Last month, 33 civilian leaders from academia, business, and corporate America got the chance to experience a slice of what life is like in the United States Marine Corps. These civilian leaders were participants in the 2023 Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC), a week-long, hands-on event that is recognized as the Department of Defense’s oldest and most prestigious public liaison program. JCOC’s goal is to educate leaders at the highest levels of civilian society on the complexities of military service and to grow understanding of what men and women in uniform experience during their time in uniform. To accomplish this, JCOC organizes participating civilian leaders into teams to visit specifically selected installations of each military branch. While at the installations, participants deep dive into the culture, capabilities, and technological achievements of a different service each day. This year’s JCOC saw participants engage in simulated Army operations at Fort Moore, GA, learn about submarine warfare at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, GA, and see vessel pursuit tactics with the Coast Guard at Miami Beach among other activities. ‘Marine Day’, however, showcased something different then technology and weapons systems, with participants immersing themselves in what it means to be a Marine.
The best place to understand the definition of a Marine is, of course, the spiritual heart of the Corps – Parris Island. JCOC participants spent most of their Marine day at Parris Island where they were able to take part in basic training activities such as the Basic Warrior Training Day Movement Course, and they were also afforded the opportunity to engage one-on-one with drill instructors. The day also included a visit to MCAS Beaufort. While the day could not turn the participants into Marines, it did give them a first-hand taste of the standards that Marines are held to and the values that make the Marine Corps one of the top fighting forces in the Department of Defense. As one participant was quoted by Marines.mil, “Any of us could be a Marine – as long as you’re prepared to push yourself harder than ever before”.
Programs such as JCOC are excellent methods for the civilian and military cultures of our country to unite and understand each other, even if only for a short time. This mutual understanding is especially important in today’s uncertain world where our nation’s enemies are increasingly undefined and only a tiny fragment of the country’s population is physically and mentally eligible for military service. We take pride in the fact that our local Beaufort installations were able to host such a prestigious liaison program and act as the representatives of the entire Marine Cops. We are also confident that our Marines at Parris Island and MCAS Beaufort and the communities that support them will continue to be the best examples of selfless service and American values for future JCOCs in the years to come.
