ANNOUNCEMENT AND NOMINATION PROCEDURES FOR JOINT CIVILIAN ORIENTATION CONFERENCE 97

R 131241Z OCT 26
MARADMIN 487/26
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CD//
SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT AND NOMINATION PROCEDURES FOR JOINT CIVILIAN
ORIENTATION CONFERENCE 97//
POC/CAMPBELL, T.H./CIV/UNIT: HQMC COMMUNICATION
DIRECTORATE/COMMUNITY RELATIONS DIRECTOR/TEL: 703-614-1034/EMAIL:
[email protected]//
POC/LISTON, I.P./CAPT/UNIT: HQMC COMMUNICATION DIRECTORATE/COMMUNITY
RELATIONS/TEL: 703-695-1601/EMAIL: [email protected]//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/
1. This message solicits nominations for the Joint Civilian
Orientation Conference 97 (JCOC 97). The Marine Corps is allocated
a total of 25 nominations for JCOC 97. Nominations will be accepted
by Headquarters Marine Corps (Communication Directorate) until 31
October 2026.
2. JCOC is the oldest and most prestigious public liaison program
in the Department of War (DoW) and is the Secretary of War's
flagship outreach program. Since its 1948 inception, JCOC has
provided thousands of outstanding civilian leaders with an
unparalleled, hands-on experience of U.S. military operations and
provides participants with insight into the capabilities of the
Armed Forces. The program's objectives are to acquaint participants
with the strength and readiness of the Armed Forces through
observation of Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and
Coast Guard training activities, and to facilitate a candid exchange
of defense matters among senior defense officials and JCOC
participants.
3. Nominations for JCOC 97 are now open. JCOC 97 is scheduled for
1 to 27 February 2027. The conference will be held in the Southeast
region of the United States. Selected participants are expected to
attend the conference in its entirety. Specific locations will not
be revealed until registration.
4. JCOC is provided at no cost to participants from the time of
registration through the end of the program. However, each
participant is responsible for his or her transportation and lodging
expenses incurred to and from the registration site.
5. Any Marine may nominate an individual to attend the JCOC.
Nominators should focus on patriotic, C-suite-level candidates from
across industry with little to no exposure to DoW or the U.S.
military. Competitive nominees are those who have reached the level
of chief executive officer, president, or equivalent within their
respective areas of expertise. Nominees should have strong national
influence, with wide-ranging and significant audience reach, strong
ties to established professional and national forums, and
backgrounds indicating that their participation will enhance public
understanding of national security issues and DoW. While many
individuals in this category are likely to have partisan
affiliations, JCOC is a nonpartisan program. Nominations will be
submitted to Headquarters Marine Corps (Communication Directorate)
for screening and consolidation prior to submission under the
designated Marine Corps nominating authority.
6. Candidates must be U.S. citizens in good health and able to
withstand 12 to 14-hour days of somewhat strenuous activity,
including climbing eight flights of stairs or ladders. They should
be recognized leaders within their fields of expertise and
communities, with broad areas of responsibility and demonstrated
outreach capabilities. Nominees must be notified of their nomination
and the program requirements before submission and must agree to
attend the entire conference if selected.
7. The following persons are not eligible for JCOC: past JCOC and
Mini Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (MJCOC) participants;
non-U.S. citizens, including permanent residents; individuals
working for the U.S. federal government, including active duty,
Reserve, and National Guard members; individuals serving as
contractors or whose business is contracting for the federal
government; anyone who has served in the U.S. Armed Forces since
2008; anyone who has participated in more than one military civic
leader tour, cruise, or special opportunity sponsored by a military
service; anyone serving in campaign status for federal, state, or
local political office; anyone who has business ties to or serves
in an advisory role to senior Department of War or military
officials, military installations, or the White House; and anyone
with a strong and established relationship with the military,
including honorary commanders and military ambassadors. A
nomination to the JCOC program is not a guarantee of selection.
8. Contact the POCs listed above for nomination forms and visit the
website for nomination requirements and frequently asked questions:
https:(slash)(slash)www.war.gov(slash)jcoc. A completed 2027 Joint
Civilian Orientation Conference 97 Nomination Form and a one-page
biography of no more than 300 words are required. The nomination
form must be typed. Resumes, curricula vitae, and letters of
endorsement will not be accepted. Only completed nomination forms
with biographies will be accepted. Nominations for JCOC 97 must be
received by Headquarters Marine Corps (Communication Directorate)
NLT 31 October 2026. Once nominations are closed, additional
nominations will not be considered.
9. Nominations for this program are extremely competitive. The
JCOC program office will screen nominations for eligibility and
forward eligible nominations to a joint Service selection panel
for scoring. The panel is chaired by the Deputy Assistant to
the Secretary of War for Strategic Engagement. Alternates will be
placed on a standby list and notified when positions become
available. Selection announcements are expected by November 2026.
Nominators will be informed of selection results and are
responsible for notifying their nominees of the outcome.
10. Release authorized by Colonel John Caldwell, Director,
Communication Directorate, Headquarters Marine Corps.//