Participants from the 76th Joint Civilian Orientation

Participants from the 76th Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC) fly on board a Marine CH-46 helicopter en route to the USS Iwo Jima, Sept. 21, 2008. JCOC is the oldest existing Pentagon outreach program, having been held 75 times since its inception in 1948. A Secretary of Defense sponsored program, JCOC is reserved for American leaders interested in expanding their knowledge of the military and national defense. JCOC 76 participants will visit the European Command?s area of responsibility over the 8-day period from Sept. 19th-26. JCOC participants attend briefings by senior military and civilian officials followed by hands-on experience observing exercises, participating in training and interacting with troops stationed across the globe who are engaged in our nation's commercial, diplomatic, humanitarian and military interests in locations that may be unknown to many Americans. (Department of Defense photo by: Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald) released