Jason Pearce

The Peace Corps has yet to respond to my request for reinstatement or re-enrollment. It’s been more than a month since I submitted my request.

Date: Thu, 10 Oct 2002 08:23:28 -0700 (PDT)
From: “Jason.Pearce.net”
Subject: Status of reinstatement or re-enrollment request
To: serdman@peacecorps.gov, bpayne1@peacecorps.gov
CC: smortimer@PeaceCorps.gov

Dear Brian Payne and Sarah Erdman,

On September 5, I sent an email to Sylvie Mortimer requesting reinstatement or re-enrollment to Peace Corps service. Sylvie replied a few days later saying that the Office of the General Counsel is reviewing my request and that I will be informed as soon as the matter is resolved. She also mentioned that the two of you would be serving as my Office of Placement contacts while she is on maternity leave.

On September 26, I emailed the two of you asking for an update regarding my request. I have yet to receive your reply. So I kindly ask again.

What is the status of my request for reinstatement or re-enrollment to Peace Corps service per my rights as an Early Termination/Interrupted Service (MS 284, 5.0) Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV), and per Guyana Country Director Earl Brown’s advice that I request re-assignment?

I appreciate your prompt response to this request, for I am eager to begin my service as a volunteer.

Sincerely,
Jason A. Pearce

The Guyana Peace Corps now hires armed vehicles to escort Peace Corps vehicles to the airport as an extra precautionary measure. While I never felt like a target in Guyana, other than for petty crimes like pick pocketing, I’m glad that the Peace Corps is taking the extra step to further ensure the safety of the volunteers.

Although I have many disappointments regarding the Peace Corps, I must commend their security officer. He makes a valiant effort to ensure volunteer safety among an increasingly volatile and uncertain environment.

Someone in the press, let’s call her a friend of a friend, recently emailed a friend of mine sharing her disgust of how the Peace Corps has treated me. While I have not made an effort to make my case public (http://net.jasonpearce.com/peacecorps/cos/ is not a publicly accessible link), it’s nice to hear that some members of the press might be interested in my story.

While tempting, there are a few reasons I haven’t made my story public:

• I’m waiting for reassignment from the Peace Corps. Making my case public would likely prevent me from getting another invitation to serve.
  
• If I don’t get a reassignment, I’ll likely appeal the Peace Corps’ decision to send me home. Again, I don’t want to jeopardize that opportunity.
  
• I’m also looking for a full-time job. Sharing my story could scare potential employers away.
  
• While I think I was mistreated, I still believe the Peace Corps does more good than harm. I haven’t finished weighing my need for retribution against the possible harm that such a retribution might do to the Peace Corps.

Any rate, I have lots to think about. Here’s an excerpt from the email that I was referring to:

I would hope that the Peace Corps would have fewer jerks than the rest of the government, but apparently not so. Sounds to me as if Guyana is a VERY difficult place to work because of the crime and poor conditions anyway. The last thing Peace Corps volunteers need is bureaucratic idiocy piled on top.

When you have young, dedicated men and women serving their country–in more danger than soldiers because they have no weapons–being treated in an appalling way, it’s beyond the pale.

I’m glad some of his colleagues called it to another administrator’s attention, but with all the war rattles going on, Peace Corps matters may get short shrift.

I’d be tempted to send a blistering letter (by snail mail) to the head of the Peace Corps and ask some leading questions–

• I thought the job of administrators was to provide support, not sabotage. (Oh come on, you can’t be that naive. Why not? So you think it’s “naive” to expect decent treatment as a Corps volunteer???)
  
• How do you expect to accomplish your mission if you treat volunteers in such a an irresponsible way?
  
• How will you recruit if word spreads?–and word will spread. Etc.