Oh boy, Peace Corps loves its acronyms! This list includes some of the most commonly used USPC acronyms I encountered, though I’m sure there are plenty more.
- Ad Sep – Adminstrative Separation; PCV or PCT sent home for violating PC policy
- APCD – Associate Peace Corps Director; The director (often a HCN) in charge of a program
- CD – Country Director; Peace Corps official for a country
- COI – Close of Invitation
- COS – Close of Service
- ET – Early Termination; when a PCV or PCT elects to leave service early
- Going Native – When a volunteer picks up most or all of the local customs and practices, these individuals try to assimilate as much as possible with the HCNs.
- HCN – Host Country National; the “locals”
- IO – Initial Orientation
- IOS – Interruption of Service; IOS occurs when an entire program is pulled from a country.
- IST – In Service Training; training, technical or otherwise, that takes place during the course of active service
- Med Evac – Medical Evacuate; If a volunteer is sick/injured and can’t be treated in-country, he/she will be medically evacuated (often to DC)
- Med Sep – Medical Separation; Med Sep occurs when a PCT or PCV is sent home for medical reasons
- MST – Mid-Service Training; In country training that takes place during service
- NGO – Non-Government Organization
- OMS – Office of Medica Services
- PC – Peace Corps
- PC/P – Peace Corps Philippines
- PCMO – Peace Corps Medical Officer
- PCT – Peace Corps Trainee
- PCV – Peace Corps Volunteer
- PO – Program Officer
- PST – Pre-Service Training; In country training taking place before swearing in
- PTO – Programs Training Officer
- RM – Regional Manager
- RPCV – Returned Peace Corps Volunteer
- Site Visit – A visit made by a volunteer or PC staff member to a current or prospective volunteer placement site
- SM – Sector Manager
- Staging – Country specific group pre-departure orientation