by Annalou Mack

Created on: December 15, 2008

If you have determination, flexibility, patience and a sense of humor, you might become a successful Peace Corps volunteer. I cannot stress enough that becoming a PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer) requires those traits and in large measure. The slogan once was, "The toughest job you'll ever love." It was quite apt to the job. Having served two tours, twenty years apart, I know whereof I speak. I wouldn't trade either one of my tours of duty for anything else in the world.

A little background of the Peace Corps could be helpful in deciding if you want to pursue it further. While John F. Kennedy was campaigning for the presidency, at 2:00 am on October 14, 1960, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, he issued a challenge to the assembled students on the steps of the Student Union. He asked if they would be willing to serve their country and the cause of peace by living and working in a developing country. The response was enthusiastic and on March 1, 1961, President Kennedy signed an executive order establishing the Peace Corps. Three days later, R. Sargent Shriver was appointed its first director.

The three goals of the Peace Corps are (1) to help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women; (2) to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the people served; and (3) to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans. This captured the imagination of the nation and in July, 1961, Peace Corps assignments were planned for Ghana, Tanzania, Colombia, the Philippines, Chile, and St. Lucia. More than 5,000 applicants took the first exams to enter the Peace Corps.

Since 1961 more than 195,000 volunteers have been trained to serve in 139 countries. There are currently nearly eight thousand volunteers and trainees. While the median age is 25 years old, five percent are over the age of 50. Most are single, but six percent are married and 95 percent have at least an undergraduate degree. The volunteers work in Education, Health and HIV/AIDS, Business, Environment, Youth, Agriculture and a few in what is classified as Other.

If this has piqued your interest in becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer, you are ready for a long application/preparation process. The steps are: (1) submit an application (which can be done online at https://www.peacecorps.gov/apply/now/index.cfm; (2)be interviewed by a recruiter; (3) get medical and legal clearance; (4) learn if you are qualified based on your skills

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