Lamar Parkes left a life in the kitchen for a life of service in the U.S. Army. Currently in One Station Unit Training at Fort Moore, Pvt. Parkes, 42-years-old and born in Jamaica, immigrated to the United States in 2011 and became a U.S. citizen through naturalization in 2019.
A career chef by trade, Parkes cooked in his home country, on cruise ships, at a resort in Boston, and spent the last eleven years as a civilian working at a five-star restaurant in the New York City neighborhood of Jamaica, in the borough of Queens.
Parkes was inspired to enlist by his son Devonte Parkes, who serves as a sergeant at the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vicenza, Italy.
“I wanted to join the Army for a better future for my family and to serve with my son,” Parkes said. “To serve alongside my son is a great honor and privilege, and I can’t wait to say ‘Yes, sergeant. No, sergeant.’ To see my son in the same uniform, serving the same country as my son – it’s going to be awesome.”
Parkes’ life experience prior to enlisting has benefited the Soldiers alongside him in training. “Pvt. Parkes’ age is a unique factor in his OSUT experience,” said Staff Sgt. Dustin Mayfield, a drill sergeant with Parkes’ unit. “He has the respect of the trainees as he performs at their same level. He also has a good feeling for the heartbeat of the platoon, which is a testament to his age and experience.”
Now in OSUT week 16 of 22 with the 194th Armored Brigade, Parkes will graduate in January with his son in the audience. As a cavalry scout, Parkes will spend his time in the Army as the eyes and ears of the ground combat force, gathering information about enemy positions, vehicles, weapons, and activity to deliver decision quality information and insight to commanders and leaders.
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