The Marine Corps is taking nominations for JCOC 97, a Department of Defense program that brings C-suite civilian leaders inside U.S. military operations for about four weeks. The Corps has 25 slots. Any Marine, active or reserve, can nominate someone. Nominations close 31 October 2026, and that deadline is hard.
Heads up: Nominations must be received by HQMC no later than 31 October 2026. Nothing submitted after that will be considered.
Who it affects
Any Marine who knows a qualified civilian leader worth nominating. This is not a program for Marines or their family members to attend. It is a nominating opportunity: you identify and put forward a civilian candidate.
What you need to do
If you have a candidate in mind, here is what the process looks like:
- Confirm your nominee is eligible (see the disqualifiers below before spending time on paperwork).
- Tell your nominee they are being nominated and that they must attend the full conference if selected.
- Obtain the 2027 JCOC 97 Nomination Form by contacting the POCs listed below.
- Write or collect a one-page biography of no more than 300 words for your nominee.
- Submit the completed, typed nomination form and biography to HQMC Communication Directorate NLT 31 October 2026.
No resumes, CVs, or letters of endorsement. Just the form and the bio. Incomplete packages will not be accepted.
Who makes a competitive nominee. JCOC is looking for C-suite civilians: CEOs, presidents, or equivalent. They should have broad national influence, little to no prior military exposure, and the kind of reach that means their participation could actually shift public understanding of defense issues. The program is nonpartisan.
Who is not eligible. The disqualifier list is long. Your candidate cannot be nominated if they are:
- A past JCOC or Mini-JCOC (MJCOC) participant
- A non-U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- A federal government employee (including active duty, reserve, or National Guard)
- A federal contractor or someone whose primary business is federal contracting
- A veteran who served in the U.S. Armed Forces after 2008
- Someone who has done more than one military civic leader tour or cruise
- Currently running for federal, state, or local office
- Someone with business ties to, or an advisory role with, DoD, military installations, or the White House
- An honorary commander, military ambassador, or anyone with a strong established military relationship
What it costs the participant. JCOC covers everything once they are registered. The nominee pays their own travel and lodging to get to and from the registration site.
Key dates
- 31 October 2026: Nomination deadline. Hard cutoff. No late submissions.
- 1 to 27 February 2027: JCOC 97 conference (Southeast United States; exact locations released at registration).
- November 2026: Selection announcements expected. Nominators notify their own nominees of results.
The official version
This is MARADMIN 487/26.
For nomination forms and FAQs, the MARADMIN references a program website. The URL in the message is listed in an encoded format and may not resolve directly. Contact the POCs for the correct link and forms:
- Tracey Campbell, Community Relations Director, HQMC Communication Directorate:
tracey.campbell2@usmc.mil/703-614-1034 - Capt Isaac Liston, HQMC Communication Directorate:
isaac.liston@usmc.mil/703-695-1601
This is written by a reservist, for reservists. It is not an official publication of HQMC or MARFORRES. Always verify guidance with your command or unit S-1 before acting on any article or summary.