December 7, 2005: Headlines: National Service: Speaking Out: Expansion: Boston Globe: Around the world, over four decades, more than 175,000 Americans have served in the Peace Corps. However, the 7,700 currently in service are a far cry from President John F. Kennedy's vision of 100,000 "citizen ambassadors." It is time to reach that goal.
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December 7, 2005: Headlines: National Service: Speaking Out: Expansion: Boston Globe: Around the world, over four decades, more than 175,000 Americans have served in the Peace Corps. However, the 7,700 currently in service are a far cry from President John F. Kennedy's vision of 100,000 "citizen ambassadors." It is time to reach that goal.
Around the world, over four decades, more than 175,000 Americans have served in the Peace Corps. However, the 7,700 currently in service are a far cry from President John F. Kennedy's vision of 100,000 "citizen ambassadors." It is time to reach that goal.
Our nation needs universal, voluntary national service -- the expectation that everyone should serve and the opportunity for everyone to do so -- linked to a new GI Bill that dramatically changes the life prospects of those who serve in the military and those who serve in our neediest schools and neighborhoods.
Around the world, over four decades, more than 175,000 Americans have served in the Peace Corps. However, the 7,700 currently in service are a far cry from President John F. Kennedy's vision of 100,000 "citizen ambassadors." It is time to reach that goal.
Uncle Sam wants you
By Alan Khazei and Michael Brown | December 7, 2005
OUR TIMES have been dramatically altered by two defining events: the tragedy of Sept. 11 and Hurricane Katrina.
A prescription for these times has roots in the nation's successful response to the crises of the last century. The GI Bill was an enormous success: Between 1945 and 1956, more than 8 million returning veterans received debt-free educations, low-interest mortgages, and small-business loans, making the United States, in the words of one historian, ''the predominantly middle-class nation it had always believed itself to be."
It is time for a new call to service to meet the pressing needs of the nation, reinvigorate American citizenship, and provide access to the American dream.
Our nation needs universal, voluntary national service -- the expectation that everyone should serve and the opportunity for everyone to do so -- linked to a new GI Bill that dramatically changes the life prospects of those who serve in the military and those who serve in our neediest schools and neighborhoods.
Service to the nation -- whether in the armed services or a civilian service corps -- should become a defining emblem of the United States and a civic rite of passage for all young Americans. The most commonly asked question of an 18-year-old should be: ''Where will you do your citizen service? The Army or AmeriCorps? The Marines or the National Civilian Community Corps? The Navy or the Peace Corps?"
A new GI Bill could make this promise to every young American: ''If you invest in your country, your country will invest in you. For every year you serve, America guarantees a year of tuition at a qualifying college, makes a down payment toward your first home, or provides a voucher to start a business, nonprofit organization, or IRA." Military service, which demands greater sacrifice, would garner higher benefits, but all who serve should be rewarded.
There is a new generation ready to build a stronger America. Recent research has shown that 9/11 was a transformational event for 18- to 24-year-olds: They have a significantly higher civic commitment. The tragedies of that day inspired a sharp increase in applications to the military, the Peace Corps, and AmeriCorps.
Over 16 years, led by three successive presidents, America has built a strong civilian national service system, which is now ready to be brought to scale. George H.W. Bush established the Commission on National and Community Service and the Points of Light Foundation. Bill Clinton created the Corporation for National and Community Service and AmeriCorps. George W. Bush launched the USA Freedom Corps and expanded AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps.
National service has had a profound impact on America. AmeriCorps has enabled more than 400,000 citizens to serve with more than 2,500 nonprofit and faith-based organizations. These leaders have built affordable homes, helped thousands of children to read, provided millions of hours of after-school programs, reduced gang involvement, transformed blighted lots into community gardens and playgrounds, served as role models to children at risk, and generated millions of hours of service by the volunteers they recruit. A cost-benefit study of AmeriCorps determined that every federal dollar invested results in at least $1.60 to $2.60 in direct, measurable benefits. It is time for a dramatic increase in AmeriCorps, from 75,000 annually to 1 million strong, a domestic force against poverty and hopelessness.
Around the world, over four decades, more than 175,000 Americans have served in the Peace Corps. However, the 7,700 currently in service are a far cry from President John F. Kennedy's vision of 100,000 ''citizen ambassadors." It is time to reach that goal.
Both military and civilian service provide young Americans with an opportunity to work side by side across lines of race and class. Expanding and uniting military and civilian service under one GI Bill can further close the gap between military and civilian cultures. At its widest during the Vietnam War era, this gap has diminished since 9/11. It is time to close it altogether.
A system that unites military and civilian service, launched with a new ''Uncle Sam wants you!" campaign, should offer one-stop recruitment centers in colleges, malls, neighborhood store fronts, and online. ROTC should be restored to all campuses and its mission expanded to prepare young leaders for military and civilian service. A US Civic Leadership Academy should develop civilian leaders just as the four major military academies prepare the leaders of our armed forces.
Every generation can be the ''greatest generation" -- if only it is called to serve a cause larger than self. Nothing could be more American, or more invigorating to the very idea of America.
Alan Khazei and Michael Brown are cofounders of City Year.
When this story was posted in December 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
 | Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger
When the National Call to Service legislation was amended to include Peace Corps in December of 2002, this country had not yet invaded Iraq and was not in prolonged military engagement in the Middle East, as it is now. Read the story of how one volunteer spent three years in captivity from 1976 to 1980 as the hostage of a insurrection group in Colombia in Joanne Marie Roll's op-ed on why this legislation may put soldier/PCVs in the same kind of danger. Latest: Read the ongoing dialog on the subject. |
 | PC establishes awards for top Volunteers
Gaddi H. Vasquez has established the Kennedy Service Awards to honor the hard work and service of two current Peace Corps Volunteers, two returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and two Peace Corps staff members. The award to currently serving volunteers will be based on a demonstration of impact, sustainability, creativity, and catalytic effect. Submit your nominations by December 9. |
 | Peace Corps at highest Census in 30 years
Congratulations to the Peace Corps for the highest number of volunteers in 30 years with 7,810 volunteers serving in 71 posts across the globe. Of course, the President's proposal to double the Peace Corps to 15,000 volunteers made in his State of the Union Address in 2002 is now a long forgotten dream. With deficits in federal spending stretching far off into the future, any substantive increase in the number of volunteers will have to wait for new approaches to funding and for a new administration. Choose your candidate and start working for him or her now. |
 | 'Celebration of Service' a major success
The Peace Corps Fund's 'Celebration of Service' on September 29 in New York City was a major success raising approximately $100,000 for third goal activities. In the photo are Maureen Orth (Colombia); John Coyne (Ethiopia) Co-founder of the Peace Corps Fund; Caroline Kennedy; Barbara Anne Ferris (Morocco) Co-founder; Former Senator Harris Wofford, member of the Advisory Board. Read the story here. |
 | PC apologizes for the "Kasama incident"
The District Commissioner for the Kasama District in Zambia issued a statement banning Peace Corps activities for ‘grave’ social misconduct and unruly behavior for an incident that occurred on September 24 involving 13 PCVs. Peace Corps said that some of the information put out about the incident was "inflammatory and false." On October 12, Country Director Davy Morris met with community leaders and apologized for the incident. All PCVs involved have been reprimanded, three are returning home, and a ban in the district has since been lifted. |
 | 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. |
 | 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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Story Source: Boston Globe
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; National Service; Speaking Out; Expansion
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