Joint Civilian Orientation Conference 73 Announcement and Nomination Procedures

1. THIS MESSAGE SOLICITS NOMINATIONS FOR THE 
JOINT CIVILIAN ORIENTATION CONFERENCE (JCOC-73).  THE JCOC IS A 
MULTI-SERVICE SERIES OF CONFERENCES FOR PUBLIC OPINION LEADERS.  
IN EXISTENCE SINCE 1948, IT IS THE ONLY CIVILIAN ORIENTATION 
PROGRAM OF ITS KIND. THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE HAS UNDERSCORED 
HIS PERSONAL INTEREST IN THIS PROGRAM.
2. THE PURPOSE OF JCOC IS TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A DIVERSE 
CROSS-SECTION OF INFLUENTIAL U.S. OPINION LEADERS TO BETTER 
UNDERSTAND MISSIONS AND GOALS OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY AND 
TO MEET SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN. JCOC PARTICIPANTS ATTEND BRIEFINGS 
IN THE PENTAGON GIVEN BY THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE (DOD) CIVILIAN AND MILITARY LEADERSHIP. PARTICIPANTS THEN 
SPEND TIME IN THE FIELD WITH ALL OF THE MILITARY SERVICES. LAST 
YEARS ATTENDEES TRAVELED TO BAHRAIN, KUWAIT, QATAR AND DJIBOUTI. 
AMONG OTHER ACTIVITIES, ATTENDEES EMBARKED ABOARD THE USS IWO JIMA, 
OBSERVED 24 MEU AIR OPERATIONS, PARTICIPATED IN AMPHIBIOUS 
DEMONSTRATIONS, AND FIRED WEAPONS WITH 24 MEU MARINES IN KUWAIT.
3. JCOC-73 IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR 22-29 APRIL 2007.  THE 
CONFERENCE BEGINS IN WASHINGTON DC TRAVELS TO THE CENTRAL COMMAND 
AREA OF OPERATIONS AND CONCLUDES IN WASHINGTON DC.  PARTICIPANTS 
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR A PORTION OF THE COSTS, APPROXIMATELY $3,000. 
AUTORIZING OFFICIALS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE FEES.
4. AUTHORIZING OFFICIALS ARE DEFINED AS ANY MARINE CORPS GENERAL 
OFFICER. ANY MARINE MAY NOMINATE A PARTICIPANT THROUGH THE 
APPROPRIATE CHAIN OF COMMAND. EXAMPLES OF NOMINEES INCLUDE: 
PRESIDENTS, CEOS AND SENIOR OFFICIALS OF MAJOR COMPANIES; STATE 
AND LOCAL ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS; PRESIDENTS OF 
UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES; NATIONAL AND REGIONAL LEADERS OF 
PROFESSIONAL GROUPS; AND MINORITY AND WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS. 
ALL NOMINEES MUST BE IN GOOD HEALTH, CAPABLE OF ENDURING 12-HOUR 
DAYS OF STRENUOUS ACTIVITY, INCLUDING CLIMBING, WALKING, AND 
WEAPONS FIRING.
5. SUBMISSIONS. NOMINATIONS FOR THIS PROGRAM ARE EXTREMELY 
COMPETITIVE.  THE OFFICE OF THE SECDEF WILL SELECT APPROXIMATELY 
45 NOMINEES FROM MORE THAN 400 IN MARCH 2007. NOMINEE INFORMATION 
SHOULD BE SUBMITTED DIRECTLY TO THE JCOC WEBSITE, WWW.DOD.MIL/JCOC. 
COMMANDS MUST ALSO FORWARD A BRIEF, ONE-PARAGRAPH BIOGRAPHY OF THE 
NOMINEE TO THE HQMC POC.  NOMINATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED NLT 2 FEB 
2007.
6. POINT OF CONTACT IS MAJOR DAVID ROMLEY, HEAD, COMMUNITY 
RELATIONS BRANCH, DIV PA, HQMC AT (703) 614-1034; 
DAVID.ROMLEY@USMC.MIL