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.

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Library: Peace Corps: National Service : National Service: 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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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:


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500,000 PCOL Fans can't be wrong Date: November 30 2005 No: 759 500,000 PCOL Fans can't be wrong
PCOL announced today that their online readership for October and November 2005 was 500,000 Returned Volunteers and Friends of the Peace Corps. Thanks again for making PCOL your source of news for the Returned Volunteer community.

Military Option sparks concerns Date: September 13 2005 No: 731 Military Option sparks concerns
The U.S. military is allowing recruits to meet part of their reserve military obligations after active duty by serving in the Peace Corps. 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!" and RPCV Chris Matthews leads the debate on "Hardball." Avi Spiegel says Peace Corps is not the place for soldiers while Coleman McCarthy says to Welcome Soldiers to the Peace Corps. Read the results of our poll among RPCVs. Latest: Congressman John Kline introduces legislation to alter the program to remove the Peace Corps as an option for completing an individual’s military enlistment requirement.

Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger Date: October 22 2005 No: 738 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.

Top Stories: November 19, 2005 Date: November 19 2005 No: 751 Top Stories: November 19, 2005
President Bush meets with PCVs in Panama 7 Nov
PC Trainee Wyatt Ammon dies in accident in Zambia 18 Nov
Congress appropriates $322 Million for Peace Corps 17 Nov
James Walsh on the crisis in Nepal 9 Nov
Pam Musk climbs Mount Kilimanjaro 6 Nov
David Morsilli awed by havoc in Mississippi 6 Nov
Tierney Davis in Tsunami Relief Work in Indonesia 1 Nov
Julie Harrold says "Don't change the Peace Corps" 31 Oct
Jacqueline Lyons shares her poems about Peace Corps 28 Oct
Peace Corps returns to its roots in Michigan 28 Oct
David Peterson serves in Katrina Response Team #1 25 Oct
Director Vasquez Travels to Tonga and Fiji 24 Oct
Laura Vanderkam says "Peace Corps needs makeover" 24 Oct
Shriver Center and Maryland RPCVs host C. Payne Lucas 21 Oct
Don Mosley to receive Pacem in Terris honor 17 Oct
Mary Cameron Kilgour writes on abuse 16 Oct
George Packer writes about Iraq for the New Yorker 16 Oct
Richard Celeste says Colorado higher education faces peril 16 Oct
Kevin Quigley says Keep Peace Corps, military separate 16 Oct
Christie and Eric Nelson say no to cars 15 Oct
Isaiah Zagar creates mosaic in Oakland 14 Oct

PC establishes awards for top Volunteers Date: November 9 2005 No: 749 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.

Robert F. Kennedy - 80th anniversary of his birth Date: November 26 2005 No: 757 Robert F. Kennedy - 80th anniversary of his birth
"Few men are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change the world which yields most painfully to change."

Peace Corps at highest Census in 30 years Date: October 22 2005 No: 745 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 Date: October 10 2005 No: 730 '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" Date: October 13 2005 No: 737 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 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.

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.


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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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