The RPCV Health Crusade Glossary is a collection of some of the key lingo (aka terms and acronyms) that are often referenced within the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) community.
Glossary of Acronyms
| ACRONYM | TERM |
|---|---|
| APCD | Associate Peace Corps Director |
| ASSM | Assistant Safety and Security Manager |
| CD | Country Director |
| COS | Close of Service |
| COTE | Calendar of Training Events |
| CREG | Country Re-Entry Guide |
| DMO | Director of Management and Operations |
| DOL | Department of Labor |
| DOV | Death of a Volunteer |
| DPT | Director of Programming and Training |
| EAP | Emergency Action Plan |
| EPCV (or ERPCV) | Evacuated Peace Corps Volunteer |
| FECA | Federal Employee Compensation Act |
| HCN | Host Country National |
| HQ | Headquarters |
| IMAP | Individual Medical Action Plan |
| KPA | Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act of 2011 |
| MAP | Medical Action Plan |
| MTG | Medical Technical Guidance |
| NCE | Non-competitive Eligibility |
| OGO | Office of Global Operations |
| OHS | Office of Health Services |
| OIG | Office of Inspector General |
| OSS | Office of Safety and Security |
| OVA | Office of Victim Advocacy |
| PCMO | Peace Corps Medical Officer |
| PCI | Peace Corps Invitee |
| PCT | Peace Corps Trainee |
| PCV | Peace Corps Volunteer (currently serving) |
| PCVL | Peace Corps Volunteer Leader |
| PMAP | Post Medical Action Plan |
| PST | Pre-Service Training |
| RMAP | Regional Medical Action Plan |
| RPCV | Returned Peace Corps Volunteer |
| R/PCV | Returned and (currently serving) Peace Corps Volunteer |
| SARRR | Sexual Assault Risk Reduction and Response |
| SIMS | Security Incident Management System |
| SIRG | Security Incident Reporting Guide |
| SSI | Safety and Security Instruction |
| SSM | Safety and Security Manager |
| TDY | Temporary Duty |
| TG | Technical Guidance |
| VIDA | Volunteer Information Database Application |
| VSN | Volunteer Support Network |
Glossary of Terms
To bridge the gap, some of the definitions were provided by RPCVs to represent how the RPCV community understand and utilize the terms. Thanks Kate!
| TERM | DEFINITION |
|---|---|
| Administrative Separation (ad-sep) | Under the Peace Corps Act, the Peace Corps Trainee or Peace Corps Volunteer may be terminated at any time at the pleasure of the President, who delegated that authority to the Director of Peace Corps; this generally applies for removing the PCT/PCV for non-medical reasons; currently under certain circumstance, PCTs may have the option to resign instead of being ad-separated |
| Applicant | Someone who is in the process of applying (but not yet completed or abandoned) to volunteer for Peace Corps service |
| Counterpart | Host country national who is performing an equivalent role to the Peace Corps Volunteer |
| Culture Shock | Feelings of uncertainty, confusion, or anxiety of experiencing a new country or surroundings; typically occurs with a change from one familiar cultural environment and into another with unfamiliar language, customs, gestures, etc. |
| Early Termination | Leaving Peace Corps service before the formal end of the full term of volunteer service; this could be voluntary (decision by PCV) or involuntary (decision by Peace Corps); there are four types: – resignation (volunteer decision) – medical separation – administrative separation – interrupted service |
| Evacuation (country) | Suspension of Peace Corps service in the host country and departure of some or all Peace Corps Volunteers in the host country either permanently or temporarily for operational reasons |
| Evacuation (PCV) | Peace Corps assists the individual Peace Corps Volunteer in leaving the host country for reasons beyond the PCV’s control like needing medical evaluation or care not available in country |
| Host Country | Country hosting the Peace Corps Volunteers under the Peace Corps program |
| Host Country National | Resident or citizen of the country hosting the Peace Corps Volunteers |
| In-Country | Referring to physically being (or events happening) in the host country |
| In-Service | Period of time as a Peace Corps Volunteer performing volunteer services in the host country |
| Interrupted Service | When the Country Director determines there are circumstances beyond the control of the Peace Corps Trainee or Peace Corps Volunteer where s/he needs to leave the service assignment. |
| Invitee | Someone who completed the application process and received a formal invitation to be a Peace Corps Volunteer; the Invitee may be going through or completed the medical clearance process |
| Medical Action Plan | Comprehensive, country-specific reference guide with directions and components to address the urgent or emergent medical needs of PCVs; there could be specifics at the Individual, Post, and Regional level |
| Medical Clearance | The process of meeting medical qualifications within applying for Peace Corps service; check out our Resource Library for ways to save money on medical clearance needs |
| Medical Evacuation (medevac) | Peace Corps removes/evacuates the Peace Corps Trainee or Peace Corps Volunteer from the host country to receive medical assistance that is not available in country |
| Medical Separation | Peace Corps makes the decision for early termination when the Peace Corps Trainee or Peace Corps Volunteer develops a medical condition that Peace Corps cannot medically accommodate or resolve in a pre-designated window of time (currently 45 days); the PCV/PCT generally has the option to appeal this decision |
| Non-Competitive Eligibility | Hiring authority status where the RPCV (meets job qualifications) is eligible for certain federal positions without competing with the general public; this is only available for a short limited time after COS |
| Now (vs Now-Now) | A generic or casual concept of time by HCNs in certain countries; it often refers to a broad window of time so if you need something to happen immediately, use the phrasing “Now-Now” |
| Peace Corps Act | The Peace Corps Act of 1961 is the law that established the Peace Corps as a federal agency that trains and sends Americans from the US to volunteer abroad |
| Peace Corps Oath | The official pledge/oath taken by Peace Corps Trainees to become a Peace Corps Volunteer; PCTs must be told their options in including or excluding certain verbiage of the oath |
| Peace Corps Trainee | Someone who is currently going through staging or training to be a Peace Corps Volunteer |
| Peace Corps Training | The training activities over 2-3 months to become a Peace Corps Volunteer; the activities typically include orientation on language, culture, customs, safety, and overview of the assignment |
| Peace Corps Volunteer | Someone who has completed Peace Corps training and taken the Peace Corps oath to perform volunteer services in the host country |
| Peace Corps Volunteer Leader | Peace Corps Volunteer who extended service into a third year for a specific project initiative |
| Post-Service | Period of time after the Peace Corps Volunteer reaches a Close of Service; applicable regardless of how long it has been since service |
| Pre-Service | Period of time before taking the Peace Corps oath; this typically includes staging and training |
| Readjustment Allowance | Financial amount allocated to the Peace Corps Volunteer at Close of Service to assist with readjusting to life after Peace Corps, this is usually based on a designated amount per month for each month of service |
| Resignation | Decision made by the Peace Corps Trainee or Peace Corps Volunteer to leave Peace Corps service before the full term (2 year) of service is completed |
| Returned Peace Corps Volunteer | Someone who was a Peace Corps Volunteer and reached a Close of Service status; and once a RPCV, forever the RPCV! |
| Reverse Culture Shock | Transitional feelings of navigating a return to a life after Peace Corps service; this can be a very challenging stage to readjust to your previous cultural environment |
| Sector | Professional industry or area of the work; examples of sectors include: agriculture, education, health, etc. |
| Staging | Period of time just before Peace Corps Training begins to address some preliminary, medical, and/or administrative needs; typically before arrival in the host country |
| Swearing In | Process and ceremony of the Peace Corps Trainee in taking the Peace Corps Oath to become a Peace Corps Volunteer |
| The Three Goals | The overarching mission of the Peace Corps based on three goals/principles: First Goal: To help the countries interested in meeting their need for trained people Second Goal: To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served Third Goal: To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans. |
Any More Terms or Acronyms?
Help us expand this Glossary of RPCV terms and acronyms. We decided not to list groups to keep the list manageable. If you know of any additions or corrections, definitely let us know.