My nine days as GI Jane Susan Patten gets a feel for what an airborne infantryman would wear before parachuting into combat. To help combat the problem, DOD annually selects 60 community leaders from across the United States who pay their own way to attend the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference, a nine-day crash course on the U.S. military. The strategically chosen targets have been identified as individuals who have neutral or negative impressions of the armed services and who, armed with better information, might help the military reconnect with the American public. The Dial Corp., the Rheem Corp., Huizenga Holdings, the Major League Baseball Players Association.
Every group has one truly special person.
His ever-present grin matches that of his mischievous characters. Many of the 60 were representatives of major corporations, owners of small businesses, and consultants on a myriad of topics. Most participants were nominated by local military contacts. Patten was the choice of the Fort Bliss commanding general, Maj. Gen. Dennis Cavin.