August 11, 2005: PCOL Magazine: PCOL Exclusive: Year 05 Issue 07: Peace Corps Online: The Peace Corps Military Option

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: PCOL Magazine: August 11, 2005: PCOL Magazine: PCOL Exclusive: Year 05 Issue 07: Peace Corps Online: The Peace Corps Military Option

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Peace Corps Online: The Peace Corps Military Option

Peace Corps Online:  The Peace Corps Military Option

The U.S. military, struggling to fill its voluntary ranks, is allowing recruits to meet part of their reserve military obligations after active duty by serving in the Peace Corps. In this month's issue of "Peace Corps Online" read why there is opposition to the program among RPCVs. Director Vasquez says the agency has a long history of accepting qualified applicants who are in inactive military status. John Coyne says "Not only no, but hell no!" RPCV Chris Matthews leads the debate on "Hardball."

Peace Corps Online: The Peace Corps Military Option






In this Issue

Peace Corps Online

1. Peace Corps Option for Military Recruits Sparks Concerns

2. Director Vasquez says program will not have an impact on the Peace Corps

3. The Coyne Column: A Hidden Agenda?

4. RPCV Chris Matthews leads the debate on the Military Option on Hardball

5. Take our poll on the Peace Corps "Military Option."






1. Peace Corps Option for Military Recruits Sparks Concerns

Peace Corps Online

The recruitment program has sparked debate and rising opposition among current and former Peace Corps officials. Some welcome it as a way to expand the cadre of idealistic volunteers created by President John F. Kennedy. But many say it could lead to suspicions abroad that the Peace Corps, which has 7,733 workers in 73 countries, is working together with the U.S. armed forces.

"Does this raise red flags for the Peace Corps community? I'd say yes -- emphatically so," said Kevin Quigley, president of the National Peace Corps Association, an organization of returned volunteers, staff and supporters. "We think a real or perceived linkage between the Peace Corps and military service could damage the Peace Corps and potentially put the safety of Peace Corps volunteers at risk."

Read the story and leave your comments at:

http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/2034362.html






2. Director Vasquez says the National Call to Service (NCS) program will not have an impact on the Peace Corps

Peace Corps Online

"The Peace Corps has a long history of accepting qualified applicants who are retired military or on IRR (Individual Ready Reserve) status--similar to those in the NCS program--and who then served successfully as Volunteers. Currently, there are, on average, approximately two inactive military personnel a month who are completing the application process and being invited to serve as Peace Corps Volunteers. "

"Our thorough review of the NCS program brings us to the conclusion that the NCS program will not have any impact on the agency. Nevertheless, we will continue to closely monitor the NCS program in the coming months and years. We have an understanding with all branches of the military regarding the Peace Corps’ normal application and service procedures and will be restating these procedures in writing to the secretary of defense. The Peace Corps’ mission, goals, and independence are as strong today as they have been throughout our 44-year history. "

Read the story and leave your comments at:

http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/2034189.html






3. The Coyne Column: A Hidden Agenda?

Peace Corps Online

Having served myself in the Air Force and the Peace Corps, and having seen U.S. military troops and Peace Corps Volunteers while in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia, when I was a PCV and an APCD, I know there is a difference in training, attitude and purpose between our agency and the military. So today, when this administration says lets link the Peace Corps with the Department of Defense, we should say, “Not only no, but hell no!”

Read the story and leave your comments at:

http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/2034184.html






4. RPCV Chris Matthews leads the debate on the Peace Corps and the Military Option on Hardball

Peace Corps Online

Since its founding in 1961, the U.S. Peace Corps has operated without any ties to the military and certainly no ties to our intelligence agencies, like the CIA. And that was by design. Peace Corps founder Sargent Shriver in fact appealed to his brother-in-law, President Kennedy, to keep the Peace Corps independent.

But now service in the Peace Corps is an option for military recruits. They can apply to serve the nonactive duty part of their military obligation in the Peace Corps, if they get accepted. So, what‘s wrong with that? A lot, says former Peace Corps volunteer Mark Schneider, who ran the organization from 1999 to 2001. Former Defense Department official Frank Gaffney disagrees.

Read the story and leave your comments at:

http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/2034353.html






5. Take our poll on the Peace Corps "Military Option."

Peace Corps Online

Read the stories above then take our poll and see what other RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps think about the Peace Corps "Military Option." Then leave your comments on why you voted as you did at:

http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/2629/2034163.html






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When this story was posted in August 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:


Contact PCOLBulletin BoardRegisterSearch PCOLWhat's New?

Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
The Peace Corps Library Date: March 27 2005 No: 536 The Peace Corps Library
Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related stories in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can find hundreds of stories about what RPCVs with your same interests or from your Country of Service are doing today. If you have a web site, support the "Peace Corps Library" and link to it today.

Top Stories and Breaking News PCOL Magazine Peace Corps Library RPCV Directory Sign Up

Military Option sparks concerns Date: August 3 2005 No: 698 Military Option sparks concerns
The U.S. military, struggling to fill its voluntary ranks, is allowing recruits to meet part of their military obligations by serving in the Peace Corps. Read why there is rising opposition to the program among RPCVs. Director Vasquez says the agency has a long history of accepting qualified applicants who are in inactive military status. John Coyne says "Not only no, but hell no!" Latest: RPCV Chris Matthews to discuss the issue on Hardball tonight.

Top Stories: August 1, 2005 Date: July 31 2005 No: 693 Top Stories: August 1, 2005
Paul E. Tsongas Public Service Award unveiled 21 July
Charlie Peters writes book on Wendell Willkie 25 July
Protests against Peace Corps in Bangladesh 30 July
Christopher R. Hill leads talks with North Korea 29 July
Chris Shays blocks senator's plan to reopen bases 29 July
Dr. Joann LaPerla-Morales leads Middlesex College 28 July
Jacob Mundy supports struggle in Western Sahara 28 July
Paul Theroux blames big oil for ‘catastrophe’ in Ecuador 28 July
Bruce Wilkinson has called Africa home for 17 years 25 July
Taylor Hackford producing "E-Ring" for tv 25 July
Robert Haas to retire as head of Levi Strauss 24 July
Brent Lynn turned Janus Overseas Fund around 24 July
James Rupert says Musharraf walks tightrope in Pakistan 23 July
Thomas O. Mann describes Carp Fishing in France 22 July
Rob Quigley receives Maybeck Award in Architecture 22 July
Blackwill says visit by India PM a 'historical breakthrough' 21 July
NPCA studies membership structure 21 July
Mark Lenzi says Poles deserve the West's support 20 July
Mark Gearan weighs in on Bush's Supreme Court pick 20 July
Ofelia Miramontes championed bilingual education 18 July
Hank Stelzer supports school for blind in Lesotho 16 July

Special Events for RPCVs Date: July 31 2005 No: 694 Special Events for RPCVs
RPCV's "Taking the Early Bus" at Cal State until Aug 15
"Artists and Patrons in Traditional African Cultures" in NY thru Sept 30
See RPCV Musical "Doing Good" in CA through Sept
RPCV Film Festival in DC in October

July 17, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Date: July 17 2005 No: 690 July 17, 2005: This Week's Top Stories
C. Payne Lucas writes "Can we win the war on HIV/Aids?" 11 July
Director Vasquez hints at expansion in Bangladesh 17 July
Why didn't I spend my life helping others? 17 July
John Beasley returns to the islands of Micronesia 17 July
Jennifer Field to study glacier melting 17 July
Tucker McCravy works with Serendib in Sri Lanka 17 July
David Vick writes "Waging civilized warfare" 16 July
Tom Petri says Nelson helped to promote civility 16 July
Peace Corps Director Visits Volunteers in Mongolia 15 July
John Bridgeland writes "An example for Boomers" 15 July
Robert Blackwill says India and US have a great future 15 July
Peace Corps debuts new internet recruitment tool 14 July
Eight New Country Directors Appointed 13 July
Shelton Johnson Honored for Buffalo Soldier program 13 July
Bill Lorenz leads trek for Sudanese refugees 12 July
Emilie Pryor says Peace Corps ignores Lariam problems 12 July
DDN is Award Finalist for reporting on PC Safety 11 July
Randy Lewis to hire 200 people with cognitive disabilities 10 July
Maryland needs people like Tom Lewis 10 July
Dan DeWayne puts on music festival 10 July

Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000  strong Date: April 2 2005 No: 543 Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000 strong
170,000 is a very special number for the RPCV community - it's the number of Volunteers who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961. It's also a number that is very special to us because March is the first month since our founding in January, 2001 that our readership has exceeded 170,000. And while we know that not everyone who comes to this site is an RPCV, they are all "Friends of the Peace Corps." Thanks everybody for making PCOL your source of news for the Returned Volunteer community.


Read the stories and leave your comments.






Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: PCOL Exclusive: Year 05 Issue 07

This story has been posted in the following forums: : PCOL Magazine

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