Hurlburt Field, Florida. (October 5, 2023): Under our Constitution, America’s military is responsible to civilian leadership and their support is critical in a free society. For ninety-three years, the Department of Defense has sponsored the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC) to reach out to American business and community leaders to give them a fully immersive experience with their military.

In this photo by E.J. Hersom, Special Operations Airmen land at Hurlburt Field during an exhibition demonstrating the strength and readiness of Air Force specialty units. This weeklong event involved groups of civilians travelling to the Pentagon and military bases to engage with troops and leaders from each of the armed services to observe their work on land, at sea, and in the air.

This prestigious program was established in 1948 to allow participants a chance to engage closely with all branches of the United States military—Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The DOD hopes to educate Americans about the complexities of military service and to foster a deeper understanding of the people in uniform.

This year’s participants included top business and community leaders, CEOs, presidents, vice presidents, as well as professors, music and entertainment artists, and other influential community representatives from cities and towns across the country. These events help Americans understand the challenges that service members encounter on and off the battlefield.