers Support Battalion, 2^nd Force Service Support Group, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

After a short tour HMC Parlier accepted orders to a critical billet with Naval Special Warfare Unit TWO, Machrihanish, Scotland in October 1993. He was promoted to Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman. HMCS Parlier supported Special Operations in Northern Europe and in the Baltics during Operation "Provide Promise". Upon completion of his tour of duty in October 1995 he attended the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy Class 69.

HMCS Parlier then reported to Naval Hospital Pensacola , Florida for duty where is was promoted to Master Chief in April 1998. He then received orders to the Naval Hospital, Patuxent River, Maryland as Command Master Chief. HMCM Parlier applied for the Command Master Chief Program and receive the NEC "9580" and accepted immediate orders to the USS COLE (DDG 67) as Command Master Chief.

His decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2 Awards), Combat Action Ribbon and various other unit and personal awards.