"Your job is basically to do your sport," he says. "You're still in the military, but it's your job to concentrate on what you do, throwing or running, or whatever. They take all the other pressure and responsibility off you. You could always get deployed, you're still a soldier, but in reality you're just training."

Parker ended the season ranked No. 1 in the United States and won the silver medal in the Pan Am Games.

And he's only gotten better.

"This season has been by far the best," he says. "It's been awesome. I'm just throwing farther and farther."

Since joining the athletic program at the Air Force, Parker has split time between Eugene, Ore., where his coach lives, and the home at MAFB where his wife, Kami, and 14-month-old son "Little James," live.

"This has been his dream for 10 years, and I knew that going into it," Kami says. "And now it's our dream."

Parker is candid about his chances.

"I'm ranked 15th in the world, so I'm not expected to do anything," he says. "But in a big meet like this anything can happen. Some of the best guys can go up and choke. I just want to go out and throw a personal best (currently 259 feet, 10 inches) and make the finals and do well. Maybe even end up on the medal stand."