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DEFENSE ORIENTATION CONFERENCE ASSOCIATION
The Joint Civilian
Orientation ConferenceThe Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC) was initiated in 1948 by the Defense Department under the first Secretary of Defense, James Forrestal. The JCOC is an official program of the Department of Defense to acquaint leading citizens from all parts of the country representing industry, the professions, and other primary categories of civilian endeavor with the programs and policies of the Defense Department as they relate to our national defense. The conference consists of high-level briefings held in the Pentagon, and field trips to Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps military installations-to present the important aspects of each branch of the service. The Conference lasts approximately one week.
Participants in a JCOC review firsthand the military organizations and defense concepts of our country, and are given a frank appraisal of the awesome tasks and attendant problems faced by the military services. It is the general idea that, through these people, a large important segment of the American public will be given a better understanding of our military posture.
The Defense Orientation
Conference AssociationThe Defense Orientation Conference Association (DOCA) was founded on March 30, 1952, by participants in the Joint Civilian Orientation Conferences after eleven such conferences were held. DOCA is a non-political, non-partisan, non-profit association directed toward the interest of national defense without special advocacy of any particular military service or defense concept. DOCA objectives are as follows: to provide a means of continuing the education of its members in matters pertaining to national security under the direct jurisdiction and supervision of the Departments of Defense and State; to enable members to pass on such information to others; to provide a permanent medium for cooperation between its members and Departments of Defense and State.
DOCA membership is obtained by one of two methods. The first method is to be selected by the Secretary of Defense for participation in a JCOC. Following such participation, admittance into DOCA is by invitation. The second method is for those persons who have not participated in a JCOC. In this case, a present DOCA member in good standing nominates candidates. Such nominees must be approved for membership by the DOCA Selection Board, and subsequently attend a DOCA field trip or other trip arranged by either the Department of Defense or Department of State. It should be understood that DOCA has no direct or indirect affiliation with business, political or religious groups or organizations. Members seek no special favors, political advantages, or material gains through DOCA.
DOCA is managed by a Board of Directors elected to office at the annual business meeting. An Executive Committee, composed of the President, the Chairman of the Board, two immediate Past Presidents, Executive Vice President, six Regional Vice Presidents, up to three Vice President At-Large, and the Secretary-Treasurer, has the authority to act for the Board of Directors on all matters between meetings of the Board. None of the elected officers or directors receives any salary, expense, or is reimbursed in any manner for the time given or money expended in behalf of the Association.
In all planning the foremost thought has been to keep DOCA distinct from conventional associations with multi-committees and top-heavy staffs.
Association activities are administered by a staff from the Headquarters Office in Burke, Virginia. The staff consists of an Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, Managing Director, and Executive Assistant. These are the only full-time paid employees of the Association.
The Association is supported by annual membership dues. Each field orientation trip is self-supporting, financed on pro-rata basis by individual members participating.
To accomplish the objectives of DOCA it is necessary to provide members the opportunity to continue the education engendered by the JCOC or otherwise gained under the auspices of the Department of Defense. The responsibility for this rests with the Board of Directors for planning and with the Headquarters staff for implementation. This is accomplished by publication of written material, visual aids, scheduled briefings on various phases of national defense during DOCA field or other trips arranged under the auspices of the Department of Defense and/or the Department of State, and full briefings at the annual meeting. When these have been provided, it becomes the responsibility of the individual members to carry out DOCA's other objectives.