Left to Right: Chuck Ludlam, Paula Hirschoff, Sargent Shriver, Robert B. Textor

This episode of the Posh Corps Podcast investigates a fundamental flaw in Peace Corps policy which prevents the agency from embracing reform. This story is the fourth segment in The Reform Series, a four-part series about Peace Corps reform efforts.

A provision within the Peace Corps Act limits employment at Peace Corps to a term of five years. This provision is known as the "Five-Year Rule." Numerous assessments have found that the Five-Year Rule creates serious disincentives toward high employee performance. The dynamic between the Five-Year Rule and a high number of political appointees at Peace Corps produces a fundamental flaw in Peace Corps policy.

Chuck Ludlam and Paula Hirschoff served as Peace Corps volunteers in the Sixties, and they served again as volunteers in Senegal from 2005 to 2007. They found that Peace Corps had not matured as much as it should have over the years. They are among the very few volunteers who have successfully advocated for Peace Corps reform.

Posh Corps Podcast Ep. 16 Transcript

Produced by Alan Toth.

Recording by Alan Toth and Will Dickinson.

Assistance by Lauren Schwartzman.

Music: "A Tale" from the album Hang by Laura Inserra. Used under a license provided by iLicense Music.

Image: Photos by Wilma Scheuren, Robert B. Textor, and Alexander Boden

Special Thanks to Will Dickinson and Joanne Roll.

Interviews with Chuck Ludlam, Paula Hirschoff, Will Dickinson, Mike Sheppard, and Dr. J. Larry Brown.

Will Dickinson Films

US Senate Committee Channel: 2007 Senate Hearing Peace Corps Volunteer Empowerment Act, S. 732

C-Span: Peace Corps Volunteer Safety (2011)

Peace Corps: The Peace Corps, A Comprehensive Agency Assessment

Peace Corps Office of Inspector General: Impacts of the Five-Year Rule on Operations of the Peace Corps 

Robert B. Textor: The Peace Corps “In-Up-Out” Policy, Reflections on how it all happened

Peace Corps: Annual Volunteer Survey 2015 Data: Post Averages

Peace Corps: FY2003 – 2012 Early Termination Data by Country - Cohort Method

Dr. J Larry Brown: Peasants Come Last

U.S. Government Publishing Office: 2012 Plumb Book

Michael Sheppard: Early Termination in the Peace Corps

Chuck Ludlam and Paula Hirschoff: Plan to Strengthen and Expand the Peace Corps