I’ve been meaning to post this for a really long time (since training last year) and am finally getting to it. This is really intended for those interested in Peace Corps service and want to know how long the process is, things you need to complete, etc. I want to note that the time frame is different for every applicant – everything here is based on my personal experience. Cheers!
- April 25, 2008: Submitted online application and references to the Peace Corps
- May 10, 2008: Graduated from LMU
- May 15, 2008 (morning): Interview with Shane, Peace Corps recruiter at the Los Angeles Regional Office
- May 15, 2008 (afternoon): Received a call that I was nominated to a French-speaking post in sub-Saharan Africa, expected departure date is June 2009 and the field is Youth Empowerment/Community Development
- Note: nominations can be done this quickly or can take months. It really depends on the recruiter, the skills of the applicant and the needs of Peace Corps posts around the world.
- May 16, 2008: Receive Medical Kit in the mail
- June-August 2008: Traveled with family in the Caribbean and the Philippines for several weeks**
- September 5, 2008: Mailed completed Medical Kit to the Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
- Note: very long and detailed process. It required me to go to the doctor’s office about a dozen times!
- November 7, 2008: Medically and legally cleared for Peace Corps service
- December 15, 2008: Sent in a Skills Set Addendum and official college transcript to the Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
- January 5, 2009: Checked my status online – am officially invited to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer!
- January 10, 2009: Received the huge invitation packet and assignment description in the mail from the Peace Corps – sent to Burkina Faso as a Girls’ Education and Empowerment (GEE) volunteer, slated to leave on June 8, 2009!
- January 15, 2009: Called the Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C. to officially confirm and accept my invitation
- February 10, 2009: E-mailed my Aspiration Statement and Résumé to the Peace Corps Burkina Faso staff
- May 2009: Dentally cleared for Peace Corps service
- June 8, 2009: Fly from San Francisco to Philadelphia for Staging
- June 9-10, 2009: Staging with the 31 other Peace Corps Burkina Faso trainees in Philadelphia
- June 11, 2009: Fly from Philadelphia to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (stopovers in Paris, France and Niamey, Niger [had to stay an extra night in Niamey due to plane problems during refueling])
- June 12, 2009-August 24, 2009: Pre-Service Training (PST) in Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso
- August 25, 2009: Swear-In Ceremony as official Peace Corps Volunteers at the US Ambassador to Burkina Faso’s residence, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
- August 26, 2009-August 2011: Two years of Peace Corps service as a Girls’ Education and Empowerment (GEE) volunteer in Burkina Faso
2 comments:
That's incredible Michael! Look at all you have done! I'm so proud of you! :)
You remembered all those steps, how incredible! I didn't realize you did all that on your own, how responsible and independent can you be. With all the traveling, night clubing, spending some days and nights with your family and friends, in other words, just having fun most of the time after college.....were all I thought that you did.....I was wrong then because I didn't see your hard work, your accomplishments behind all that fun. All I can say is that, I am so proud of you son.
My attorneys said "you should be proud of your son, are you?" I said, "of course I am!"
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