GULFPORT, Miss. - Since 1942, sailors assigned to the U.S. Navy’s Construction Force have been building and fighting around the world. Command Master Chief Buddy Parsons, from Inez, Kentucky, is one of those sailors.
Eighty-two years ago, members of Navy Construction Battalions were fittingly nicknamed, “Seabees,” a play on the C and B initials. They are responsible for building military bases and airfields, supporting humanitarian efforts and conducting underwater construction projects. The Seabees’ motto is “We Build, We Fight.”
Parsons is the command master chief for Naval Construction Training Center Gulfport at the headquarters for naval construction forces in Gulfport, Mississippi, which serves as a home base for the Atlantic Fleet Seabees.
Parsons graduated from Sheldon Clark High School in 2000. Additionally, Parsons earned a bachelor’s degree in applied science and technology from Thomas Edison State University in 2014, and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from the University of Massachusetts Global Campus in 2023.
Parsons joined the Navy 24 years ago.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted something better to do,” said Parsons. “I wanted to see the world and get a college education. I wasn’t following the right path. I joined the Navy to get back on the right path.”
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Inez.
“Probably the biggest lesson I learned growing up is don’t ever complete something that you’re ashamed to say you did,” said Parsons. “For me, that means just putting forth 100% effort in everything I do. Another lesson was to never be happy with the status quo and always try to do better.”
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Parsons serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day,” said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations. “Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.”
Parsons has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’ve had a lot of accomplishments to be honest, from humanitarian missions, three tours in Iraq, a year in Afghanistan, but probably the most memorable deployment was when we went to a remote island in Fiji and built two schools,” said Parsons. “They didn’t have running water or electricity and had been attending school in whatever building materials they could find. When we built the schools we even built a water catchment system for them. After we built the structures, a nonprofit came in and provided generators for electricity. It was a very rewarding experience for us.”
Parsons can take pride in serving America through military service.
“To me, serving in the Navy means serving the country that I live in,” said Parsons. “I joined the Navy pre-9/11, so I think my original reason for why I joined changed after 9/11. Before that, it was to get out of my hometown, go to college and see the world. After 9/11, my mission changed to defending my country.”