The Peace Corps VS the US Army?

Question

Upon graduation, and after a couple years of corporate work to earn my CPA, I would like to do more service oriented work for my country for a few years, and then go back to school to get my doctorate.

Does anyone have any experience and knowledge about being in the Army or Reserves (like the Civil Affairs branch) vs something more like the Peace Corps.

Maybe a little something more then, "NPOs give people fish, the Army shows people how to fish."

Well, thanks for any insight!

~Bird

Answer 1

I have been in the Naval Reserves for fourteen years.  It is a great job, but I have never been on the Civil Affairs side.  

I have no experience in the Peace Corps, however I knew of one of my college classmates who went to Eastern Europe with the Peace Corps.  

Both work at building up developing areas on the ground level.  Sadly the Peace Corps will probably look better for graduate school; the girl I knew went straight from the Peace Corps to Columbia University.

Answer 2

The Peace Corps is pretty big on teaching people to fish; they don't give many. I have used that metaphor constantly here in YA to tell people they need a skill that a host country wants, and the ability to teach it to others.

I was a PCV, 35 years ago. The army does some things to win the hearts and minds of the locals, but they don't go to places unless there is a war on.

Answer 3

Both in different services for the good of mankind.

Both give an opportunity for "The young one" to learn and travel in foreign land.

The Peace corps were the one who went out and give living human kind the fishing line, hooks and sinkers to children in foreign land for them to learn how to fish for their daily bread back in the past for the good of mankind.

Somehow it was lost with time.

With children in foreign land being at loss and stranded on planet earth.

Answer 4

well the peace corprs helps people and the military is more of an arm of corporate interests.  you can give people fish or teach them to fish - something like that - so if you are looking to help people that would be the way to go.

remember once you are in the military you have to do what they tell you to do even if you don't agree with it.  now the military - you can contain collateral damage - but you have to understand the role of the military is war - it used to be to defend our country only - now promotes defense contracts even with supposed enemies - although many military are not aware of that - the only one benefiting from war are defense contractors.

so go with your values - if its money - go military - if its helping people go peace corps.

Answer 5

Army or Reserves will pay you and help you get thru your further education...the peace corp is for rich kids with trust funds...Id say go for the money...