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Local Senate Leader Attends
U.S. Department Of Defense Conference

Dover - Senate Minority Leader John Still (R-Dover) has accepted an invitation from Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld to participate in the Defense Department's Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC).  The program, which will be held in October, will give participants an opportunity to learn first-hand about U.S. military personnel, their equipment and capabilities, and national defense strategies.

Senator Still is one of only fifty U.S. citizens selected from hundreds of candidates nominated by military commands worldwide.   The JCOC  conference was initiated in 1948 by Secretary Forrestal and is the Department's premier civic leader program.  JCOC participants pay all of their own expenses, including travel to and from the conference, lodging and meals.

As a JOOC participant, Senator Still will visit military bases of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.  Very few people, even those employed by the Department of Defense, get the opportunity to interact with such an encompassing cross-section of military leaders and service members of all ranks.   Participants will fly on military aircraft; experience aircraft landings and launches from Navy ships; observe amphibious landings, urban area combat techniques, special operations assaults, and other warfare demonstrations.

The program begins in Washington, D.C. where Sen. Still will meet and be briefed by Defense Department leaders and other senior military and civilian officials.

After the Washington, D.C. orientation, the JCOC team will travel by military aircraft to the U.S. European Command Headquarters in Germany where they will meet EUCOM's leadership for an update on current operations.  Due to a refocusing of military resources in the United States on Operation Iraqi Freedom, the conference adjusted what has been a U.S.-based agenda to one focused on the key command centers engaged in winning the global war on terrorism.  While seeing soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen in action they will learn more about everything from conducting military operations to day-to-day activities of being a service member.

Senator Still said "I am honored to be selected by the U.S. Secretary of Defense, and I am proud of my long association with the Dover Air Force Base.  This opportunity is most appropriate for a Senator from Dover and comes at an opportune time."

"The BRAC Commission recently concluded that DAFB should continue and grow for the future due to the base's unique and crucial role in the worldwide mission of the U.S. military.  Thankfully, BRAC also acted to keep the presence of the Delaware Air National Guard in New Castle.  With the ongoing diligence required concerning homeland security, the JCOC experience will give us perspective on the roles of the regular military and the National Guard in our preparedness."

"Dover Air Force Base and the City of Dover have long been recognized for the positive relationship between the military and civilian communities of the greater Dover area as exemplary among military installations throughout the country.  DAFB is critical to the economy and to the overall quality of life in Kent County and Delaware."

Senator Still previously served as an Honorary Commander of Dover Air Force Base.  Still also created and chaired Delaware's committee to monitor the BRAC process during the two years of deliberations leading up to BRAC's final recommendations to be submitted this month.

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