Peace Corps Activities

Peace Corps personnel turnover is triple that of other Federal agencies and the agency has difficulty filling vacancies. A review of Peace Corps operations found some questionable and inconsistent programs, weak support by host countries, and inadequate recruitment and placement procedures. Some difficulties are caused by host countries restricting volunteers to the capital cities and emphasizing teaching English to university students, aggravated by poor economies in developing nations and feelings of irrelevance among volunteers. The Peace Corps does not prepare applicants for overseas living and working conditions, identify unsuitable volunteers, or strive to place volunteers in compatible environments. As a result, many resign in the first few months. No laws prohibit early resignation and the Government agrees to provide return passage at any time, so the Peace Corps can do little to hold volunteers to their commitments. A mandatory minimum tour would cause volunteers to consider their misgivings in advance and try to adjust to unfamiliar environments. Agency staff are limited to two hitches totaling 5 years, which keeps a career program from flourishing. With clearer communication of data, identification of development efforts, and improved motivation of field people, stronger programs could result. Some of the suspicion encountered in host countries could be reduced by joining in programs with volunteers from other nations.