Jessamine County native Rex Parmelee's freshly polished black shoes formed a perfect 45 degree angle in the recently mowed grass along the first base sideline of Petco Park in San Diego, Calif. As Parmelee raised his right hand and vowed to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, the crisp snap of a baseball landing in well-worn leather mitts could be heard in the background.
For 14 years, Parmelee has served his country as a sailor in the United States Navy. The Kentucky native enlisted in the Navy to "travel the world and serve my country." After six assignments and four deployments to places like Bosnia, Kosovo, Senegal, and Iraq, Parmelee has decided to continue to serve.
"I have complete job satisfaction," he expressed. "I really enjoy helping out my Sailors."
As a Navy counselor, Parmelee offers vocational guidance to Sailors by assessing their interests, aptitudes, and personalities. He also guides sailors through the decision making process of reenlisting. Wanting to make his own reenlistment a memorable experience, Parmelee requested that Capt. David Adler, Commanding Officer of U.S.S. Port Royal, administer the oath during pre-game warm-ups at a Padres game.
