Paraguay RPCV Scott Krushinski works with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq



During his two and a half years in Paraguay he worked with local communities successfully helping them to organize, build and operate running water systems. (Here in Iraq such efforts fall under the rubric of Capacity Development!) In his second year he met Blanca, a petite young lady who was both working and attending university full-time in Asuncion, the country’s capital. Two years later they were married and, after returning to live in Alexandria, VA, he continued in the construction management arena – this time working on the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum annex located at Dulles Airport.

Paraguay RPCV Scott Krushinski works with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq

The Challenges of Helping Others

By Tom Clarkson, Gulf Region Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Sep 11, 2006, 16:31

Blackanthem Military News, BAGHDAD, Iraq - How did the country of Paraguay, the United States Peace Corps and a young man and woman who met in a tropical capital become a married couple sweating through 120 degree plus days, deeply involved in rebuilding Iraq . . . and loving every minute of it?

Scott Krushinski had long felt there was an important role to be played for him in the challenging opportunities of the U.S. Peace Corps. So, in 1997, five years after graduating from the University of Virginia with a degree in Civil Engineering and a substantially wide range of construction management experience, he was accepted into the Corps, looking forward to new, farther reaching challenges in Latin America.

During his two and a half years in Paraguay he worked with local communities successfully helping them to organize, build and operate running water systems. (Here in Iraq such efforts fall under the rubric of Capacity Development!)

In his second year he met Blanca, a petite young lady who was both working and attending university full-time in Asuncion, the country’s capital. Two years later they were married and, after returning to live in Alexandria, VA, he continued in the construction management arena – this time working on the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum annex located at Dulles Airport.

Next came opportunities in Texas where, first in Austin, where Scott worked on his MBA while Blanca supported him by working for the State of Texas. After his graduation in 2003, they moved to Dallas and reversed roles as Blanca finished her finance degree at the University of Texas as Dallas and Scott worked. During this time a new and exciting challenge arose a new and exciting challenge arose . . . helping the Iraqis build and rebuild their country.

Scott came to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region Division/Project and Contracting Office in May of 2005. He joined the Facilities and Transportation (F&T) sector on a contract basis and is now Manager of the Program Support Group. This area is comprised of the Reporting, Project Controls, Document Controls, Closeout, and HR functions. The F&T Sector consists of four sub-sectors with over 1,500 construction projects, over 1,000 non-construction contracts, and an overall budget of $2.2 Billion.

Blanca arrived in June of this year, following her graduation. She now also works in F&T finance - though in a separate division - contributing to the overall program finances. Both plan on staying until at least March of 2007.

“There is lots of good going on over here,” Scott exclaims, “and I have the very greatest of respect for our Iraqi co-workers for their contributions and persistence in overcoming daily adversities as they work with us to make this a safer, better place. In fact, when one looks at all that we’ve accomplished together in such a short period it’s simply amazing!

Their plans? With a smile, Blanca responds “A joint assignment in Latin America would be nice . . . Then maybe a MBA for me. Of course, before long, we’ll settle down to raise a family!”

When this story was posted in October 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace Corps Senator Chris Dodd (RPCV Dominican Republic) spoke at the ceremony for this year's Shriver Award and elaborated on issues he raised at Ron Tschetter's hearings. Dodd plans to introduce legislation that may include: setting aside a portion of Peace Corps' budget as seed money for demonstration projects and third goal activities (after adjusting the annual budget upward to accommodate the added expense), more volunteer input into Peace Corps operations, removing medical, healthcare and tax impediments that discourage older volunteers, providing more transparency in the medical screening and appeals process, a more comprehensive health safety net for recently-returned volunteers, and authorizing volunteers to accept, under certain circumstances, private donations to support their development projects. He plans to circulate draft legislation for review to members of the Peace Corps community and welcomes RPCV comments.

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The Peace Corps Library The Peace Corps Library is now available online with over 40,000 index entries in 500 categories. Looking for a Returned Volunteer? Check our RPCV Directory or leave a message on our Bulletin Board. New: Sign up to receive our free Monthly Magazine by email, research the History of the Peace Corps, or sign up for a daily news summary of Peace Corps stories. FAQ: Visit our FAQ for more information about PCOL.

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He served with honor One year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor.

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September 12, 2006: This Month's Top Stories John Coyne writes: The Lion in the Garden 12 Sep John McCain says: We passed up an opportunity after 911 12 Sep Jody Olsen speaks at Headquarters about 911 11 Sep Bill Moyers Returns to Investigative Reporting 8 Sep Boating Accident kills two PCVs in Mali 7 Sep Director Vasquez bids Farewell to Washington 7 Sep James Rupert writes: Pact reached with pro-Taliban forces 6 Sep Carol Bellamy to speak at Global Risk Conference 5 Sep New trial ordered for Jerry Mark in murder case 2 Sep Ken Hill to step down as NPCA Chairman 1 Sep Clintons, Gearans dine at resort 1 Sep 'Chris Matthews' Turns 5 31 Aug Taylor Hackford thinks Chuck Berry is a pain in the ass 31 Aug John Kefalas alleges dirty tactics in house race 30 Aug DRI receives Charity Navigator's highest ratings 29 Aug Kris Holloway writes "Monique and the Mango Rains'' 28 Aug Richard Celeste writes: Watch Out For Voting Day Bugs 28 Aug Donna Shalala boosted UM's image 27 Aug Leonard Robinson devoted his life to the underserved 24 Aug Phil Hardberger will run for re-election in 2007 24 Aug Snakes on the Plain - the black mamba 23 Aug Eunice Kennedy Shriver still going strong 20 Aug

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Meet Ron Tschetter - Our Next Director Read our story about Ron Tschetter's confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that was carried on C-Span. It was very different from the Vasquez hearings in 2001, very cut and dried with low attendance by the public. Among the highlights, Tschetter intends to make recruitment of baby boomers a priority, there are 20 countries under consideration for future programs, Senator Dodd intends to re-introduce his third goal Peace Corps legislation this session, Tschetter is a great admirer of Senator Coleman's quest for accountability, Dodd thinks management at PC may not put volunteers first, Dodd wants Tschetter to look into problems in medical selection, and Tschetter is not a blogger and knows little about the internet or guidelines for volunteer blogs. Read our recap of the hearings as well as Senator Coleman's statement and Tschetter's statement.

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Chris Shays Shifts to Favor an Iraq Timetable In a policy shift, RPCV Congressman Chris Shays, long a staunch advocate of the Bush administration's position in Iraq, is now proposing a timetable for a withdrawal of American troops. How Mr. Shays came to this change of heart is, he says, a matter of a newfound substantive belief that Iraqis need to be prodded into taking greater control of their own destiny under the country’s newly formed government. As Chairman of the House Government Reform subcommittee on national security, he plans to draft a timetable for a phased withdrawal and then push for its adoption. A conscientious objector during the Vietnam War who said that if drafted he would not serve, Chris Shays has made 14 trips to Iraq and was the first Congressman to enter the country after the war - against the wishes of the Department of Defense.

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Peace Corps' Screening and Medical Clearance The purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process.

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The Peace Corps is "fashionable" again The LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace.

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Support the US-Peruvian Trade Pact Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, the Peace Corps President, has been lobbying both Democratic and Republican legislators to support the US-Peruvian trade pact before July 28, when his term ends and a US congressional recess begins. If President Bush fails to get approval before Congress goes on recess, it will be a case study proving that the United States does not reward its friends. Please call your representatives.

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PCOL readership increases 100% Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

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History of the Peace Corps PCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help.

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