RPCV Rick Freas says Peace Corps is no place for military



"If the military needs help recruiting new members, then Congress should increase pay or other incentives to entice people to join. Damaging the mission of the Peace Corps and putting volunteers at risk is the wrong approach."

RPCV Rick Freas says Peace Corps is no place for military

Peace Corps is no place for military

Aug. 12, 2005 12:00 AM

Regarding "Peace Corps plan fuels concern" (Republic, Sunday):

I am writing to express my dismay about the U.S. military allowing recruits to meet part of their military obligations by serving in the Peace Corps.

I was a Peace Corps volunteer (Sierra Leone, 1988-1990). Any association with the U.S. military or intelligence services would compromise the mission of the Peace Corps.

The countries we serve need to know that the Peace Corps has only one mission: to assist them. If they are suspicious of ulterior motives, then Peace Corps volunteers will either not be welcomed or their opportunities to assist will be greatly reduced.

Furthermore, individual volunteers may be put at risk. As a volunteer, you are often the only Westerner for many miles around. You depend on the goodwill of the people you live with and are there to serve.

Political trouble can occur in any country, as it did in Sierra Leone while I was there. If someone has any reason to view you as a threat, such as rumors that you work for the military, you could become a target.

If the military needs help recruiting new members, then Congress should increase pay or other incentives to entice people to join. Damaging the mission of the Peace Corps and putting volunteers at risk is the wrong approach.

I encourage Congress to stop this practice and preserve the Peace Corps as one of America's premier goodwill ambassadors. - Rick Freas, Phoenix

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



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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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