JETC 2009 Preview
The 2009 Joint Engineer Training Conference & Expo (JETC) kicks off Tuesday, May 12, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and for those of you not handy with a calendar, that’s next week! Co-hosted by the SAME Great Basin and Denver Metro Posts, this year’s JETC has been in varying stages of development for years, with final preparations reaching a fever pitch at SAME HQ in recent weeks.
Although most SAME HQ staffers will be arriving in Utah on Monday and events will be taking place throughout the day Tuesday, the official start of the conference will take place Wednesday morning at the opening ceremony. The keynote address will be provided by Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp, P.E., F.SAME. USA; Maj. Gen. Del Eulberg, P.E., F.SAME, USAF; and Rear Adm. Greg Shear, P.E. CEC, USN, the Engineering Service Chiefs of the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy, respectively.
All fluff aside, this opening address is sure to be a highlight of the conference, as the speakers will provide details on their respective FY10 programs and an update on planned projects resulting from the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The JETC 2009 technical program will comprise six separate tracks—Contingency Operations, Installation Management, Design and Construction, Water Resources, Environmental and Professional Development—each of which consists of four sessions. Attendees can choose to attend all four sessions within one track or move freely among the tracks during the four session times. All sessions are eligible for professional development hours, which will be tracked using an automated system that will require attendees to scan a barcode on their badges as they enter each session room. Certificates documenting hours earned will be mailed to attendees following the conference.
Not that JETC 2009 will be all work and no play; on the contrary, there are numerous eventsplanned during the week to allow conference attendees to experience the rich cultural heritage and geographical splendor of the Salt Lake area, including several social and technical tours, a golf tournament and a fun run. All these activities require a separate registration, so if you have signed up for JETC and are interested in participating, I strongly suggest you confirm that the appropriate arrangements have been made.
Additionally, the conference schedule allows ample time for attendees to rub shoulders and chew the fat with A/E/C industry and military colleagues. Networking opportunities will range from casual—strolling through the conference exhibit hall—to formal—seated around a candlelit table at the society ball.
Lastly, conference attendees should make a special effort to check out the Academy of Fellows Investiture Ceremony and the Honors Luncheon, both of which are great opportunities to pay tribute to the outstanding accomplishments of engineers representing SAME, the military services and private industry. All of the individuals to be honored during these events have made lasting contributions to the field of engineering, and their efforts are more than deserving of recognition.
If you’re unable to make it to this year’s conference, be sure to check back with Bricks and Clicks often throughout next week for photos and reports from Salt Lake City. Additionally, the July-August issue of The Military Engineer will contain a two-page spread of JETC photo highlights. Otherwise, be sure to stop by the SAME pavilion in the exhibit hall and say hello!
(A note to the curious: Though Utah’s arcane liquor laws were recently eased, the changes will not take place until July 1. Therefore, if you’re attending the conference and are among those interested in some innocent afterhours revelry, you can familiarize yourself with the most draconian and bizarre alcohol regulations in the country by clicking here: http://abc.utah.gov/Liquor_Laws/liquor_laws_affecting_visitors.html)
