Following
basic military training, Parish was assigned to
Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois, for training as a ground weather equipment operator where earned distinction as an honor graduate. His early assignments include Germany,
Massachusetts, and
Illinois. In March 1973, Parish graduated from the first class of the Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy at
Gunter Air Force Station, Alabama. One of his classmates was
James M. McCoy, who in August 1979 would be appointed as one of Parish's predecessors as the sixth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. In August 1976, he began his third tour of duty in
West Germany as
sergeant major for the 36th Combat Support Group consolidated base personnel office at
Bitburg Air Base, Germany. His career included tours as Senior Enlisted Advisor for 40th Air Division,
US Air Forces in Europe, and
Strategic Air Command. Parish served as the
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force from August 1983 to June 1986. ==Awards and decorations==