Lloyd J. Austin III Secretary of Defence | Official website
The 95th Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC), the Department of Defense's oldest and most prestigious public outreach program, commenced today at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson. The event will run through Friday, June 29. This year, leaders from various industries will gain firsthand knowledge about national defense from Service members across the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard during a weeklong immersion.
"[Through JCOC], hundreds of civic and business leaders have gotten the chance to spend time with service members … to learn what our team does, why we do it, and how we do it," said Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. "The U.S. military serves the American people. And that civilian-military bond is something we take very seriously so that we can better serve you, your communities, and the nation that we love."
JCOC aims to educate Americans about the military's various missions and capabilities. This year’s participants will visit bases across the Pacific Northwest and Southwest Regions of the United States. Besides Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, participants are scheduled to visit Vandenberg Space Force Base, Naval Base San Diego, U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Diego, Marine Corps Recruit Depot – San Diego, and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
The competitive program selects participants through a nomination process and showcases the strength and readiness of U.S. armed forces while helping attendees understand challenges faced by service members on and off the battlefield as well as those encountered by their families daily. Participants this year come from diverse sectors including industry, academia, entertainment, sports, and nonprofit organizations.
For more information about the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference visit https://defense.gov/jcoc or follow on Twitter at @DoD_Outreach and @DeptofDefense using hashtags #JCOC95 and #KnowYourMil.
