MARADMIN 487/26
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.//