LV city manager will tour U.S. military bases in Europe

Sito Negron

Tuesday, June 1, 2004 | 10:09 a.m.

Las Vegas City Manager Doug Selby has been picked as one of 50 people in the United States to visit military installations in Europe. The visit is part of a program that has sent civilian leaders to learn about the military since 1948.

"We're going to be visiting some military bases, seeing some aircraft and possibly going on some ships and watching some demonstrations of military operations and resources," Selby said.

"It's quite a privilege to be picked."

The June 6-12 trip starts with an orientation in Washington, D.C.

Selby said the event would focus on the United States' response to terrorism and involve visits to Germany, Spain and Bosnia.

"It's more about how our local issues of preparedness to terrorism relate to the global issue that's driving all of this, and what's happening in the military and eastern Europe," Selby said.

He said he had to undergo a background check as part of the program.

"I don't know what (all) they did, but they checked my passport, my birthdate and where I was born," Selby said.

Maj. Gen. Steve Wood, commander of Nellis Air Force Base, nominated Selby.

"Mr. Selby is a great city manager, which is why I nominated him," Wood said. "He's always been a tremendous supporter of Nellis so it was an honor that he was selected for the JCOC. I am happy he will have this opportunity to learn more about the military."

The program is titled the Defense Department's Joint Civilian Orientation Conference, or JCOC 67 for short.

According the Department of Defense Web site, participants visiting military bases are granted a rare opportunity.

"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," it says.

Such senior military officials as Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will brief the participants in Washington.

The team then will travel by military aircraft to the U.S. European Command headquarters in Germany.

"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," the Web site states.