What is Peace Corps?

Question

like what do they do? is it military? how long are you in it?

Answer 1

Peace Corps Volunteers teach school, teach health, give farm advice. They do things to make life better for developing countries.

It is as far from military as you can get and still work for the government.

Soldiers go where they are told, even if the country didn't invite them in. Peace Corps Volunteers get to choose their region. PCV's are always invited by the country they serve in. They don't carry guns. They learn to speak the language. They may be all by themselves; there may be one or two others in their village. Many of them live with host families.

The military will take just about any sane, physically fit high school graduate who walks in the door. The Peace Corps accepts one applicant out of four. 92% of PCVs have a college degree.

PCVs spend three months training and do two years of service. They can extend for another year or two if they want.

I have stories and pictures about my PCV service in  Sarawak, 1971 - 1972 on my web site. I search Y!A for the words "Peace Corps" at least once a week. You can read my answers to the most frequent questions about the Peace Corps there too:

http://www.tedpack.org/pchead.html

Answer 2

The Peace Corps is an independent United States federal agency.

Peace Corps volunteers work with governments, schools, non-profit organizations, non-government organizations, and entrepreneurs in the areas of education, health, HIV/AIDS, business, information technology, agriculture, and the environment.

The program officially has three goals:

    * To help the people of interested countries and areas in meeting their needs for trained workers

    * To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served

    * To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans

All Peace Corps Volunteers commit to 27 months of training and service overseas.