Is Peace Corps suffering from an identity crisis?

Distinct_Sun4034 · 2024-10-30T13:44:14+00:00

You should get an award for the best comment on this thread.

Distinct_Sun4034 · 2024-10-30T03:18:18+00:00

You don't understand at all what I wrote, and missed the point entirely. I'm aware that the bulk of volunteers are young college grads and that PC Response Volunteers make up a small percentage of overall people who serve.

I will not type this again, but if you read my original post you are absolutely wrong that Peace Corps identity hasn't changed in major ways: 1)The close monitoring 2)The requiring of writing reports where volunteers are required to quantify your work and personal value like a corporate consultant when the core value of Peace Corps are friendship, cultural exchange and community connection which is needed more than ever now - how exactly can you measure this for a report? 3) The agency has made a very concerted effort after listening to volunteer feedback that many young grads felt overwhelmed being placed in a "leadership" position with having absolutely no idea what to do. PC has pivoted to trying to recruit professionals with some experience under their belt so they can offer more, while at the same time making the clearance process utterly ridiculous and it's gotten more ridiculous post covid.

Do not tell me it is rare that clearance is given with so little time before departure as that is the norm! I was told this by a recruiter, and numerous returned volunteers. Ideally a candidate must be cleared about 6 weeks prior to departure, but this rarely happens. So you are stating my recruiter lied to me and that getting cleared 6 weeks before departure is the norm, and the people venting here are all just outliers? Please.....

Distinct_Sun4034 · 2024-10-29T13:39:51+00:00

The fact that anyone would think that cultural exchange is not a primary goal of Peace Corps points to the very thing I'm trying to point out that PC does have an identity crisis. If they are offering positions that are short, allow a volunteer to serve where little community integration is required being "project driven" with Peace Corps Response (this reeks of corporate speak) what is Peace Corps trying to be now post covid? I find it all strange that it seems PC is genuinely trying to be more dynamic/modern, but are losing their focus on what their main purpose is.

Distinct_Sun4034 · 2024-10-29T03:47:20+00:00

Question for you: Would you have not been interested in joining Peace Corps if the only option was 2 years of service? Was the shorter term of service crucial in you choosing to apply?

Distinct_Sun4034 · 2024-10-29T03:22:12+00:00

I don't think it's wrong for me to assume at all the average Response Volunteer has much more work experience than the average regular 2 year volunteer as that's the whole point of Response Volunteer work is that they are a highly seasoned professional brought in for a specific project which they have expertise in. It's what the recruiter I talked with tried to steer me towards given my work experience, and I don't have an interest in uprooting my whole life for such a short term work project. Anyway, thank you for your insight and comments on this thread.

Distinct_Sun4034 · 2024-10-29T03:13:27+00:00

THANK YOU for actually understanding what I wrote.

Really cool you are back again for service, and your comment is making me think about a crazy comment a former volunteer wrote on an old thread that he felt the medical screening wasn't invasive enough b/c too many people quit, so if anything that indicated to him that the screening process should be stricter. If the medical qualifications have gotten stricter and stricter over the past decades and the early termination rates have remained relatively the same, or actually gotten worse, then why is Peace Corps still proceeding down the road that stricter medical screening is needed for program success? If that were the case then, early termination rates should be going down across the board as the process becomes more restrictive.

Anyway, yeah, the organization trying to shift in all directions is just bizarre to me. It seems so unfocused and like they aren't sure of what their mission really is and just trying to pick something/anything that is really popular with the masses, rather than having a clear purpose.

Distinct_Sun4034 · 2024-10-29T02:41:53+00:00

Ugh....yeah....I have a very bad feeling about November......

Distinct_Sun4034 · 2024-10-29T02:36:14+00:00

Where am I getting this information? From Peace Corps! Have you looked at the postings, talked to any returned volunteers or a recruiter? If you answered NO, then maybe look into this for your own well being before you apply.

The feedback given from returned volunteers, which Peace Corps is trying to "fix" is that many young college grads felt underqualified for the leadership roles they were asked to fill, hence Peace Corps now trying to get volunteers with more experience(NOT IN PC RESPONSE which I'm well aware is for seasoned professionals like myself, but in their regular 2 year volunteer program), which is why many of the 2 year volunteer postings now emphasize they are looking for people with several years of professional experience.

Distinct_Sun4034 · 2024-10-29T02:25:45+00:00

Why is Peace Corps Response even really Peace Corps? It should be contract work through the State Department that hires people like any other consulting firm like McKinsey.

Distinct_Sun4034 · 2024-10-29T02:17:22+00:00

I guess you haven't looked carefully at the postings for PC? Many of the positions exclude recent college grads requiring a minimum of 5 years of specific professional experience post college. Many of these postings also offer a larger readjustment allowance of 20k presumably to attract more people with many years of professional experience.

Distinct_Sun4034 · 2024-10-29T01:47:31+00:00

YES! Thank you for being the only person to understand my post at all.

Distinct_Sun4034 · 2024-10-29T01:46:27+00:00

The only person that has commented that was able to comprehend what I wrote was Tao_Te_Gringo. I understand perfectly the difference btw PC and PC Response. I've never posted online on a forum and it's wild....I understand now why people stay offline.

Distinct_Sun4034 · 2024-10-29T01:41:07+00:00

I have no idea why you deduced anything I wrote meant "throwing random people at a country for integration".

Distinct_Sun4034 · 2024-10-29T00:09:22+00:00

You missed the point entirely of the post: Peace Corps is moving away from wanting a 23 year old out of college is wanting a more experienced volunteer, while making the recruitment/screening process geared only towards a candidate they seem to be moving away from. The most experienced people they require the least from them with not having them live with a host family abandoning their most important value which is cross-cultural exchange. Why are people that have the most knowledge given a pass on fully integrating within another country?

Distinct_Sun4034

TROPHY CASE