Austin Welcomes Business, Community Leaders to Pentagon for JCOC Alumni Event

Secretary of Protection Lloyd J. Austin III underscored the significance of mixed efforts by navy and civilian leaders to uphold the worth of service as he hosted Joint Civilian Orientation Convention alumni on the Pentagon at this time.

Dozens of influential group and enterprise leaders traveled to Washington this week for a sequence of occasions for individuals who have participated within the longstanding convention in years previous. 

“As you all know, that is one among DOD’s most prestigious outreach initiatives,” Austin mentioned of the JCOC. “Since 1948, civic and enterprise leaders like you might have frolicked with our service members across the nation and all through our navy. And we consider that that creates a whole lot of nice dividends for us and likewise for you.” 

JCOC is the Protection Division’s oldest public liaison program designed to offer civilian leaders with an immersive expertise at navy items throughout the nation the place they study navy capabilities and those who serve. 

Roughly twice a yr, DOD selects about 50 company leaders and influential members of society to take part within the extremely aggressive weeklong convention. 

Through the convention, the members go to a number of installations for a firsthand have a look at the operations and actions every service performs. 

“JCOC alumni have seen firsthand how our navy has grown stronger through the years,” Austin mentioned. “I like to inform people who our uniforms have modified, the gear that we use has modified over time, however the one factor that hasn’t modified is that we take actually good individuals into this group, and we assist them turn out to be higher individuals.”

The secretary emphasised that the USA continues to have the best combating drive on this planet due to the ladies and men who serve. 

Austin emphasised the necessary work JCOC alumni do of their communities to present again to those that serve. He additionally highlighted division efforts below his tenure to care for individuals who reply the decision which he mentioned stays amongst his high priorities. 

These efforts embrace securing pay raises for troops over the previous two years, chopping prices at commissaries, easing strikes for navy households and increasing navy partner employment applications. 

He mentioned group leaders are crucial to making sure that the worth of service continues to be upheld, and that veterans and navy households proceed to seek out objective within the non-public sector. 

“For my part, veterans make any group higher,” Austin mentioned as he urged the alumni to proceed advocating for former service members as they craft hiring practices on the organizations they lead. 

“I might ask you to think about doing what you possibly can to make sure that your insurance policies in your group assist our veterans transition from navy life to civilian life and assist their spouses additionally construct their careers,” he mentioned.

The division accomplished its ninety fifth JCOC this yr. Greater than 7,000 civilians have participated in this system. The convention continues to function an necessary software to bridge between the navy and the remainder of American society, Protection officers say. 

“For our navy to achieve success, it is important that People perceive who we’re, what we do, and most significantly, why we do it. These leaders are key to that success,” mentioned Melanie Fonder Kaye deputy assistant to the secretary of protection for strategic engagement. 

Doing so is particularly necessary as fewer People serve within the nation’s all volunteer drive, she mentioned, and because the division goals to strengthen the civilian-military relationship. 

“After we carry enterprise and group leaders to the Pentagon and present them what we’re all about, they take that data and enthusiasm again with them to their communities,” she mentioned. “Nobody is healthier suited to unfold the phrase in regards to the worth of service and what our navy gives to the nation.”